Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - A little help please, regarding "spinning" and body position on the bike.

So for the last day and a half I have been working on my spinning. Bounced around like mad the first afternoon in the neighborhood, but think I have it kind of worked out now. My cadence isn't high, but I managed above 80 for all of the flat sections of my 17 mile ride yesterday.

However ... I find that when in 'spin' mode, there is MUCH more pressure on my arms than when I 'mash' like I am used to. I assume this is because when you spin, your legs don't hold you upright the same way they do when you 'mash', and that my abs aren't strong enough to make up the difference at the moment.

Is this right, or is it something as simple as having to adjust my seat height??? While I much prefer to spin already, the pressure / weight on my arms makes it very uncomfortable, and I worry about injury ... I am a musician, and need to take care of my hands and arms.

Also, I'm still on the largest chainring on the bike ... albeit the lower gears on that ring. Is this OK, or should I move to the middle ring ??

Again - thanks to all who read, and double thanks to those who leave comments.

Middle ring

A way to work on spinning, by the way is to do lowest gear sprints on flat ground. Concentrate on smooth motion at the highest RPM you can manage without bouncing. As your technique develops, you'll get smoother at high RPM. Now, you are either clipped in or strapped to the pedals, right? Attachment to the pedals in some manner is a key to a smoother spin, by the way, because you can make a circular motion with pulling while pushing the pedals.

At the moment no, I'm not clipped in or strapped in. First thing I'm going to buy as soon as I get the cash is a clipless system.

But the pressure / weight on my arms is what really troubles me. I'm having pain at the bottom of my neck as well, I think from the pressure up my arms and through my shoulders. Ideas?

Can you get a picture of you in riding position? The reason being, too short of a cockpit and too long of a cockpit can both cause that. Try sliding your saddle back on the rails, and see if that addresses the issue. If not, then try sliding it forward. Consciously try to relax your upper body as you ride as well, because the dynamic tension of death gripping the handlebars can also do this. If you don't want to post your image directly on the forum, PM me for my email address and you can send it to me there. I'll process the image with some body geometry software and see what it says. I'll need a set of side images, frontal, and rear.
At the moment no, I'm not clipped in or strapped in. First thing I'm going to buy as soon as I get the cash is a clipless system.

But the pressure / weight on my arms is what really troubles me. I'm having pain at the bottom of my neck as well, I think from the pressure up my arms and through my shoulders. Ideas?

Tom

Thanks for the offer - please forward your email address.

I don't death grip the handle bars I don't think ... I move hand positions quite a lot, or as much as I can with my frigging straight bar.

I had no problems in 2 years of riding this bike around town, and now it's killing me. Part of it is the new 'spinning' approach I am taking it seems, and I am sure some of it is me making this bike do things it's not meant for (15 mile + rides). A new bike is on the horizon if I keep with this, but I won't be able to afford it until the spring. Hopefully you all can help me figure something out in the meantime.

Thanks again!

Also, if you're interested I have a couple pairs of toe-clip pedals that are just taking up shelf space. Not as nice as clipless, but they might be good to get you started. PM me if interested.

What bike are you riding?

Thanks for the offer on the toeclips, but I think I will just wait for the clipless system ...shouldn't be too long to wait, and that way I only have to learn how not to fall over once, rather than twice. Very kind of you to offer though.

As to my bike - it's been perfect for 2 years of carfree living downtown (groceries, video store, work, etc) but is, I fear, ill suited to the 15+ mile rides I'm now putting on it. I should be over 20 miles by the end of the week I think.

My bike is a 2005 Marin Muirwoods and is stock except that I swapped out the stem when I bought it for something a bit shorter as it felt more like my beloved (stolen) Kona that way. It felt good at the time, and has for city hopping, but perhaps the shorter stem is part of the problem? I'm not sure of the frame size, but I am 5'11 with a 35" inseam, and I have about 1" - 1 1/2" of clearance when I stand over the top tube. As I recall, it was the largest frame they had in stock at the time.

I just got back from my LBS as I thought maybe they could help, and they were absolutley useless. I've never had anyone speak at me for so long and say absolutely nothing. No suggestions. None. Not one. Just a lot of mumbo jumbo about geometry ... which I think was the lead up to, "well, what you really need is a new bike". Which is true (for long distance riding), but out of reach until the spring. I even made it clear I was planning to buy the new bike from them, and was just looking for suggestions to make riding less painful in the meantime. Nothing.

Whew.

Thanks all.

I'm going to send Tom those photos tonight (very kind!), but I'm also starting to think if maybe it's my seat angle, which has never been adjusted since it left the store floor.

Thoughts?

I've noticed that when I do fast-spin intervals, that I usually end up with both of my hands on the top bar of my road-bike handlebars (both near the stem and out to the sides), and usually with one or both hands holding the bar from below. If I don't grip tight enough when I get over 110 rpm, the momentum of my legs pops me off the seat (not wobble...more of a jumping up). I hold-on underneath the bar to prevent pressure numbness and soreness from the extra pressure this put on my palms. Sound familiar?

On my commuter-bike (1995 stiff-fork, stiff rear Cannondale Mt. bike), it is even worse, and I use a similar technique with the flat-bar. Do you have bar-ends? I put them on my mountain bike to give me somewhere else to put my hands on longer rides. It really saves my hands.

I would also suggest some core exercises. If only I could commit to keep up with them myself...:rolleyes: Oh, an you need toe clips or clipless pedals to practice spining fast. You need to be able to pull up on the pedals, and push through the bottom to move that smooth. I do, anyway.

Have fun out there!