gthomson

Every year a new discomfort seems to rear its ugly head. This year, for some reason I'm getting this sharp pain between my shoulders where the neck and spine join. It starts to spread down into the chest and starts to make breathing difficult. Seems to trigger stretching over to ride the bikes with the drop bars (though I'm placing hands on top, not in the drop bars). Last year it was short of breadth issues when Zwifting so i had a full assessment of heart and cardiology and all tests came back normal. Worried, I had the doctor listen to my heart on a recent visit and he didn't hear anything out of the ordinary.

Riding on the mountain bike with the flat bars raised up seems to be OK so its just the road bikes and I notice it more when riding outside than indoors on the trainer (though both trigger it). Could it be the cold air when riding outside?

Iride01 

Is your position on the drop bar bike lower than your other bikes you don't have an issue with? I'm thinking mostly it's just you having to lift your head up more and craning your neck to see down the road. You might also be letting your shoulders get pushed back beyond their normal position if you are trying to be more aero and keep a flatter back. The flat back is good. The shoulders being bowed back isn't.

That adjustable strap inside your helmet with the thumbwheel needs to be loosened every time you put your helmet on and then snugged up with the helmet rotated back on your head so the front of the helmet doesn't block your vision when your eyes are lifted up. Some also have other adjustments inside to control how far back the helmet sits on your head. If you can't get it to where you don't have the helmet blocking your vision when your eyes are lifted up to their max comfortable position, then you might need a different helmet.

gthomson

Iride01, on the road bikes I'm definitely down lower than my 90's mountain bike which is just a straight bar with stem up about 30-degree angle, so comfortable. I ride 80's steel bikes and modern aluminum bikes, but they are all with drop bars, although I'm usually positioning my hands on the top rather than in the drops. I haven't done a proper fit for them all so there are definitely differences in the ergonomics between each bike but normally I take it with a grain of salt that one can be more comfortable than the other. This year, they are all uncomfortable on my shoulders.
The helmet is a good idea, as I've ridden it a few times over the winter, and I wear a thin hat under the helmet, so it's likely stretched the strap a little. I can't really think that my line of vision has changed that much but it's possible. It just seems odd that I did all the same riding last year and did not have this problem.

john m flores 

Does your helmet have a brim/peak?

gthomson

No, I removed those from my helmets.

So maybe it's being in the position of lifting my head up to see in front of me that's the problem? I don't see how I could ride if I wasn't in the position? When I'm out in open space, no cars and good roads I will tilt my head down and look only in front of my wheel but that's very rare. I have no faith in the path in front of me to not be looking way ahead for potential problems, like pot holes, sticks, dead animals, etc...

What about my body shrinking and now making what was a good fit last year a bad fit this year? Does that happen?

john m flores 

It is kind of odd that the change would be so drastic after just a year, but I guess not impossible. I know that I can't maintain the same riding position that I held 10 years ago. I am stretching a bit more and trying to build some strength this year though.

Does your stem have a drop? Can you flip it? Or maybe try a shorter stem with more rise?

gthomson

I can understand in 10 years there will be some changes to my riding pattern (which will put me at 66) but like you said, not in a year. I'm hoping it's just a muscle strain and some physio can work it out. Just thought I would put it out there to group to see if others have experienced this before before booking with a therapist.

It's still a bit cold where I am for long rides on the road bike so hopefully, I can get this sorted out before the riding season gets in full swing.

thanks to those who responded.

delbiker1 

It could be innumerable different causes. Your can get a lot of guesses and opinions, here, no more.

Iride01 

I've never developed the habit of doing much resistance training. But I've always known that stronger muscles help keep joint and other pains away. When ever I build that muscle group back up, that pain is gone for quite a while.

As I get older and do less activity, I've found that my muscle mass is diminishing in some areas. And those tend to be areas that I'll have a corresponding issue with on the bike. Thankfully, I've been able to correct it with irregular amounts of resistance type exercise of those muscle groups. But at my current age of 66 and retired, I'm even more than ever looking like I'm going to have to pick a gym and start going there 3 days a week.

You and any other old person should also consider if loss of muscle mass as we age is a possible cause for pains you have on the bike. And if the answer is yes, then do something about it. Exercise those muscle groups!

Riding the bike really only exercises the heart muscle. And maybe the legs.

philbob57

Neck pain reared its head this year much more than any year in the past. I'm doing neck strengthening exercises with some positive results.

gthomson

Just to come full circle on this post in case anyone else has this problem they can put a name to the cause. Therapist/chiropractor said it was Dowagers Hump, a fairly common thing as we age and although not a condition of any concern, can cause neck pain, pain in the shoulders, down to the arms and even problems with breathing as the neck can pinch nerves which all impact these areas mentioned. The cycling does not help this affliction, but I have to overcome it. I realize now that I have lost good posture and neglected resistance training as mentioned above, from not working out on a regular basis since COVID. My work had a gym which I used every day, lifting weights, and since I've been working at home since 2020, only do a light workout with weights.

There are simple exercises to help correct the neck curving forward which I am going to put to practice, along with more stretching and figure out how to get more weight training in.

WaveyGravey

I began using an Inversion table several years ago when experiencing lower back pain. Hang upside down about 5 minutes a day. The improvement was dramatic, and I believe greatly helps with neck issues as well.