ol geezer

I've been told a few times - by fellow cyclists riding behind me - that I frequently ride with my right shoulder dropped a couple of inches lower than my left shoulder.

I had surgery on my right elbow 40+ years ago which resulted in my right arm not being able to be "locked" completely straight. If I stretch out my right arm, the best I can do is about 15 degrees from perfectly straight; my left arm stretches out straight and is fine.

So, when I ride my right arm is actually in a near-optimal position, slightly bent. But I have a tendency to lock my left arm straight and we surmise that doing so is probably pushing my left shoulder higher than if I also had my left elbow bent at 15-ish degrees.

Bad habits are hard to break and although I try to consciously remember to keep my left arm slightly bent I inevitably lapse into the old habit of locking that arm straight.

What I'd like to find is some sort of elbow brace that would force the elbow into a 15-degree-ish bend so that it would eventually become second nature.

Any recommendations or suggestions?

indyfabz

If your position isn't causing any adverse effects, why change? I habitually ride with my right shoulder a tad lower than my left. Don't know why that is. I just feels natural.

corrado33

Piece of athletic tape inside of your arm while it's bent. It'll pull on your skin when you try to straighten your arm. Add various other pieces of tape depending on how well it stays put.

Something less substantial than this.


Sorry so big

ThermionicScott 

Get a jersey that says "what hump?" over your left shoulder.

ol geezer

corrado33 ... love the suggestion! I would never have thought of it and I just happen to have some athletic tape lying around ... somewhere ... from my past days as a runner.

ThermionicScott ... hilarious! Makes me think of Marty Feldman as Igor!

indyfabz

potd!

up on two

I'm trying to picture this riding posture in my head but can't help but think we all ride with our arms bent, so why is this a problem for the OP?
FYI, my right arm also does not extend straight like it once did..... an old injury and some torn ligaments never really healed back to normal. I'm happy I can not notice any adverse limitations other than it is prone to tendonitis if I pronate my lower arm, as in twisting a screwdriver or something.

ol geezer

Late follow-up ...

Rode again last night with someone (my LBS manager) who has previously observed this issue. We both realized that when I'm in the drops, my shoulders are level. I just naturally bend my left elbow to the same degree as my right elbow and everything is fine. I prefer riding that way so there's no issue most of the time. But when I'm on the hoods, the right shoulder droop is noticeable.

He correctly observed that my right elbow is in a good bend but that I have a tendency to want to lock my left arm straight thus forcing my left shoulder up an inch or two. His concern is that when I do that I also am probably "torqueing" (his word) my torso, i.e. twisting it very slightly to the right. In doing that I'm probably also twisting my pelvis to the right which has repercussions in the way I sit on the saddle, the stresses on my legs and knees, etc., etc.

He's in the bike bidness to make a living but didn't recommend a fitting and liked the taping idea. He suggested giving it a try and/or using some Kinesio tape.

canklecat

I tend to hunch up my right shoulder as I ride, probably due to old neck injuries. Chronic pain and a knotted up muscle there. I'm continually tweaking the handlebar, stem height and saddle position to get a compromise between comfort and efficiency. But there are limits with a hybrid so I'm about to start looking at road bikes with drops so I can vary positions on longer rides. Maybe trekking bars if that doesn't work out.

DrIsotope

I will occasionally catch a look at my shadow when riding, and note that my left shoulder sits higher than my right. Kinda like I'm half-shrugging. So I will consciously push that shoulder down, and a minute or so later, that shoulder is hunched again. Then I remember that I experienced a wonderful sternoclavicular dislocation many years ago, so my right collarbone sits all weird, and even if I intentionally hunch my shoulders, that one doesn't go up as high.

Thankfully it doesn't hurt, so I've just decided to not worry about it.

Korina

Yikes! Have you tried massage therapy? It can do wonders.

canklecat

It helped years ago after the accident. I saw a chiropractor who was an excellent massage therapist as well. But my insurance ran out, I was unemployable for years due to the injuries, and I couldn't afford any more treatment.

Occasionally I borrow a friend's Brookstone massager. It's like a bread dough kneader for muscles. Hurts so good.

Note to folks driving or bicycling in Texas: Don't get hit by a vehicle unless it's a commercial vehicle, or unless you carry hefty personal coverage. Due to tort reform and liability limits, getting hit by a private vehicle will almost never pay anywhere close to your actual losses and medical expenses. That's why the ambulance chaser attorneys emphasize "DID YOU GET HIT BY A BIG TRUCK!?! CALL ME NOW!!!"

Not whining, just saying how things are. I'm actually fortunate to be able to bicycle again. Three years ago -- a decade after the accident -- I still needed a cane for longer walks. When I resumed cycling again almost exactly a year ago last August I never thought I'd be able to ride more than a couple of miles. Now I can manage 20-40 miles on good days, once or twice a week, recuperating a day or two between longer rides. Neck aches today, but I'm still planning to ride this weekend. And I'm shooting for a 58 mile one-day ride by the end of the month, to ride my age.

Korina

Well you're doing better than me; I've managed one 30 mile ride ever. Time and laziness, I suppose.