grgs

Seems that sometimes when I ride my new Specialized Road bike my right shoulder seems to get sore. I am relatively heavy for a rider, about 193 lbs. Am I leaning on it in a strange way? Anyone else experience this?

Crinolin

I have noticed that when I ride for a long time (up to an hour) I get a sharp pain behind my left shoulder. It is really sharp, like a tight knot in my back. I wonder about it too. Is it something I just have to get used to? It doesn't feel like regular muscle soreness. I try and change positions, like riding with my hands close together in the middle of the handle bars, but I have a mountain bike and it is terribly dangerous to steer like that. I kinda want to get a road bike with the handle bars that keep your hands close together (therefore stretching out your back, which I think would be the cure), but I don't have any extra money right now. I would like someone who knows to respond.

Crinolin

oh, yeah - I'm around 120lbs. So, it shouldn't be your weight if we have the same problem.

funtai

I had some shoulder pain after riding; went to the doctor and he told me it was due to rotator cuff problems. He referred me to a sports medicine guy who gave me some exercises to do, and the pain went away after about a month of the exercises. There are lots of different things that can cause shoulder pain. Go see a doctor!

edp773

I get a tight muscle between my neck amd shoulder blade on the right side. I believe this is from too much computer use and my grip on handlebars. After longer hard rides, I get a delayed ache in my left shoulder. I have an appointment with my DR. this week to check this out. I hope it is not referred pain.

cheebahmunkey

I used to get shoulder pains when I worked too much and too hard when I was overweight. I think it's a type of cramp.

BigAlMN

I attempted to get some training in on an upright this winter. I would ride my mountain bike on a Cycle-Ops trainer for approximately 20 minutes initially and then have to stop because of the same pains that each of you have described. With continued training and enduring thru the pain (my sons' theme had been "no pain, no gain" or "Pain is weakness leaving the body."), I did get up to 45 minutes. The knots only got tighter when they occurred. My son suggested shoulder shrugs - weights in hand. Did that for a while and could push myself to 60 minutes and the pain was decreasing. But finally, I found that the knots, pains were not going away despite my perseverance, weight lifting. So, I switched.

I have upgraded from my mountain bike to a recumbent trike. Very much appreciated improvement. And, of course, my chiropractor is pleased with the change ( he had not found that he could effect any change for me.)

Do again, my solution was to change riding style. I found no satisfactory alternative.

slagjumper

I developed rotator cuff pain after a stupid fall last christmas. I slipped on hard wood steps wearing wool socks. Since then I have had rotator cuff issues. Push ups have become a pain. I can feel a bit of tendons pulling inside the joint. I can still pound out a century every couple of weeks but I can feel the dull pain. Advil helps

Crinolin

Thank you so much, everybody. Your replies have been very helpful. I think it is the kind of bike I am riding, like BigAIMIN said, because it feels better when I reposition my hands.

aikigreg

I would bet that the majority of it comes from simple stress. You hold the muscle too tight instead of riding nice and relaxed. This will inflame the muscle over time. Unfortunately it's a habit I also have.

broken shoulder

Get on a piece of secluded flat ground and at about 10mph take your hands of the bars and see if the bike goes all over the place - if it does try checking the alignment of ;-
1.Your frame and handlebars.
2.The rear wheel in the dropouts.
Also check the rear wheel is centred correctly on the spindle.
problems with any of the above can mean you are always working hard to correct the faults and keep the bike straight.Different riders experience the effects of this in various ways - some get bad aches in the hands and wrists,others in the shoulders.

operator

It's a fit problem.

toomyus

i have the same problem, pain in my shoulder and back, like there is a knot there. it really only shows itself when im well fatigued. i get my girlfriend to massage it out of me but it comes back. it even hurts my neck now. im pretty sure when its like mine uve to see a chiropractor and then see a professional massage person.