Neck pain

[Sunny Portrush]

Hi all

Bit of a strange one but I seem to develop a pain in my neck when out cycling for over an hour. Now, I'm used to my neck/shoulders getting a bit sore when cycling for a long time but this is something completely different.

As I said, after an hour or so, if I scrunch up my shoulders, I get a very sharp stabbing like pain in-between my shoulders. Anyone else experience anything similar. It's a bit difficult to go to the doctor as it never hurts for the rest of the time

 

[vickster]

Perhaps go see a private physio, get your neck, shoulders and back assessed
Dr will probably only send you to one anyhow (although might get NHS with a wait).

If you work at a desk, check your set up(s) in the meantime

 

[geocycle]

I get a similar stabbing pain on the right shoulder blade after about 50-60 miles. Stopping and stretching helps a bit. It is probably a setup thing but I’ve not quite solved it. Like you say the problem is that it only occurs late in a ride so tricky to diagnose.

 

[cyberknight]

I used to get neck and shoulder pain. Fitted a shorter stem fixed it for me

 

[fossyant]

How often are you riding ? Little and often is better than long and infrequent rides.

 

[CXRAndy]

Lots of possible causes, handlebars too wide or narrow, over reaching, frame or stem too big. Lack of movement whilst riding, regular standing up to alter position relieves static problems. You could try different hand riding positions to see if that helps or highlights the problem. Lack of conditioning, due to long gaps between riding-not saddle fit. Try some of these ideas

 

[Sunny Portrush]

Thanks to both above - I'm just doing the regular amount of cycling on the regular bikes so no difference there. I did come off about six months ago landing on grass so there's a possibility something happened then and is only showing itself now. Or maybe I'm just getting older lol

 

[cyberknight]

Thanks to both above - I'm just doing the regular amount of cycling on the regular bikes so no difference there. I did come off about six months ago landing on grass so there's a possibility something happened then and is only showing itself now. Or maybe I'm just getting older lol

so many variables
I do know over the last 10 years my saddle has gone down 8 mm and the stem 10 mm shorter .

 

[PaulSB]

@Sunny Portrush have you started wearing a peaked cap? Perhaps bought a new helmet with a peak?

I ask because a few years ago I bought a new helmet. It came with a removable peak that was installed. I didn't notice the peak. Suddenly I found myself experiencing neck pain for four weeks or more. A complete mystery. Nothing on the bike had changed.

One day I noticed the peak. Eureka! I removed the peak and the neck pain disappeared. The peak was forcing me to slightly raise my head by just a few mm. I always wear a peaked cap but I'm careful not to pull it down too far forward.

 

[ColinJ]

One day I noticed the peak. Eureka! I removed the peak and the neck pain disappeared. The peak was forcing me to slightly raise my head by just a few mm.

I have a peak on my helmet but find the opposite - the peak is too high to do its job properly. I have been riding towards the low sun recently and the peak is not blocking it. I have to tilt my head down and look up!

It wouldn't have helped on my ride on Friday anyway because 90% of the glare was due to sunlight reflected back off wet roads.

I got a stiff neck when I first started riding wearing a helmet. It probably weighed 50% more than a modern helmet, which didn't help! I did get used to it eventually so obviously my neck muscles must have got stronger.

 

[Sunny Portrush]

Nope, absolutely nothing has changed, I haven't fiddled with the bike or anything but I suppose the seat may have dropped a little.

Anyway, I've booked myself into a sports physio mid Dec so I will report back

 

[rydabent]

If it is really serious, the best answer would be a recumbent or a trike.

 

[rydabent]

If it is really serious, the best answer would be a recumbent or a trike.