Shoulders and Saddle

[Travs]

Having had to pull out of a long ride half way round because of shoulder pain, I'm looking at my position. One thing I've noticed compared to others is that I tend to sit on the nose of the saddle. If I move back, my legs definitely feel better and I don't lean on my hands as much but its painful on my backside.

I have a Charge Spoon (came with the bike). I know this is generally all about butt-design so I'm wondering if anyone has had trouble with this and what they moved to and found more comfortable?
(Or if you read this and know anyone - please tag them so I can tap them up for some advice).

Cheers in advance.

P.S This isn't the only thing, I've shortened the stem for better reach, and I'll be going for a bike fit for the things that I can't detect myself and things I can't think of, but this is definitely something I've noticed

 

[Pikey]

Having had to pull out of a long ride half way round because of shoulder pain, I'm looking at my position. One thing I've noticed compared to others is that I tend to sit on the nose of the saddle. If I move back, my legs definitely feel better and I don't lean on my hands as much but its painful on my backside.

I have a Charge Spoon (came with the bike). I know this is generally all about butt-design so I'm wondering if anyone has had trouble with this and what they moved to and found more comfortable?
(Or if you read this and know anyone - please tag them so I can tap them up for some advice).

Cheers in advance.

P.S This isn't the only thing, I've shortened the stem for better reach, and I'll be going for a bike fit for the things that I can't detect myself and things I can't think of, but this is definitely something I've noticed

I've had a touch of this earlier this year out of the blue, shoulder pain on long rides which carried on for a day or two after my first 200k.

I've tried to address it with some core and upper back work as I thi that strength suffered from just riding the turbo through the winter. I was probably putts g too much weight on my hands.

Also, I've rotated the bars up by about 2mm, both of which seem to have (fingers crossed) helped.

Also have a look at your saddle angle.

Good luck, hope it clears up soon

 

[Citius]

Post a side-on pic of you on the bike. Might save you a fortune in bike fit charges.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Having had to pull out of a long ride half way round because of shoulder pain, I'm looking at my position. One thing I've noticed compared to others is that I tend to sit on the nose of the saddle. If I move back, my legs definitely feel better and I don't lean on my hands as much but its painful on my backside.

I have a Charge Spoon (came with the bike). I know this is generally all about butt-design so I'm wondering if anyone has had trouble with this and what they moved to and found more comfortable?
(Or if you read this and know anyone - please tag them so I can tap them up for some advice).

Cheers in advance.

P.S This isn't the only thing, I've shortened the stem for better reach, and I'll be going for a bike fit for the things that I can't detect myself and things I can't think of, but this is definitely something I've noticed

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

Modern road bikes (sadly) are set-up with steep seat angles meaning you can be be sitting more over the bottom Bracket. As a consequence if you are a bit long in the back you tend to be pitched forward. In your situation I think you need to move the seat rearwards on the seatpost to allow you to still sit comfortably on the saddle but overall be further behind the bottom bracket for better 'balance'.
If the seat is already as far back as it will go, you can get seatposts with greater 'layback'. Fresh Tripe/Velo Orange do one for Brooks saddles that would help.

having just gone through a custom frame build with this very issue in mind I understand the importance of seat angle/seat layback as standard frames just don't fit me right unless I want to go racing ....

 

[Travs]

Gosh you guys are good!

When I first bought the bike it was from someone a few inches taller than me but the frame is right per manufacturer and he had the seat post set stratospherically.
I'd dropped it a little and moved it forward accidentally tipping it back slightly in the process (early last year before I'd read anything about proper fitting). As I was getting hamstring pains, a friend spotted the saddle angle so I clumsily tipped it forward. Felt like hamstring heaven but I did notice a slight falling-forward sensation that I thought I'd get used to.

This afternoon, I did indeed flatten off the saddle, having read how horizontal it should be, and slide back a little as it was fairly forward. I've ended up dropping it a tad too as the heel on the pedal test was a little stretchy.

One thing I did notice - I can now identify 3 contact points that I didn't before - 1 each on the inside of each sit-bone and 1 behind the...2-veg.
It feels like I can rest on all three a bit more equally now and wonder if spreading the load will be better for longer-term butt pain. Something I also feel but have always tried to man-up about.
Knees are def behind the 3 o'clock plumbline and the saddle has moved back about 5mm thereby not eating completely into the 20mm shorter stem (120mm down to 100mm).

 

[Fab Foodie]

Gosh you guys are good!

When I first bought the bike it was from someone a few inches taller than me but the frame is right per manufacturer and he had the seat post set stratospherically.
I'd dropped it a little and moved it forward accidentally tipping it back in the process (before I'd read anything about

Seemingly small adjustments can make a big difference. Have a play and report back!

 

[Travs]

Sorry - pressed post too early with fat fingers.
Will take bike out for a ride and see how it goes - will def get the Mrs to take a side on pic too to see; thanks for the idea @Citius

 

[Mike!]

What are you riding in? I had the cheapest DHB bib shorts and no saddle was great for me, invested in some better quality (and better fit) Endura ones from my LBS and i'm now good.

 

[Travs]

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-vaeon-roubaix-pro-padded-bib-short/

These were the shorts- I've also got the cheapest of the cheap dhb and Altura and the pad in the link above feels thicker and firmer so should be fine. The pad is meant to be "all day" riding. Meant to be...

 

[vickster]

Go for a bike fit at Sigma. They also have fizik and possibly specialized test saddles I think. Not cheap though at £200

I had a retul fit but wasn't that impressed with the experience, but I've also had a full on bike assessment from a specialist cycling physio I've been seeing which I found more useful for £80 (that said she didn't change much if anything from the previous fit)

 

[jonny jeez]

Having had to pull out of a long ride half way round because of shoulder pain, I'm looking at my position. One thing I've noticed compared to others is that I tend to sit on the nose of the saddle. If I move back, my legs definitely feel better and I don't lean on my hands as much but its painful on my backside.

I have a Charge Spoon (came with the bike). I know this is generally all about butt-design so I'm wondering if anyone has had trouble with this and what they moved to and found more comfortable?
(Or if you read this and know anyone - please tag them so I can tap them up for some advice).

Cheers in advance.

P.S This isn't the only thing, I've shortened the stem for better reach, and I'll be going for a bike fit for the things that I can't detect myself and things I can't think of, but this is definitely something I've noticed

Do you wear a rucksack?

 

[cyberknight]

The advice here is really helpful, although i had been riding for years misinformation form other meant i was to far forward and overstretched , since i posted some pictures on here i have altered my fit and i am more comfy and faster .
Certainly saved me a few bob

 

[Travs]

@vickster - I gathered that a fit will probably be necessary and Sigma isn't far in Kingston; I was hoping that I could resolve anything obvious but there's all sorts I concede I won't know and, you're right @cyberknigh, I try to take what I read under advisement and corroborate where I can. If I can put off £200 until after the wedding that would be good, although health not having a price is also true.

I'm also finding a good burst of neck-ache after some time on the drops or tucking on a downhill. Closing the bar/saddle gap is bound to help this as I'm not as stooped over and "looking up", correct?

 

[vickster]

How's your core strength? I get all sorts of shoulder and neck pain on the bike despite the fit and size being correct, although I have bought a Deda layback seat post to aid saddle position and comfort for under £20. My physio and various doctors all concur that it's as much due to a weak core, lack of glute activation, lack of flexibility around the pelvis as much as anything. I'm considering pilates

I know Sigma isn't far from surbiton hence suggesting You have Pearsons in Sheen too (indeed Sigma's fitter is ex Pearsons)

If spending £200, personally I'd go to the cycling physio, spend £80 on the assessment and the rest on a couple of sessions to get an exercise programme underway

I see someone in Putney

In the meantime, go get your sit bones measured and look for a saddle that suits better. I've got a couple of unused men's saddles which you are welcome to try if you want

 

[Travs]

@jonny jeez - sorry for missing this before. I don't wear one, no - does that have an impact on where I may be going wrong? Do they tend to force you to keep your shoulders hunched?

@vickster - I think the core issue is something to consider; I don't have a weak core but reckon it's fairly certain it doesn't last 5 hours in the saddle and therefore a few more planks and crunches wouldn't go amiss. I have a few Pilates exercise from a while back that I used to do which could also easily feature in my routine. It is indeed good stuff.

Now that I've done a few position adjustments I need to ride it for a few miles and see what impact if any. It may be that I'm coping by not sitting on the saddle properly and changing the angle slightly will have helped but its just butt-time that will tell most I guess. If that doesn't work, the next step will be change of saddle.