solveg

I've been trying to improve my form and have been getting back into cycling slowly, so I don't hurt anything. One of the things I'm being careful not to do is lock my elbows and put too much weight on the bars. Something happened on today's ride that left me with a really sharp pain in between my shoulder blades right where the neck knob is, and a little higher.


I did a search on BF, and came up with the possibility I'm "going up hills like a vulture", or riding "like a monkey with arms out". What a visual!

I don't think* I'm doing either of these, but I did notice I curl my toes when I ride without clips. So my body must* be tense somehow. I didn't feel any pain on the ride, and only felt it when I got back.

If you're seated going up hills, can you be vulturish? And not sure I'm getting the monkey arms, either. Any thoughts?

Edit:

PS: My handlebars are already above my seat.

PPS: I did ride a lot more in the drops this ride than usual. Is this something I shouldn't be doing now that' I'm older?

Big Paulie

Were you towing that damn dog???

Seriously, don't be afraid to raise the bars further up, if there's room on your stem. The drops should be comfortable.

Rosie8

First, do you have osteoporosis or osteopenia? I had a friend who suddenly had a sharp pain and went to doc - had a fracture. If you are healthy with no bone issues, try lying down on the floor and let yourself melt into the ground for about 5 minutes. Then get a blanket that's been folded 2-3 times and lie down on the blanket with your head hanging off and resting on the ground. Yoga moves that really help the back and neck. Rodney Yee has a yoga tape/dvd (Yoga Remedies for Natural Healing) that has 8 min. routines for troubles like - back, digestion, headache, etc. Highly recommend it for after biking.

solveg

I actually thought that at one point... I've heard of people who spend their whole lives with a neck fracture, just one accident away from paraplegia, and never know it. I have no osteo problems that I know of. It feels sharp, but in the same way a crick in the neck feels like when you sleep wrong.

Necks are funny. I once got a dislocated jaw from sleeping on a waterbed! I didn't move position all night, which gave me a stiff neck, which caused muscle spasms, one of which dislocated my jaw!

VegaVixen

Worry less about where the handlebars are relative to the saddle. You know rather quickly (i.e. during the ride) if this is too great a distance. How is the reach? You may need a longer or shorter stem. Have you had your arm-length measured? This, along with your TT length, can give you a good idea of your optimal stem length....

If you can find such a person in your area, it's well worth the money to pay a pro fitter to fit your bike to you. I don't mean just any LBS. I mean a bike mechanic who holds the highest USCF certification for bike mechanics. These folks know what they're doing, and will spend a long time fitting the bike to you. It's a matter of pride more than business for them to dial you in just right....

I did so, and have never had a problem. Well, at least not regarding pain due to fit.... Gettin' the engine in shape is another story.

The Weak Link

Ten in a row.

Tom Bombadil

I've never experienced this pain and thus have nothing more to add to this thread than to bump TWL off of being the last poster.

efolsom

Try County Cycle on Lexington just north of 36, some very good wrenches whole will spend as much time as you need to get it right.

card

Amen.

"Reach" is very important. A good bike fitter can adjust several things to make you comfortable.

solveg

That's where I got my Klein adjusted! I like the shop, and it's about a mile from me.

But they don't sell Rivendell there, and Rivendell has a different sizing philosophy than most. I think the bike is fitted well to me, I think it's something I'm* doing.

Funny thing, I got on a bike tonight, and it doesn't hurt when I'm in the saddle, only when I'm off*.

BSLeVan

You can sometimes get that knot in-between the shoulderblades when you're straining to hold you head up. Are you doing anything different with the way you hold your head? New helmet?

solveg

...YES...

VegaVixen

's ok. Go talk with your pro fitters about it. If they're really pro fitters, they'll understand the Riv philosophy, and they'll help you faster than a sports PT.

stapfam

New Helmet? BSleVan may have found it.

I get neck ache on the road bike because I use an MTB helmet. Not much difference in the two types but MTB helmets have a peak on that means that I have to lift the head higher.

AND I am not getting a new helmet to go with the new bike. Bettini gets upset if anyone else uses his colour.

solveg

Well, thanks BSleVan, although it's a new helmet specially chosen for a cut-out on top of the eyes and a removable visor... so not sure I can get any better.

roccobike

Yeah, I get that same pain in exactly the same spot. To counter it, I frequently lower my head when riding alone or not drafting in a group. By frequently I'm talking something like once every two minutes. I rotate my arms at the shoulder about once every 10-15 minutes.
Most important, I received physical therapy last year and learned how to stretch the muscles in my neck. I perform that excercise before and after each ride over 20 miles.
BTW, My bars are adjusted WAY up. I use a Hybrid stem on my Bianchi to gain lift and a Cannondale adjustable MTB stem on the C'dale (it has a head shock on a road bike).

efolsom

+1

These guys are good, if its a fit issue they will find it.

solveg

Took my helmet off halfway through the ride today and really focused on my form during the whole ride. I did the arm rotating and some neck stretches. I sat upright frequently to stretch. No pain. Don't know which thing alleviated it, though.

BSLeVan

Glad to hear it was a pain free ride. That's really good news, because pain sucks.