Uncomfortable riding position after a broken elbow.

[beatlejuice]

As a result of an accident which resulted in broken left elbow my arm doesn't straighten. I can't get comfortable riding position. I tried various options with little success. Is there someone who can help me set up my riding position so I can ride more than 10 - 20 miles without much discomfort? I live in Hampshire and could travel an hour or so.

 

[Sharky]

How long ago was the accident? It took me a long time to recover from broken collarbones, ribs etc after one of my spills.
I did find that clip on tri bars did help to spread the load and were quite comfortable.

 

[vickster]

@jefmcg rides with a once broken non straightening elbow

Ref getting a set up, perhaps try Nicole at peloton physio in Putney, easy train or ride from Clapham junction. I think she charges £90 for bike assessment now. Drop her an email to discuss

 

[jefmcg]

Thanks @vickster

I broke mine more than 40 years ago, and it's only got worse. Here is me in my "comfortable" riding position, with both arms "straight". Oh, yeah, and that's is also my attempt at a smile

I say comfortable as this was day one of London Edinburgh London, and I got through over 1100km before bailing, and that was due to exhaustion not discomfort. I was actually having trouble with my left "good" elbow at that time, because as you can see I was locking it out. Sometime on that ride I stopped doing that and neither elbow has given my trouble since**. Interestingly, I can see from my Brooks that I put considerably more weight on my left side than my right.

OK, so that's not much help to you, but at least you can see that being comfortable is possible. Vickster's suggestion is good. I wouldn't bother with a standard fit, as I doubt their formulas would take into account our weird bones. You need to find someone who has dealt with the compromises that knitting bones can give. I've never bothered with a fit because I've always been ok, and my instinct says "if it ain't broke ..." The fact that your discomfort sets in reasonably fast means that you should be able to detect an improvement pretty quickly.

**I have broken my right clavicle since then

 

[beatlejuice]

I did it in late 2003. Fell off a back of a lorry!

How long ago was the accident? It took me a long time to recover from broken collarbones, ribs etc after one of my spills.
I did find that clip on tri bars did help to spread the load and were quite comfortable.

 

[beatlejuice]

Thanks jefmcg. That look just like me but I am the other way round. My left arm locks out so there is more weight on the other side so my right arm goes numb. I did weird bones before the break! I have foreshorten arms which doesn't help.

Thanks @vickster

I broke mine more than 40 years ago, and it's only got worse. Here is me in my "comfortable" riding position, with both arms "straight". Oh, yeah, and that's is also my attempt at a smile

I say comfortable as this was day one of London Edinburgh London, and I got through over 1100km before bailing, and that was due to exhaustion not discomfort. I was actually having trouble with my left "good" elbow at that time, because as you can see I was locking it out. Sometime on that ride I stopped doing that and neither elbow has given my trouble since**. Interestingly, I can see from my Brooks that I put considerably more weight on my left side than my right.

OK, so that's not much help to you, but at least you can see that being comfortable is possible. Vickster's suggestion is good. I wouldn't bother with a standard fit, as I doubt their formulas would take into account our weird bones. You need to find someone who has dealt with the compromises that knitting bones can give. I've never bothered with a fit because I've always been ok, and my instinct says "if it ain't broke ..." The fact that your discomfort sets in reasonably fast means that you should be able to detect an improvement pretty quickly.

**I have broken my right clavicle since then

 

[Sharky]

I did it in late 2003. Fell off a back of a lorry!

That's a long time ago and intrigued by "fell of a lorry", but hope you find a solution.
Keith

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Mines the same, a knackered left elbow comorbid with osteoarthritis. Tbh only an upright position helps. My bars need to be level or above the saddle height. On my Brompton I have an H model and my fixie is level.

The downside is catching the wind.

 

[beatlejuice]

I played around with my bike a little more. Like just_fixed I found that the handlebars need to be level to the saddle height. I had a short ride on it last night I it's a lot better. I have allowed for a lot more adjustment in the set up that I have chosen.