Shoulder/neck ache

[david k]

Just cycled 8 miles, i find my bike very comfortable with the exception of getting strain/stress at the back of my neck and upper back between my shoulder blades.
It seems to happen after around 20 minutes, i end up bolt upright stretching or riding with no hands for a bit, any ideas how to reduce this?

 

[gaz]

Keep at it. You aren't used to the position so your neck muscles are working overtime to keep your neck in a position you require, this eventually leads to ache. The more you do it the less it hurts.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

I have read about a problem that can occur, which has been called the "vulture posture". I had trouble with my right shoulder and neck and realised that I was indeed doing this: resting on my arms with my shoulders up and my neck extended down and forward. The answer was to push my shoulders forward and down, straighten my neck, bend the arms slightly and try to take some of the weight off my arms. I still have some problems with it, largely due to using a computer mouse for twenty years, but it I find now that the cycling makes it better rather than worse.

Incidentally, I think having straight bars may tend to encourage this bad posture as the arm position causes the elbows to bend out rather than down. I still have straight bars, though.

 

[david k]

ok thnks, i have flat bars but will use the bar ends more i think

i also think that riding more will help build strength as you say, cheers