Neck ache - common problem?

[Hotchilidamo]

I'm a newbie commuter doing my first two commutes this week. So far I'm doing around 12-16 miles in each day. I'm experimenting with routes hence the difference

Apart from the obvious glute and leg aches, I'm getting a nasty ache at the base of my skull and across my shoulders. I assume from craning my neck a bit to look up whilst riding.

Is this normal? Or should I try and adjust my ride position? I had the guys in the lbs set me up on a turbo trainer to adjust everything when I bought it so I should be right

 

[cyberknight]

Try flipping the stem to raise your position?
I used to get a similar ache on long rides and shortening the stem by 10 mm sorted me out .

 

[Sharky]

I get neck ache a fair bit, caused by keeping my head up to look ahead.

Try varying your hand positions on the bars and from time to time get out of the saddle to flex your neck muscles.

But whatever you do, don't be tempted to ride with your head down, too many riders have gone into the backs of parked cars and are no longer with us.

But it does get better as you do more riding and all your muscles get stronger.

Happy and safe riding
Keith

 

[vickster]

What bike are you riding? What have you been riding before?

 

[Hotchilidamo]

What bike are you riding? What have you been riding before?

I'm riding a specialized hybrid and was riding an MTB before. I specifically chose the specialized because of its more upright position because it felt more comfortable to me

 

[screenman]

I started getting that after changing my glasses, they were smaller than my old pair so I had to lift my head higher to see through them. Large glasses have improved things, not quite like the snooker player whose name I forget, but hopefully you get the idea.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Are you locking your elbows straight? I know as I get tired I tend to do this too, the result is that instead of bumps being absorbed by the arms they get sent up to the shoulder and back.
Whenever I get a twinge in the shoulders or neck I use it as a reminder to keep my elbows bent. If you don't get backache then you know what the source of the problem is.

 

[winjim]

Are you tensing up your neck and shoulders without realising? I sometimes find I need to make a conscious effort to relax my upper body. Similar to Paul's point about locked elbows.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I found this can also occur when it's very cold. You can tense up with the cold, and it will have exactly that "locked elbow" effect. I've had it a few times after descending from Mt Donna Buang, a 1260m mountain east of Melbourne, when the top of the mountain has been pretty cold. In that case, of course, the cure is simply to wear more and try to stay warm.

 

[Trull]

Wearing a helmet can cause this as well through the extra weight.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Some of these newer helmets do not weigh much more than a flat cap

 

[Old Plodder]

Neck ache isn't normal, I only got it after doing high mileage rides. Likely your bars are too far forward or to low, try adjusting them slightly.
(Half an inch makes a huge difference.)

 

[e-rider]

I'm a newbie commuter doing my first two commutes this week. So far I'm doing around 12-16 miles in each day. I'm experimenting with routes hence the difference

Apart from the obvious glute and leg aches, I'm getting a nasty ache at the base of my skull and across my shoulders. I assume from craning my neck a bit to look up whilst riding.

Is this normal? Or should I try and adjust my ride position? I had the guys in the lbs set me up on a turbo trainer to adjust everything when I bought it so I should be right

are you riding with a 'peaked' helmet? Remove the peak if you are.
Neck ache is fairly common but unless you are doing 100 mile rides on a racy road bike, there is no need to have it (unless you have a dodgy neck of course).
I suspect your riding position needs modifying somewhat. Also try and relax your upper body and shoulder more whilst riding. Get your weight back, by sliding your saddle back a bit, and get those bars up a little. check that the reach isn't too long (or too short).

 

[Hotchilidamo]

It does feel like I need to raise my bars but I don't think the stem is adjustable. How do I know what the correct bar height is or whether my reach is too long/short?

 

[Trull]

How about posting a photo of your bike side on? How much are your bars below the height of the saddle?