Pain in the neck and bewteen shoulder blades

[HorTs]

I've been cycling for years and currently do about 60-100 miles a week.

For about 1.5 years I've been experiencing a pain in my neck/between the sholder blades. This did co-incide with my new bike but it was setup as near as possible to my old one and I had no problems on that.

It can vary from nothing more than a brief niggle to a pain that is quite uncomfortable.

I've had a retul bike fit (I did explain my neck pain) and have seen a physio (the latter I feel was useless, maybe I'll see another one).

It doesn't necessarily get worse with the mileage but it generally does.

I'm fit, not overweight and flexible.

I've tried and continue to do stretches, and home based yoga.

Who's got a magic quick fix for me?

 

[vickster]

Change the length of the stem?

 

[HorTs]

I have a 100mm stem. I don't feel stretched it.

 

[Sbudge]

OK, really silly one but have you tried a different helmet? If it's having an impact on head position that can translate into pain a little lower down. Things like a combination of visor and deeper chin-strap can make you want to stick your chin out a bit to see well. Folks rarely wear helmets for a bike fit that I've noticed.

 

[HorTs]

OK, really silly one but have you tried a different helmet? If it's having an impact on head position that can translate into pain a little lower down. Things like a combination of visor and deeper chin-strap can make you want to stick your chin out a bit to see well. Folks rarely wear helmets for a bike fit that I've noticed.

Unfortunetly I have tried another helmet. I chose a thinner one that doesn't require me to put my head up so far to see forward.

 

[Hacienda71]

I find whilst I like wearing a cycling cap under my helmet in the winter it does make me crane my neck more if I am hammering it in a low position or on the drops with the peak down, which results in a slightly stiff muscle just below my neck just inside my shoulder. Could be something similar. Fix flip the peak up on the cap if you are on a faster ride.

 

[vickster]

Pilates to sort out core?

 

[Racing roadkill]

It could be something as simple as the size of the hoods, or exactly where you have the Brifters attatched, I also once found that I had a similar issue starting to develop, when I changed bike. The problem was with the width of the bars. I switched to narrower bars, and it sorted it.

 

[mjr]

I've had similar-sounding problems twice. One I resolved by moving the levers up the bar to where they should have been (I'd not had that bike long then) and the more serious one I resolved by switching to lighter, thinner headgear (shall we say, for fear of spreading The Debate here).

 

[HorTs]

I've had similar-sounding problems twice. One I resolved by moving the levers up the bar to where they should have been (I'd not had that bike long then) and the more serious one I resolved by switching to lighter, thinner headgear (shall we say, for fear of spreading The Debate here).

Out of interest, where abouts to you have them fixed now? Got a photo?

 

[vickster]

When you do longer rides do you get off the bike periodically and stand up?

 

[HorTs]

When you do longer rides do you get off the bike periodically and stand up?

Not conciously but when I think about it I must do every 10 miles or so. My commute is 12 miles and I only stand up during that at traffic lights etc.

 

[vickster]

What was changed during the Retul fit? 10 miles is quite soon. Do you have the right bike, can you raise the bars etc?

Perhaps see a chiropractor or osteopath to check everything is where it should be? Do you get the same sat at a desk etc or only cycling? If it's only cycling, try a cycling focused physio or other practitioner

 

[mjr]

Out of interest, where abouts to you have them fixed now? Got a photo?

Here is a recent photo. I'm still fiddling but haven't moved them again yet.

 

[HorTs]

What was changed during the Retul fit? 10 miles is quite soon. Do you have the right bike, can you raise the bars etc?

Perhaps see a chiropractor or osteopath to check everything is where it should be? Do you get the same sat at a desk etc or only cycling? If it's only cycling, try a cycling focused physio or other practitioner

I'm pretty sure the bike, it has very similar geometry to my old one and the frame size suggested by reputable LBS.

The fit moved saddle forward and bars down. The bars down seems counter-intuituive but I had previously raised them with no improvemnet so thought I'd give it a go.