Pain almost everywhere. Plz help
#1
Your favorite snack food
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 34
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Pain almost everywhere. Plz help
SO got my first bike, been riding for about a month. My shoulders hurt more than normal, but i have bad shoulders. Two surgerys on each. My hands hurt when i ride. When i ride my knees dont hurt, but after for about two days my knees pop if my foot stays planted and turn around. My back sometimes hurts right in the middle(non midline, so it muscle). The only thing that doesnt hurt is my nether regions so thats a good thing(which i hear is a common thing). I ride about 25 miles at a time, it this nnormal or should i go get checked out.
#2
Cat 3 Meter - Don't Care
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,893
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
No it's not normal and I'd be willing to bet your fit is totally off or your bike doesn't fit you. Do yourself a favor go to a respectable LBS and ask to get a proper fitting. It's not cheap but it's worth it, hopefully they can get you set up on your current bike but there is a chance the bike you're riding just doesn't fit you.
If you get a fit and these problems persist then maybe think about going to a doctor but first go get fitted.
If you get a fit and these problems persist then maybe think about going to a doctor but first go get fitted.
#3
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times
in
329 Posts
This is a page of a collection of articles which might be useful to you as you work on getting your bicycle set up correctly. And back when I was starting, the library had resources ... you might check there as well.
https://www.cyclemetrics.com/Pages/Fi..._fit_links.htm
https://www.cyclemetrics.com/Pages/Fi..._fit_links.htm
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#4
on by
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 957
Bikes: Waterford RS-33, Salsa Vaya, Bacchetta Giro 20 ATT
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 927 Post(s)
Liked 690 Times
in
437 Posts
Just to see if it's obvious to we who think we know what we're talkin' bout...
1. What style bike do you have (road, cross, mtb)?
2. How tall are you?
3. What's your inseam?
4. What's the frame size of your bike?
5. What make/model?
Since you're in so much discomfort, if it is a sizing issue then your answers will tell the tale.
1. What style bike do you have (road, cross, mtb)?
2. How tall are you?
3. What's your inseam?
4. What's the frame size of your bike?
5. What make/model?
Since you're in so much discomfort, if it is a sizing issue then your answers will tell the tale.
#5
Your favorite snack food
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 34
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
1. I have a cross bike, but mainly use it on the road. Michigan roads are rough and i like easy dirt trails.
2. Im 5'9"
3. I really dont know my inseam i kinda need to get it measured.
4. my bike is a 54". It comes right up to my my croch so im guesing my inseam is around 54(if i understand inseam measurement right)
5. Redline conquest sport
2. Im 5'9"
3. I really dont know my inseam i kinda need to get it measured.
4. my bike is a 54". It comes right up to my my croch so im guesing my inseam is around 54(if i understand inseam measurement right)
5. Redline conquest sport
#6
on by
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 957
Bikes: Waterford RS-33, Salsa Vaya, Bacchetta Giro 20 ATT
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 927 Post(s)
Liked 690 Times
in
437 Posts
1. I have a cross bike, but mainly use it on the road. Michigan roads are rough and i like easy dirt trails.
2. Im 5'9"
3. I really dont know my inseam i kinda need to get it measured.
4. my bike is a 54". It comes right up to my my croch so im guesing my inseam is around 54(if i understand inseam measurement right)
5. Redline conquest sport
2. Im 5'9"
3. I really dont know my inseam i kinda need to get it measured.
4. my bike is a 54". It comes right up to my my croch so im guesing my inseam is around 54(if i understand inseam measurement right)
5. Redline conquest sport
Sounds like your bike is too big if you are touching the top tube. There are other factors (like leg length) that a professional fitter can help with. Nice looking bike though. Hopefully you can trade the bike for a more appropriate size if need be.
Here's a recent thread that polled BF'ers on height vs frame size. Plug your size in an see where you fit compared to lots of other folks. Looks like you, at 5'9", fit in around the 54cm frame size so more of your height is in your upper body compared to the industry 'norm'.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...me+size+height
#7
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times
in
329 Posts
1. I have a cross bike, but mainly use it on the road. Michigan roads are rough and i like easy dirt trails.
2. Im 5'9"
3. I really dont know my inseam i kinda need to get it measured.
4. my bike is a 54". It comes right up to my my croch so im guesing my inseam is around 54(if i understand inseam measurement right)
5. Redline conquest sport
2. Im 5'9"
3. I really dont know my inseam i kinda need to get it measured.
4. my bike is a 54". It comes right up to my my croch so im guesing my inseam is around 54(if i understand inseam measurement right)
5. Redline conquest sport
If your bicycle is *54* that centimetres not inches.
Can you post a pic of you on the bicycle?
Have you had anyone help you with the fit of the bicycle ... and NOT just: "Oh yeah, you can stand over, it should be fine".
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#8
Your favorite snack food
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 34
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I wear 34"x32" but i wear em a lil baggy. I always thought the second number waa leg length. The guy at LBS said the bike fit me. It doesnt exactly come right up to my croch but my "stuff" touches on the bar(sorry but dont know of a better way to but it). But i was wearing some baggy shorts when i i bought it. I will get a fitting soon, tomorrow if i can.
Last edited by chexmix; 05-14-09 at 01:28 AM.
#9
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times
in
329 Posts
I wear 34"x32" but i wear em a lil baggy. I always thought the second number waa leg length. The guy at LBS said the bike fit me. It doesnt exactly come right up to my croch but my "stuff" touches on the bar(sorry but dont know of a better way to but it). But i was wearing some baggy shorts when i i bought it. I will get a fitting soon, tomorrow if i can.
OK, first of all ... 32" is your inseam or close to it.
Secondly, standing over the bicycle does not mean it a) fits you; or b) is set up to fit you.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#10
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times
in
329 Posts
Here ... I just posted this in another thread that is still on the first page of this forum ... it might help you:
The most important thing for ensuring are comfortable on the bicycle is making sure your bicycle fits you and is set up for you. If your bicycle is set up badly, your saddle will feel uncomfortable, your knees will hurt, and your neck and shoulders will hurt ... and you will be in pain.
I used to ask new cyclists if their bicycles fit them, and they would come back and tell me that someone at their LBS told them the bicycle fit, and so I'd leave it at that. But this year I've started digging further and have discovered what people mean when they say that.
What they mean is that they went in to the shop to buy a bicycle, they stood over several bicycles, the guy at the LBS said, "Yep, that should be about right." ... and they rode off with their new bicycles, without ever having their bicycles set up for them. That might be a good starting place, but that's not all there is to fit. Then these same people come to BF and complain that they hurt when they ride.
First, make sure your saddle is in the right position. Make sure it is high enough, without being too high. Make sure it is far enough forward or backward. Make sure your handlebars are in the right position. Your body and the bicycle are a machine ... if you've ever studied subjects like physics, strength of materials, motion, and so on you will have discovered that there is an optimum set up for machines so that they use the least energy to put out the most energy ..... and that's the set up you're shooting for with you on your bicycle.
If your LBS won't do it, there are a number of sites online where you can get a pretty good idea of how to set up your bicycle ... and there's always tweaking involved. Also, the setup seems to evolve. You'll get it just right one year, and then you'll do something like burn your foot to the bone and have to go through months of not walking or moving, and months of physio to learn to walk again ... and when you get back on your bicycle again, it doesn't fit quite right. Or maybe you gain or lose weight so you hold yourself differently on the bicycle. Things do change, but if you have managed to get it set up just right, any changes are usually just minor tweaks.
Once you've got it just right ... take measurements and record them somewhere. Note that most measurements are taken to the centreline, not to the edge. So if you're measuring the distance from the top of your saddle to your bottom bracket, you'll measure from the top of your saddle to the middle of your bottom bracket. It's an engineering/drafting thing.
This is a page of a collection of articles which might be useful to you as you work on getting your bicycle set up correctly. And back when I was starting, the library had resources.
https://www.cyclemetrics.com/Pages/Fi..._fit_links.htm
The most important thing for ensuring are comfortable on the bicycle is making sure your bicycle fits you and is set up for you. If your bicycle is set up badly, your saddle will feel uncomfortable, your knees will hurt, and your neck and shoulders will hurt ... and you will be in pain.
I used to ask new cyclists if their bicycles fit them, and they would come back and tell me that someone at their LBS told them the bicycle fit, and so I'd leave it at that. But this year I've started digging further and have discovered what people mean when they say that.
What they mean is that they went in to the shop to buy a bicycle, they stood over several bicycles, the guy at the LBS said, "Yep, that should be about right." ... and they rode off with their new bicycles, without ever having their bicycles set up for them. That might be a good starting place, but that's not all there is to fit. Then these same people come to BF and complain that they hurt when they ride.
First, make sure your saddle is in the right position. Make sure it is high enough, without being too high. Make sure it is far enough forward or backward. Make sure your handlebars are in the right position. Your body and the bicycle are a machine ... if you've ever studied subjects like physics, strength of materials, motion, and so on you will have discovered that there is an optimum set up for machines so that they use the least energy to put out the most energy ..... and that's the set up you're shooting for with you on your bicycle.
If your LBS won't do it, there are a number of sites online where you can get a pretty good idea of how to set up your bicycle ... and there's always tweaking involved. Also, the setup seems to evolve. You'll get it just right one year, and then you'll do something like burn your foot to the bone and have to go through months of not walking or moving, and months of physio to learn to walk again ... and when you get back on your bicycle again, it doesn't fit quite right. Or maybe you gain or lose weight so you hold yourself differently on the bicycle. Things do change, but if you have managed to get it set up just right, any changes are usually just minor tweaks.
Once you've got it just right ... take measurements and record them somewhere. Note that most measurements are taken to the centreline, not to the edge. So if you're measuring the distance from the top of your saddle to your bottom bracket, you'll measure from the top of your saddle to the middle of your bottom bracket. It's an engineering/drafting thing.
This is a page of a collection of articles which might be useful to you as you work on getting your bicycle set up correctly. And back when I was starting, the library had resources.
https://www.cyclemetrics.com/Pages/Fi..._fit_links.htm
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#12
Oooooooofffff SALESMAN!
No it's not normal and I'd be willing to bet your fit is totally off or your bike doesn't fit you. Do yourself a favor go to a respectable LBS and ask to get a proper fitting. It's not cheap but it's worth it, hopefully they can get you set up on your current bike but there is a chance the bike you're riding just doesn't fit you.
If you get a fit and these problems persist then maybe think about going to a doctor but first go get fitted.
If you get a fit and these problems persist then maybe think about going to a doctor but first go get fitted.
#13
Dough Mestique
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 355
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A couple of other factors to consider are your age and athletic history. If you're over 40 and this is your first athletic endeavor, some creaking and popping is probably normal and will decrease with time. If you're young and fit, something is definitely amiss.
I'd recommend some time in the gym to strengthen those shoulders in any case.
I'm also with those who recommend a fitting at the local LBS. It sounds to me like your bike might be too big, which means the handle bars might be too wide and the reach too long, which would overload your shoulders. You may have to lay out some bux for new bars and stem.
BL
I'd recommend some time in the gym to strengthen those shoulders in any case.
I'm also with those who recommend a fitting at the local LBS. It sounds to me like your bike might be too big, which means the handle bars might be too wide and the reach too long, which would overload your shoulders. You may have to lay out some bux for new bars and stem.
BL
#14
on by
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 957
Bikes: Waterford RS-33, Salsa Vaya, Bacchetta Giro 20 ATT
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 927 Post(s)
Liked 690 Times
in
437 Posts
A couple of other factors to consider are your age and athletic history. If you're over 40 and this is your first athletic endeavor, some creaking and popping is probably normal and will decrease with time. If you're young and fit, something is definitely amiss.
I'd recommend some time in the gym to strengthen those shoulders in any case.
I'm also with those who recommend a fitting at the local LBS. It sounds to me like your bike might be too big, which means the handle bars might be too wide and the reach too long, which would overload your shoulders. You may have to lay out some bux for new bars and stem.
BL
I'd recommend some time in the gym to strengthen those shoulders in any case.
I'm also with those who recommend a fitting at the local LBS. It sounds to me like your bike might be too big, which means the handle bars might be too wide and the reach too long, which would overload your shoulders. You may have to lay out some bux for new bars and stem.
BL
#15
stole your bike
Standover height isn't the best way of determining whether the bike will fit since there are other issues involved. Now I'm hardly a fit expert, but over the years I've learned a thing or two about what doesn't work. Sounds like you have reach issues and since people have different proportions, standing someone over a bike doesn't guarantee that will work for you. Machka gave you some good info so you can read up and measure yourself to get a sense of what bike you should be on as well as stem length to address any reach issues. Good luck!
__________________
I like pie
I like pie
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Jose, Ca
Posts: 1,213
Bikes: 09 Specialized Tricross Sport
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
The two cross bikes I've ridden, a Bianchi Axis and a Specialized Tricross, were vertically really stiff, moreso than any road bike I've ridden. If your shoulders hurt from hitting bumps, you'll have to run wider tires and/or at lower pressures. Something like 700x32's at 70psi or so.
Also, don't plant your foot when you turn around if it makes your knee pop. That puts a shearing force on your knee, which if often how people tear their menisci or acl's, and sometimes will tear away a chunk of their articular cartilge from the end of their femur, which is the more common reason for people receiving Autologous Chondrocycle Implantation.
So, uh.. don't do that.
And of course, get fitted.
Also, don't plant your foot when you turn around if it makes your knee pop. That puts a shearing force on your knee, which if often how people tear their menisci or acl's, and sometimes will tear away a chunk of their articular cartilge from the end of their femur, which is the more common reason for people receiving Autologous Chondrocycle Implantation.
So, uh.. don't do that.
And of course, get fitted.