Fifty Plus (50+) - Solution for neck pain on long rides - pics

I posted about my problem with fairly severe pain in my neck on long rides, particularly on one of my bikes, about a week ago:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/821752-Way-to-get-neck-shoulder-relief-on-longer-rides

I got a lot of great suggestions, but the one that I adopted was from FrenchFit, who suggested trekking bars with bar ends. I'll try it out on a long ride this weekend, weather permitting, but I'm pretty optimistic - it seemed to really do the trick on the short test ride I did.

Thanks!

Here's the bike with the modified cockpit:
254579254580

Just as a weird data point, I had a pro fit done on another bike (a road bike), and the result was to put the handlebars about 2 inches above the seat level, swap out the old bars for ones that were pretty much horizontal from the tops to the hoods, and to bring the bars closer. I rode that bike for about 2 hours on Sunday, and yes, there was some discomfort. But it was completely tolerable. AND - my neck has been better since that ride, than it has been for weeks. Bianchi therapy?

Here's what the road bike looks like after the pro fit:

254584

I wonder if this will mean that I can take the bar ends off the hybrid...

tony-I just shortened the stem on my titanium bike in an effort to bring my head up a bit. It helped , however, I'm thinking that raising the bar a bit will help even more esp. as its working for you.

Glad it worked out for you.

I got to try it on a 2 1/2 hour ride on Saturday, and ... NO PAIN! Looks kludgy as hell, but NO PAIN!

The way I've got those bar ends set up, they almost form another handlebar - I found that I could control the bike over every road condition I encountered. So this is kind of the best of all worlds - the normal position for most of the time, an aero position for when you need it, the sides of the trekking bars for a change of position, and a uber-relaxed position for just cruising along ...

Tony, if it works for you and you can ride without pain then it is a winner set up in my book. The bars actually look like a professional set up the way you have everything assembled. Hope you can enjoy your rides now.

Bill

I posted about my problem with fairly severe pain in my neck on long rides, particularly on one of my bikes, about a week ago:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/821752-Way-to-get-neck-shoulder-relief-on-longer-rides

I got a lot of great suggestions, but the one that I adopted was from FrenchFit, who suggested trekking bars with bar ends. I'll try it out on a long ride this weekend, weather permitting, but I'm pretty optimistic - it seemed to really do the trick on the short test ride I did.

Thanks!

Here's the bike with the modified cockpit:
254579254580

Just as a weird data point, I had a pro fit done on another bike (a road bike), and the result was to put the handlebars about 2 inches above the seat level, swap out the old bars for ones that were pretty much horizontal from the tops to the hoods, and to bring the bars closer. I rode that bike for about 2 hours on Sunday, and yes, there was some discomfort. But it was completely tolerable. AND - my neck has been better since that ride, than it has been for weeks. Bianchi therapy?

Here's what the road bike looks like after the pro fit:

254584

I wonder if this will mean that I can take the bar ends off the hybrid...

A variety of positions is usually the answer. I wouldn't use a straight bar on any bike.

Marc