Bad Neck & Bike Set-up

[JPBoothy]

Neck stretching and strengthening exercises have helped me stay down in the drops. I do them in my Pilates class. I can't recommend Pilates enough. When your core is stronger, you put less pressure and weight on your hands and your shoulders are more relaxed. If your arms are tense and around your shoulders, you will get neck pain.
Good luck.

Thanks Katherine.. I have heard that Yoga/Pilates can really help so I'll give that a go soon. I used to be quite an avid Gym goer in the past but was always told by the instructors that I never seemed to relax my shoulders/neck when on the rowing machine etc.. The physio at work kept telling me it was my posture but that it not a simple fix when you have been in that position for 30+ yrs. Again, if the people you talk to don't ride bikes they are limited in the advice that they can give. I don't mean that in a disrespectful way. Thanks again Katherine..

 

[JPBoothy]

Do you stretch daily? But I would certainly advise a bike fit.

Guilty as charged for not stretching I'm afraid. I do tend to stretch my Calfs/Hamstrings but not my Neck as I am always afraid of hurting it more. It really has become an issue both on and off the bike. I really enjoy being out on a bike in teh fresh air and away from the traffic when possible, and I am determined to not let this issue prevent me from continuing my riding. Thanks for your comments..

 

[vickster]

You really should go see a sports physio if the neck is a major issue, ask around local practices about cycling spcialism (I expect the velodrome is worth a call).
£110 for an assessment and fit http://pedalprecision.com/about_us/

Or google. Although you will need to focus on function on and off the bike. Get a proper stretching programme. You can be quite gentle, if it hurts, stop and ask the physio. Have you had X rays or scans to rule out any serious damage to the neck other than tight muscles

No easy fix as you are finding. Neck issues affect your whole upper body, I've had tightness cause arm pain, elbow pain, hand pain

 

[ayceejay]

I am sure flexibility plays a part in your dilemma.
I doubt that a new saddle will solve your problem but the makers of Fizic saddles
have what they call a spine 'concept' which allows them to offer saddles for Snakes
Chameleons and Bulls based on a simple test http://www.fizik.it/spineconcept/
Three different saddles based on the flexibility of the spine. If you follow the
admittedly simplistic logic you can see how flexibility would effect your position
on the bike totally.

 

[JPBoothy]

Hi,
If you are comfortable on the flat bar bike, then there is no reason why you can't achieve a very similar position on the road bike. Get a good metre rule and start measuring.
The saddle should be at exactly the same height and position to the bottom bracket, assuming the cranks are the same length.
The "tops" of the drops again should be very close to where the flat bars are relative to the saddle and bottom bracket. So riding on the tops or on the brake hoods should give you a very similar riding position as your flat bike and this should reassure you and you should be as comfortable as your flat bike.

Now riding on the drops will be different and could cause discomfort and would for me, but I ride for most of the time on the hoods. I use the drops for controllability when descending or cornering and is not a regular position.

If your drops are standard drops, then consider "compact" drops. these are very much more comfortable and what I now have on my bikes.

Good luck
Keith

All the advice I'm getting is good stuff and I thank everyone for that.

 

[JPBoothy]

All the advice I'm getting is good stuff and I thank everyone for that.

Hmm, well now here comes the really stupid part on my part.. In order to remove the temptation of going back to my comfort zone I sold my trusty Flat-Bar! I know, I know, you can never have too many bikes! The annoying part is that the Cannondale did feel right for the first 6mths which is when I decided to let go of my trusty steed of 8yrs. I have regretted it ever since though, as the Flat-Bar was built by Quinns (Liverpool) based upon a Ribble Winter Frame/Fork and I did thousands of miles on it. What an idiot.

All of the advice I'm getting is good stuff and I thank everyone for that.

 

[JPBoothy]

You really should go see a sports physio if the neck is a major issue, ask around local practices about cycling spcialism (I expect the velodrome is worth a call).
£110 for an assessment and fit http://pedalprecision.com/about_us/

Or google. Although you will need to focus on function on and off the bike. Get a proper stretching programme. You can be quite gentle, if it hurts, stop and ask the physio. Have you had X rays or scans to rule out any serious damage to the neck other than tight muscles

No easy fix as you are finding. Neck issues affect your whole upper body, I've had tightness cause arm pain, elbow pain, hand pain

No x-rays or scans so far as it can be difficult getting past the GP's great advice of "Take some Ibuphrofen and apply a heat-bag" because they are so scared of putting a dent in their budget. That's if you can get an appointment before they get booked up by the Jeremy Kyle squad! Oh, I feel better already after that little rant. Sorry JK fans. No seriously, I think the way forward is sell my lovely Cannondale (any takers ?) and use the money to get a proper bike fit and physio before purchasing another drop-bar that will hopefully suit me. It's so easy to get drawn in by the shiney shop stuff though isn't it.

 

[Elybazza61]

Presumably because it's a smaller bike? Ridley come up on the larger side, a bit like Cannondale in terms of how they are measured, so make sure you ride or at least sit on it after adjustment

@Elybazza61 is a Ridley fan (albeit roadbikes rather than CX I think)

Think cross bikes in general have shorter top tubes as the frame angle is higher for more bb clearance;my Planet XLS(I know not a Ridley*) has much shorter tt and head tube.

It might be worth trying a bike fit with the Cannondale just to make shure,you'll then know for certain that it's the wrong bike or if you are lucky they might be able to fit you on it somehow.
When I got my first bike I did the same thing,bought online and realised it was the wrong size.A local LBS did a basic fit for me but confirmed it was really too big;I rode it for a bit but then got a frame the right size and
moved the parts over before selling the original frame.He also told me that frame sizing now is a nightmare and even the Pinarellos that he stocked had different sizing across the range.

*When funds allow I 'may' look at getting a nice Ridley cross bike

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Hmm, well now here comes the really stupid part on my part.. In order to remove the temptation of going back to my comfort zone I sold my trusty Flat-Bar! I know, I know, you can never have too many bikes! The annoying part is that the Cannondale did feel right for the first 6mths which is when I decided to let go of my trusty steed of 8yrs. I have regretted it ever since though, as the Flat-Bar was built by Quinns (Liverpool) based upon a Ribble Winter Frame/Fork and I did thousands of miles on it. What an idiot.

All of the advice I'm getting is good stuff and I thank everyone for that.

If you are ok with the Cannondale frame, you could convert it to a flat bar for less than selling it and investing in a flat bar. Make sure you have/switch to derailleur's that have the right cable run & pull and your away.

 

[Erudin]

I found the exercises in Treat Your Own Neck by Robin McKenzie help when I get a flare-up of an old neck injury and need to regain full movement.

 

[JPBoothy]

If you are ok with the Cannondale frame, you could convert it to a flat bar for less than selling it and investing in a flat bar. Make sure you have/switch to derailleur's that have the right cable run & pull and your away.

It would be great if I could do that becase the Cannondale is a really nice bike. However, it may not be the bike that is the route of my neck issues but it is certainly not helping matters as it is too big for me. I have the seat pushed forward to its maximum, there is only about an 1" of post showing and the standover height is tight up against my sensitive bits. I appreciate that I wouldn't be reaching for the hoods if I put flat-bars on it but I'm not sure if I would benefit too much. It has been another option that has played on my mind though. If I had a shorter more angled stem I might even be able to push the seat back a bit but I would still have the tall standover issue. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[JPBoothy]

Think cross bikes in general have shorter top tubes as the frame angle is higher for more bb clearance;my Planet XLS(I know not a Ridley*) has much shorter tt and head tube.

It might be worth trying a bike fit with the Cannondale just to make shure,you'll then know for certain that it's the wrong bike or if you are lucky they might be able to fit you on it somehow.
When I got my first bike I did the same thing,bought online and realised it was the wrong size.A local LBS did a basic fit for me but confirmed it was really too big;I rode it for a bit but then got a frame the right size and
moved the parts over before selling the original frame.He also told me that frame sizing now is a nightmare and even the Pinarellos that he stocked had different sizing across the range.

*When funds allow I 'may' look at getting a nice Ridley cross bike

Yes, they really do look nice bikes. All of those Belgian Croos champions can't be wrong can they! The Cross bike is so much more versatile than some of the skinny tired bone shaking full on race bikes, and I have (did have) my target set on doing a cross race at the beginning of the season. When they are not so muddy because I am a whimp.

 

[ayceejay]

Have a look at this http://www.mec.ca/product/5038-416/...0002+50013+51076&f=10+50002+50013+51076+51077 that's less than £900. which is a bargain for such a nice bike. I'll leave you with the logistics of coming to Canada you buy it

 

[vickster]

No x-rays or scans so far as it can be difficult getting past the GP's great advice of "Take some Ibuphrofen and apply a heat-bag" because they are so scared of putting a dent in their budget. That's if you can get an appointment before they get booked up by the Jeremy Kyle squad! Oh, I feel better already after that little rant. Sorry JK fans. No seriously, I think the way forward is sell my lovely Cannondale (any takers ?) and use the money to get a proper bike fit and physio before purchasing another drop-bar that will hopefully suit me. It's so easy to get drawn in by the shiney shop stuff though isn't it.

Private healthcare

You'll want to get fitted on the bike you buy of selling the cannondale

Maybe go talk to the nice chaps at Dolan near Preston

 

[Sharky]

Hmm, well now here comes the really stupid part on my part.. In order to remove the temptation of going back to my comfort zone I sold my trusty Flat-Bar! I know, I know, you can never have too many bikes! The annoying part is that the Cannondale did feel right for the first 6mths which is when I decided to let go of my trusty steed of 8yrs. I have regretted it ever since though, as the Flat-Bar was built by Quinns (Liverpool) based upon a Ribble Winter Frame/Fork and I did thousands of miles on it. What an idiot.

All of the advice I'm getting is good stuff and I thank everyone for that.

Thats a pity, the ribble winter frame is a very good buy. You can get one for £99.99 atth moment. You could swop all the kit over and sell the big frame and might even make a profit. Can you remember what size ribble you had?
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/assets/images/FGWinterAudax.gif
Comparison with your current bike should help decide what size you really need.

Good luck
Keith