Shoulders and Saddle

[jonny jeez]

@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.

Hi, not a direct impact, it's just that if I carry a heavy rucksack, I can feel it in my lower neck and shoulders after less than 15 miles riding.

J

 

[the snail]

Maybe the bars are just too low for you - have you got the tops of the bars level and no spacers above the stem? Maybe you need a stem with more rise rather than a shorter one?

 

[mythste]

Do you "hunch"?

Now I've found a good set up for my bike I can ride one of two ways. One with my back seemingly hunched over and straighter arms, or an arched inwards back with more of a bend in the arms which i'm sure is better for me, and puts me at a much better angle on the saddle. A Lack of core strength at the moment makes the latter harder to physically maintain over a long ride but I certainly feel better afterwards and my shoulders and butt feel much better for it.

 

[Travs]

On the Drops

• Travs
• 11 Jun 2015

On the Hoods

• Travs
• 11 Jun 2015

Here's pictures as suggested. This is where I've dropped the saddle a little and moved it back about 5mm from my ride of pain.

I find I do hunch sometimes. When climbing in the saddle, its hands on the tops, elbows out, head down and I find after a while that my shoulders are keeping my ears warm... I've been reading also about focussing on keeping my shoulder down and pulled back a little. Need ot spend more time riding like that to teach my body I guess.

 

[Travs]

One thing I noticed tonight at the gym is that the saddle on the Wattbike is wider than mine to the point that I can't push myself all the way back - so I'm guessing on that basis if I need anything its a thinner saddle - but something to discuss at next step; just thinking aloud

 

[cyberknight]

Shorter stem or flip the stem ?
Looks to me like your arms are too stretched , similar to my old position
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/repositioning-shifters-without-rewrapping-the-tape.179377/page-2

 

[Travs]

But there isn't that much difference between the saddle and bar height already I don't think. But I think there is a spacer above the stem...if not flipping is def an option
I've always thought my knee is not forward of my pedal but is it me or is my right knee forward of the pedal line?
Saddle def needs to go back if so.

 

[mythste]

I find I do hunch sometimes. When climbing in the saddle, its hands on the tops, elbows out, head down and I find after a while that my shoulders are keeping my ears warm...

The soulders keeping your ears warm got a chuckle out of me and it resonates a lot! I'm having a real hard time training myself to keep my shoulders down and arms bent. I've put in 160 miles this week and through constantly making sure i'm now suffering sore triceps! Can't win em all.

Alas, I'm sure itll be easier to build up some muscle resistance there than on hunched shoulders.

 

[Sharky]

From the pictures, your position doesn't look too bad, but as been said minor tweaks of position could be dramatic.

Going back to when you pulled out of the long ride - at what point did you pull out and was it beyond what you normally do? Most of my rides are less than 3hours duration and I don't get any discomfort problems, but when I do the occasional all day ride, I get all sorts of aches and pains appearing.

Hope it gets resolved.
Keith

 

[Travs]

It all got a bit much around what must have been about 75miles. I'd fallen off the back of my 2 mates, and when they stopped it would have been about 80. Counting back I reckon that was around 4hr45. We agreed to do the last stint to the halfway point at 98 and see but in my mind I knew I wasn't going anywhere.

I do agree that discomfort is going to set in - we're not made for this shape/effort for the amount of time we do; but I don't have any skeletal/muscular issues other than this, I'm not old and I should be able to do a century ride without too much whinging.

I've flattened the saddle as it was tipping forward a bit and I've moved it back. It's not much but I'll take it for a few miles and see how it goes.

Thanks for the help and opinions so far all - exactly what I love about forums like these.

 

[Sharky]

Did I see " to the halfway point at 98" ?

Very impressive target!

 

[Travs]

Thanks Keith - a little too impressive as it turned out. Dragon Ride in Wales. Was brilliant while it lasted and I'll go back to do it properly next year!

 

[cyberknight]

I think ( rightly or wrongly ) that your arms look to stretched as mine did as you need a bend at the elbows, i put a shorter stem on since thos piccies and feel a lot better .
More like this

And thats great riding

 

[Sharky]

Thanks Keith - a little too impressive as it turned out. Dragon Ride in Wales. Was brilliant while it lasted and I'll go back to do it properly next year!

70+ is still impressive and I am guessing you were a little competitive in the first few hours and paid for it later.

Next year you'll be ready.
Cheers Keith

 

[Travs]

Current update:
Flattening the saddle definitely feels better. But moving it back meant I was feeling a bit stretched round my backside even though I moved it back a bit though. The elbow to headset basic test indicates I should move the saddle back about an inch though. I'm taking that with a pinch of salt but bearing in mind my knee position over the pedal means I'm not ruling it out completely.

Had headset replaced (needed doing anyway) and while it was there, had them flip the stem and also brought it up above the top spacer. Quick ride home felt much more comfortable - I'll check the elbows tomorrow @cyberknight

I am guessing you were a little competitive in the first few hours and paid for it later

We were quite careful mostly - I'd spent a little but was recovering well towards the halfway. Had I not been in so much pain I would have carried on I think.