Woke up with a stiff neck, stiff shoulders, stiff rib cage too. Can't think of any root cause. Sometimes it just happens (although truth be told, I'm under an unusually high amount of personal stress this week). Anyway...anyone with advice on what's worked for you?

I've already tried the hot bath, and I've taken ibuprofen. Still hurts. Thanks!

cougar!

If, indeed, it is stress related, I can empathize. I too experience this malady every now and then. I find that a good, hard, sweaty workout help relive the stress and the tension. Often this requires a bit of working through the pain, and I usually start the workout slowly. Just two days ago I awoke to that knot and pain between the shoulder blades and running up through the neck. I was pretty sure it was related to stress at work. Got on the bike, and it hurt like the dickens for about 20 - 25 minutes, but I kept pushing through. By the end of a brisk 20 mile ride and a hot shower, the pain and knot were gone.

Good luck with your attempts at relief.

Go for a ride and all your pains will go away!

Okay,

I've talked with my boss who was willing to let me rearrange some of my projects which should help, AND he encouraged me to take a ride over the lunch hour as well.

I'm going to ride the Cypress, not The Diego, because I still don't have the handlebars at the right height on The Diego, and I have a smidgeon of a hunch of a theory that perhaps my stiff neck is related to a ride a couple of days ago on The Diego, in which I practiced being in the drops a little, and found it hurt my neck at that time. I stopped doing that, but perhaps the stiff neck etc. is a residual thing from this, as well as the personal stress.

I love working for my boss!

If you helmet has a visor, you may want to remove it if you can during rides on the Diego. This will alow you to see with your head down more than on the Cypress or MTB.

Why are you asking us?

Because thinking "out loud" has been helpful. For instance, I didn't think of my ride on The Diego until my last post, since it had been a couple of days. Hadn't occured to me.

I bet if you would stop riding the pathway along the beach you sent us pictures of you would get rid of the neck stiffness from your constant "swivel headedness". Don't you just love friends like us!!

I hate to say it but sometimes my similar ache sure seem weather related........

DG...after a gazillion posts where everyone admonishes everyone else to get a good bike fit, you go out on the Diego before it's ready for you. Oi Vey! And then ride shoulder down while looking up with a neck made vulnerable by stress. Double Oi Vey!!

A few moments of looking like a Euro-Pro might have been worth it.....but stick to your new regimen and wait for the properly fit bike ...and even then, do a few neck rolls, sit up regularly, and only short periods on the drops-- give yourself some time to adapt.

We will not allow you to start building an argument for putting Diego in the corner with Lucky.

It's tough getting old. Now we wake up with a stiff neck where we used to wake up with a stiff..............oh never mind.

Have you tried some neck exercises?

I have arthritis in the neck and shoulder area. After 4 straight days of riding, work stress and sitting at the computer for hours on end my neck has been bothering me, too. I find that doing a few exercises often helps to work the kinks out of the neck.

Your right Gary,raising the stem will reduce the strain on your neck and back.Had the same issue on my road bikes so that now my bars are aprox. level with the seat.You really should try some of minor adjustments with an allen wrench stowed in your seat bag.Is your Ostrich forward enough so that you have a slight bend at your elbows.This would give you a more vertical position on your back.

rings

Sounds like you have a great boss. Does he need any help?

+1
Good advise, Beverly. This is what I do for over ten years. My pain in the neck can be bad enough to wake me up. Neck exercises ALWAYS help me so that I do not feel compelled to see a doctor. I am afraid of what they may tell me.

Could be the position on the Diego so you need to raise the bars- but you know that. Helmet visor is another problem and this is one I found on the road bike. Then there is the Age thing- The Diego is faster than the Cypress and the head is lower down. If you are riding in the drops- then the back of your neck is exposed and that extra speed is causing a draft. Two cures- slow down a bit or get a scarf. Or wait till the weather breaks 80 and just get the warm air to give you a massage. Better still- get those girls you met to give you a massage.

Go see a chiroprator or massage therapist. After a session you may know more about the cause. I've done both (not due to cycling) and I have one of those electric massage wands. Surprisingly, it works well. My neck problem is from a motorcycle injury. Believe me I know neck issues.

Gary, for what it's worth, I have trouble riding my C'dale in the drops because if I do, I get neck pain, back pain, shoulder stiffness, you know the drill. I think your theory has a great deal of merit. Try relaxing the muscles as much as possible when you sleep.

PS Can we trade bosses? When it come to disease caused stress, mine is a carrier.

Get a bent to get "unbent" Gary!

San Diego Beach Babes,massages,have you given any thought to what could happen to a guy in Garys present age and condition.Might as well just throw him under the bus.

When I read your message a couple of days ago about putting 25 miles on your new bike, I was worried that you might aggravate your shoulders, lower back, or neck, given that you hadn't had the bars raised yet. I know I would be a hurting puppy if I put in a couple of hours on a bike that wasn't set up well for me.

Well, it was onlyl 5 miles, not 25 miles, but I do believe that's what caused this neck problem. Feels a little better now -- did a ten miler on the Cypress.

I was referring to the post you wrote on March 10th:

"I'm happy to report that today, seven weeks exactly since my knee problems began, I rode a little over 25 miles with no knee pain whatsoever. My butt complained a little about the saddle, but nothing serious.

I think I'm BACK! "

I was concerned that you were pushing things too quickly.

Oh -- THAT ride. Well, everything else still seems fine when I ride the Cypress. No knee problems, and I've never had any neck problems on that bike.

There'll be none of that talk, DG. Flying an F15 may squish you around a bit, but it is exhilirating and you get used to it. Flying in my uncle's old biplane cropduster was slower. But, come to think of it, there were a few times he made my cousin and I, strapped in upfront together, wet our pants. (I can recall my grandmother shaking her broom at us as we buzzed the ranchhouse.) Okay, ride them both.