I have been riding my hybrid bike for some longer rides and been experiencing neck pain. Being 181 cm tall I am riding a Merida Crossway 58 cm frame. Does the frame look too big from the picture attachment? Especially wondering if my arms are too straight being a potencial cause for the neck issue.

This is just my opinion. I do not think that your frame size has anything to do with neck issues(s). My opinion is that it's your A) posture Your head looks like it might be craning forward a bit. Your back has a bit of hunch to it. Could very well be weak neck muscles, and they are being put to the test when being into the bike riding position/posture. I think hat you should try neck bridging (strengthening) at least three days a week to see if that helps. Also unrelated your seat may be able to go a bit higher.

Which part of your neck? Due to your very straight arms I'd think you have a pain between your shoulder blades in your upper back and some pain or numbness in your wrist and hands. But since you don't mention that, you must not have an issue. Possibly you only do short rides of less than an hour?

Bike doesn't look too big at all. I'm 180 cm with 34.5" legs. I've ridden as big as 64 cm frames with 59 and 60 cm being the norm for the last 10 years. Currently though, my new bike and favorite ride is a 56cm. All road bikes and none giving issues I couldn't resolve trying different adjustments over many rides.

Hybrid bikes and flat bars throw me. I just don't understand them. Nor do I ride a trainer, I just can't motivate myself to want to go nowhere. <grin>

Strenght exercises is definately something I should look into. Been having have seat slightly higher, but then there I get into a rather aggressive position. If I keep the bike I could try a stem with more rise.

Have recently taken up cycling, and living in a rainy part of Scandinavia the season is short. I got a road bike, Cannondale Caad 9 -56 cm frame. Have done no more than 2 hours ride using the CAAD, but havent had any neck issues using that bike. Its used on my indoor trainer, so thats part of the reason I have done my outdoor riding on the hybrid. On the road bike indoors I watch TV, looking more down on the tv rather than straightforward. Indoor rides are usually no more than 60 minutes.Have done a few 3 hours rides on the Merida hybrid, and I am feeling the the neck pain from loooking forward on the road. Typically feeling the neck issu after 45-60 minutes of riding, and its not any discomfort atfter I get off the bike. Location: Low neck, where it meets the shouldblades/collarbone. I am about to look into body measurements and bike geometry to gain more knowledge about this field, but I am very happy get more immidiate respons from those of you with more knowledge and experience from cycling.

Agree with headwind. Bike is, if anything, too small. If it were me, I'd flip the stem and move the spacers to on top. Someone should be able to put a straight edge on your back and have it touch all the way to the back of your head. Also: Riding Position Discovery

Definitely not too small but maybe the wrong style of bike for what you are doing. Three hour rides on a flat bar bike are likely to cause discomfort.

How many weeks/months/years have you been riding? Sometimes it take a while if biking is new to you. Going out for a two hour ride for the first time is going to hurt anyone. Start by going out around 30 min or so to start and build up from there. It will take a while usually a few months to get in decent biking shape. Doing core training like yoga will also help improve your body for cycling. Good luck and keep at it...

BTW the frame size looks okay to me. Might want to play with the stem length/height to start if anything...

Straddle the top tube flat footed.. pull up on the bars,.. how high did you get the front wheel off the ground?

I think you know better than that.

It's what we have done in bike shops to help customers in person , pick bike size choices.. for decades..

and it's been wrong for decades. you've been around long enough to know that's useless advice.

Yeah, but is it any more useless than any of the other old adages we toss around here?

enjoy your 20 guesses games..