Adjust the fit or adjust the body?
 

Alright, I did a quick search and came up with nothing. Even if this has been discussed before, it's not like you've got anything better to do than discuss it again, so don't bother pretending like you do.

I've had my road bike for about a week now. I've put on 30 miles or something pitiful like that. Whenever I'm on the bike having to crane my neck up to look, it hurts.

I'm currently set up in a pretty aggressive position because it feels good for the rest of my body. My lower back gets a little tight, but nothing major. The only thing that really bothers me is my neck.

Should I flip the stem back up and add the spacers back in to try and get some relief for my neck? I'm already spending most of my time in the hoods, so I can't change my position. Or should I just HTFU and let my body adjust to the bike? I'm only 20, and the neck pain goes away shortly after I get off the bike and do a few stretches. Should I just give it time to adjust? It's not like it's painful enough for me to stop riding.

So, adjust to the bike, or adjust the bike to me?

I'm tempted to just leave the current fit alone (my Cat 2 friend did it for me) until I force my body into adjusting to road riding, and then get another fitting done once I know what I can handle and what I can't.

Suggestions?

don't strain to look up so hard. When I am in the drops I sometimes feel myself trying to look forward too much and putting some strain on my neck, but if you are doing this while on the hoods you could be in too aggressive of a position. You could try flipping the stem back and putting the spacers back and then doing like 500 miles in a more comfortable position and then returning it to it's current more aggressive set up.

edit: I have only been riding for a few months and like 1000 miles, so take everything I say with much skepticism because I could be completely full of it.

Your neck muscles will get more used to it. But it is possible that you would be better served by leaving your bike in its more relaxed configuration until you feel that it is holding you back. That may be never.

Aggressive geometry is for going fast, not for going comfortably. If you're one of those people for whom aggressive geometry IS comfortable, congratulations on successfully hardening the f up.

Do you wear glasses? And/or does your helmet have a visor?

I'm asking because my neck would be killing me if I tried to look through the optic center of my glasses all the time. And, with a visor, I have to hold it up some, but a little less. I hate direct sunlight in my eyes, though (sunglasses really don't help), so I still use the visor most of the time. If it's dark or I'm going to be riding in a lot of shade, I'll actually take the visor off and stick it in a jersey pocket, and sometimes just look over the tops of my glasses.

Adjust the bike to you. You'll get more accustomed to the riding position, and you can readjust the bike as time goes on.

1+ on flip the stem back. Give your muscles time to get stronger. What starts out as a minor pain could get major, and end up keeping you from riding. Do 500 miles while working on strength and flexiblity then you can try it the more aggressive position.

Flip the stem back up and put the spacers under it. Give your body time to adjust. Then gradually, maybe every 500 miles or so, drop it down a spacer. Eventually you'll find your sweet spot.

+100

You shouldn't force yourself down all at once.

+1

Adjust the bike somewhat, but not fully relaxed, to you then, gradually adjust the bike to assume a more aggressive position.

I flipped the stem and added the spacers back in. I'll be going for a ride after the Panthers' game today. I'll let ya'll know how it feels. I still don't have my clipless pedals here, so I'm using platforms and I haven't bothered to get a really good fit yet since it'll change.