Riding position

[3narf]

maybe this should be in 'commuting' but it's kind of health / fitness related...

I recently converted a mountain bike for commuting use, using aero bars and a shorter stem. I assumed this would be the most efficient & aerodynamic riding position, but it just seems to be uncomfortable.

I'm getting stiff neck and shoulders, and my legs (thigh just above knee) seem to get quite tired after a couple of days. I'm thinking about putting good old flat bars back on.

I'm just wondering why the aero riding position is so popular (ie all road bikes); is it that I'm not fit / flexible enough? Or should I give it a bit longer? I've been doing the ride about a month, 17.5 miles each way, twice a week.

Thanks!

 

[ventoux50]

maybe this should be in 'commuting' but it's kind of health / fitness related...

I recently converted a mountain bike for commuting use, using aero bars and a shorter stem. I assumed this would be the most efficient & aerodynamic riding position, but it just seems to be uncomfortable.

I'm getting stiff neck and shoulders, and my legs (thigh just above knee) seem to get quite tired after a couple of days. I'm thinking about putting good old flat bars back on.

I'm just wondering why the aero riding position is so popular (ie all road bikes); is it that I'm not fit / flexible enough? Or should I give it a bit longer? I've been doing the ride about a month, 17.5 miles each way, twice a week.

Thanks!

The key to your trouble probably lies in the first line of your post 'I ASSUMED' pretty much sums it up . . . . . If you compare the geometry of a road frame with a mountain bike frame you'll see that they are very different, road bikes are intended to be ridden in a more aerodynamic position than mountain bikes. Simply fitting a shorter stem and 'aero bars' is probably putting you in an unsustainable position hence the stiff neck and shoulders.

Flexibility could be a factor, but if the bike set up isn't right then I reckon thats initially more imprtant to address.

As for the ache above the knee, if you've altered your position on the bike you will have altered the position of your pelvis and therefore the length of hamstrings and quads during pedalling - this could be causing local muscle tenderness where muscle fibres previously underused are now asked to perform a higher workload.

If you can then I'd recommend visiting a decent bike shop and having the bike fit checked, you could be causing all sorts of biomechanical problems if it's not right.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Agree with all the above.

Take a look at this, it's the basics of bike fitting and might offer some pointers to re-adjust your set-up.

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

 

[Banjo]

I had similar aches and pains when changing from a hybrid bike to a roadbike. initially it was seriously uncomfortable and my average speeds even dropped.

It took me quite a while ie several months to get completely comfortable on the new bike.Now its very comfortable and great to ride,

Not sure how succesful fitt ing aero bars to an mtb will be though, the two are designed for very different purposes. Only one way to really find out though so good luck.

 

[byegad]

Time to buy a recumbent.

 

[ventoux50]

Time to buy a recumbent.

Absolutely right, you can have a sleep while riding then !








I'll get me coat.

 

[3narf]

A recumbent?

Crikey, it's dangerous enough when they can see me!

 

[3narf]

Agree with all the above.

Take a look at this, it's the basics of bike fitting and might offer some pointers to re-adjust your set-up.

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

That's very helpful, thanks.

I never considered that point about the fore/aft position of the saddle- when I realised I was a bit stretched out, I just moved the seat forward slightly. So now I have more weight on my arms & shoulders...

Riding a bike on the road, which position would tend to excercise the upper body more- stretched out aero, or more upright?

Thanks for all the useful info so far.

 

[accountantpete]

I presume you mean that you have fitted drops and not aero bars. The latter are fitted to time trial bikes and are not best suited for commuting.

 

[ventoux50]

Riding a bike on the road, which position would tend to excercise the upper body more- stretched out aero, or more upright?

Neither will 'exercise' the upper body as such, a stretched out 'aero' position will place stress on the muscles of the back, triceps and deltoids, and notably the cervical (neck) muscles, however, the muscles will be used in such a way as to maintain the position rather than 'actively' as they woule be used if doing specific strength/endurance exercises ( dips, shrugs etc.)

The best way of exercising the upper body whilst riding is to do plenty of steep climbs, using the upper body to stabilise the legs (core muscles) and the arms to counteract the pedalling action by opposing the power leg, and also by pulling on the opposite brake hood to deliver more power through the leg.

If you want to develop upper body strength specifically you need to do dedicated exercises to target each muscle group.

 

[3narf]

I presume you mean that you have fitted drops and not aero bars. The latter are fitted to time trial bikes and are not best suited for commuting.

No, Profile Airwing aero bars: https://www.cyclechat.net/

 

[youngoldbloke]

Having looked at the photos of the bike I am tempted to say "what do you expect?". If you are riding 17.5 miles with your hands forward on those bars you must be pretty stretched out. If you were using dropped bars you would probably spend much of the time on the hoods or bar top, which would not result in such a forward position. Maybe a road bike is the real answer?

 

[3narf]

Having looked at the photos of the bike I am tempted to say "what do you expect?". If you are riding 17.5 miles with your hands forward on those bars you must be pretty stretched out. If you were using dropped bars you would probably spend much of the time on the hoods or bar top, which would not result in such a forward position. Maybe a road bike is the real answer?

I'm starting to think that, but money is too tight at the moment.

So it looks like I might be going back to flat bars... Shame, it feels quite good at the downhill bits and when I'm putting in a bit of effort.

 

[accountantpete]

Agree with YOB - basically that set up is used for a TT bike which takes some getting used to and when comfort is not the highest priority.

You could consider cutting the bars back a bit -although this will present a flatter hand position of course.

 

[montage]

you could try moving the saddle forward (and raising it a little to compensate) and possibly a shorter stem?