Improving bike fit...

[rockyraccoon]

A few months ago and following tips and advices from CC members I replaced the stem (road bike) for a short one to "bring" the hoods up and closer to me. It has improved a lot and I feel much more comfortable during the rides.

However, hours after I finished cycling and done some long hilly rides I feel slightest pain in my elbows and hands (more on right side) especially when I stretch and flex my forearm.

I'm relatively new to road cycling and I started doing 20/25 miles on the weekends only this month. My Specialized Allez is the correct size for me. Everything else seems to be fine. The knee over the pedal axle position, saddle height and fore-aft position are spot on.

I read that the arms should be bent slightly and not much pressure should be applied to the handlebar. A few times, I found myself locking my elbows. When I try to keep them bent my body feels more bent over and I end up putting even more pressure from my hands to the handlebars.


What could I do to improve it and prevent the pains mentioned?

 

[slowmotion]

I have had similar pains in my hands and wrists recently . I had a flat bar hybrid with gel bar grips and they were very comfortable. I bought a road bike nearly a month ago, and I get some pain. My guess is that my hands are not used to riding with my palms vertical (road bike) rather than horizontal (hybrid). On the hoods, the hand position is great, but covering the brake levers with my fingers is painful because I seem to be forcing my (vertical) palms un-naturally downwards at the wrist to reach the levers.

Experimenting with bar rotation seems a good idea. I'm no expert, but my hands and wrists are starting to hurt!

 

[nosherduke996]

Just keep putting the miles in on a regular basis and the pains usually disappear. Also when on a ride try changing your position every now and again.

 

[xpc316e]

Just keep putting the miles in on a regular basis and the pains usually disappear. Also when on a ride try changing your position every now and again.

There is a chance that you may cause yourself more serious harm if you continue to put the miles in. This sounds like it is a nerve-related problem; if it were a muscle/soft tissue problem, I could accept the advice about conditioning yourself.

I cannot offer a solution unless, like me, you take up recumbent cycling. Perhaps you have to accept that the riding position on the bike is not for you, no matter how you tweak it.

 

[Fab Foodie]

MOVE THE SADDLE BACK ON THE RAILS - The knee over the pedal spindle is a guide, not sacrosanct. You're not properly balanced.
Read more here:

http://www.peterwhit...com/fitting.htm

 

[rockyraccoon]

Interesting!

I think its always going to be a comprimise between power performance and comfort. Anyway, I have moved the saddle back. I'll be out this week. I come back with the results. cheers

 

[Scoosh]

MOVE THE SADDLE BACK ON THE RAILS - The knee over the pedal spindle is a guide, not sacrosanct. You're not properly balanced.
Read more here:

http://www.peterwhit...com/fitting.htm

and more here.

By the time you've read it all ....

!

 

[mickle]

The solution might be simply to level your saddle.

 

[zigzag]

i'm used to riding with locked elbows, some say it's not a good thing, but i find myself comfortable in this position and can ride mega distances without great discomfort. bike setups are very personal and depend not only on body and limb size, but also on riders weight, flexibility, muscle strength, riding speed etc.

 

[Becs]

I was getting a lot of elbow pain that lasted for days when I started doing longer rides last year. I found a combination of flipping the stem, moving my saddle back a little and really trying not to lock my elbows by using my core more really helped - before that I used to eat a lot of paracetamol and ibuprofen on any ride over 20 miles!

I finally shelled out for a proper fitting a few weeks ago to fine tune it a bit and now it feels even better.

 

[peelywally]

sounds like its a weight issue on your arms and by getting aches at 25 miles its a problem that would make longer rides purgatory for you ,
id try moving saddle forward maybe lowering it also but you say bikes set up fine therefore maybe its prolonged riding in one position creating a repetitive strain ?

is it a particular part of your wrists that ache pinky or thumb end ? might be your bars are setup wrong for your riding style , its mentioned on another thread worth a look maybe ?

 

[mickle]

Don't move the seat to correct a problem with the bars - move the bars.

 

[peelywally]

<br />Don't move the seat to correct a problem with the bars - move the bars.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

dont level it then ?

 

[palinurus]

Leveling it is different: if it is pointing downwards you'll tend to put that bit more weight on the bars.

 

[mickle]

<br /><br /><br />

dont level it then ?

Levelling is correction of an error not an adjustment.