MattinNY

I tend to bunch up / tighten the muscles in my shoulders. Doesn't matter if I'm in the drops or on the hoods, I can't help myself from doing it.

On a 15 mile ride I'm just starting to be in pain by the end of the ride. Today I did 36 miles and my shoulders were killing me for the last 15 miles.

I've tried concentrating on not tensing up, but can't seem to get in a good habit of keeping them down.

Does anybody have any tricks or tips for keeping your shoulders down?

simplyred

Go slower and breathe deeper... you may feel more relaxed at a slower speed...
Ride in open roads with very few cars.. that also may take some stress off... Hell just practice in a parking lot... just concentrate on relaxing and step yourself back to your normal routes...

Keeping them down? You mean less tense, because that's how I interpreted your question... am i correct?

MattinNY

Yes less tense.

Thanks for the quick response

ExMachina

Are you're bars too narrow for your shoulders? Moving up 2cm in width did wonders for me.

Hipcycler

I'll bet your grip is too tight also, right?
Feather grip...like playing a piano someone once said.

I notice when I catch myself tensing my shoulders my gripe is too tight....losen the hands and the shoulders/back seem to follow.

Pfoot

Perhaps watch yourself by making sure your elbows aren't straight. Also agree with hip, keeping hands loose on bars will probably help. Make sure your weight is on your pedals and saddle, not on your bars, and I bet your shoulders will be better.

corwincastle

man i dont know i just dont think about it and i dont get sore at all also try and move more often personnally when hands hurt just a tiny bit i move to another posistion and try and do that

MattinNY

Thanks for the replys

I don't know if the bars are too narrow, but I just got the bike in March and I was fitted at the time.

When I bring it back for the 500 mile checkup I will ask the LBS.

I'm very concious of my hands and am constantly moving them. I don't think my grip is too tight, I'm ususially just resting them on the bar.

Maybe I'm leaning too far foward, I'll check with the LBS on that also.

Mojo GoGo

Are your bars and seat level or are your bars below your seat. If the bars a couple inches below your saddle height it might cause you to ride with straight arms (due to limitations with flexibility or after your hips tire). If this is the case you may be letting your torso "sag" onto your straight arms so you don't have to hold yourself up...