I've recently been learning to skid for fun as appose to a method of stopping. I've started to get pain in my right shoulder when doing it which makes me think I'm not doing it quite right. Since it started I've noticed that when locking my legs the perpetual force feels like it makes it way up my body and into the shoulder. As with any pain I've used it as a sign to stop doing it in the meantime.

My question is, has anyone else had a similar experience? Perhaps you have some advice for what I can try to prevent it?

Never happened to me and I haven't heard this before. What is your gear ratio? Do you have weak legs? Are you using a lot of force from your arms on your bars when locking your legs?

Gear ratio is 46/19 so don't think it's that.

in general I accelerate and sprint well so thought I'd be okay with skidding. Perhaps when not leaning forward much I'm yanking on the bars...

Honestly the only thing I can think of is yanking on the bars like you said. I imagine if you skid while sitting then you must have to use your arms more to help out. Getting out of your saddle gives your legs more leverage to do the work.


Wait for others to reply as I am a noob. But I get out of my saddle slightly when skidding. I have never felt any shoulder pain.

Does your bike fit? Why don't you mess around with it until you find a position of doing it where it doesn't hurt. I never saw anyone say this on this forum. Do we have any skid and Doctor professionals around to give this guy a physical and check his shoulder out? You should try stretching before you ride, maybe you pulled something? I don't see how skidding and holding a little of your body weight would hurt your shoulder. You never had anyone shoulder pain before trying it?

No it's never been an issue before. I think you're right, it requires some playing around. I quite like to try some bullhorns or pursuit bars as appose to risers.

*as opposed to

Cheers! Never liked spelling.

Do you ride with a messenger bag? I know the asymmetry of a single-strap bag causes problems for some. Could also be some strain or fatigue completely unrelated to cycling.

Something is wrong with your shoulder. You should be able to anything you want to do (other than crashing) on your bike without experiencing pain.

I had at the start pain in my left should and upper back while trying to learn skidding. But after 3 weeks of swimming at my local pool all pain was gone. Try swimming
PS: don't forget to stretch

I think seau grateau and SquidPuppet are right and I'm putting it down to something pre-existing that has been exacerbated on the bike. I'll give it a few weeks rest and some stretching and I'll see how it goes. I'll have to work on some other wanky tricks in the meantime to keep myself occupied...

I rode brakeless for a long time then I started having some strange hand/shoulder pains. I attributed it to getting older and added a front brake and the pain went away. The way you torque your body to skid and slow down can cause some issues. I do it a lot less now and don't have any problems. Swimming is also pretty good for any sort of back/shoulder pain.

Reminds me of the old doctor joke:

Patient: Doc, it hurts when I do this!

Doctor: Well then, don't do that.

Henny Youngman

Take my wife, please

might try ambidextrous skidding

This has been happening too me too everything in my bike is fine and my left shoulder blade and my left wrist are both soar. I really don't know why though could it possible be because I do it too much? Some days if I feel like it i'll practice here and there but I don't yank the handlebars when I skid and for some reason i'm still soar in the left portion of my body

Dgcoops, do you use foot retention? If not, your shoulder had to handle the push down on the pedal minus your weight, With foot retention, you can do a lot of that resisting with the front pedal.

I don't skid but I do ride fix gears and have ridden them up very steep hills that would be near implossible without foot retention.

Keep in mind this is a zombie thread from 2015. Also please people make sure you are wiping better. Skid marks are not cool.

A new poster made the effort to search to see if there was already a thread about the subject before adding to it that he has a similar issue. Seems like good forum etiquette, rather than proliferating threads on similar subjects. As it was their first ever post, let's make them feel welcome, eh?

No probably was a Google search. People google search and it pulls up anything from here and you can make an account and just start posting in any old thread. It is unlikely someone searched here, it does sometimes happen but with new posters it is usually the great greasy god google that is actually how I came here but I didn't zombie thread anything I lurked a little and posted in newer threads.

Also should not did not directly respond to the new poster just a general FYI to everyone!

Describe the pain , muscular? The joint? Focus where it hurts and warm up before a ride , like most of sports it's more about technique than brute force, although doing some strength exercises won't hurt you, lifting can be beneficial to your cycling life, arms, shoulders ,back...not only legs.

Have you done gym in the past? Some exercises tend to damage shoulder ligaments. Ligaments go stronger with exercise, but it takes plenty of time and it may be more difficult If you had an injury before.

Ah, beet me too it