back ache riding
Discussion
I did the 46 mile Ride London on Sunday (71 miles with riding to and from it) and enjoyed it hugely - once we'd got out of the masses of hybrids and mountain bikes.
However, about half way in the top of my back started aching (between my shoulders), leading to a headache for the rest of the afternoon.
I'm riding a road bile (boardman size large) and am 6ft, but quite 'leggy'. I'd previously been advised to go for a shorter stem (the bike came with a 120mm) and my reach was too long and my arms too outstretched when riding. I swapped the stem to a 100mm one the week before the ride.
I know the real answer is a bike fit. But without spending the money yet, could anybody advise what may be the issue?
Can anybody recommend somewhere near London who would do a bike fit (and let me have the measurements)?
However, about half way in the top of my back started aching (between my shoulders), leading to a headache for the rest of the afternoon.
I'm riding a road bile (boardman size large) and am 6ft, but quite 'leggy'. I'd previously been advised to go for a shorter stem (the bike came with a 120mm) and my reach was too long and my arms too outstretched when riding. I swapped the stem to a 100mm one the week before the ride.
I know the real answer is a bike fit. But without spending the money yet, could anybody advise what may be the issue?
Can anybody recommend somewhere near London who would do a bike fit (and let me have the measurements)?
Maxf said:
I did the 46 mile Ride London on Sunday (71 miles with riding to and from it) and enjoyed it hugely - once we'd got out of the masses of hybrids and mountain bikes.
However, about half way in the top of my back started aching (between my shoulders), leading to a headache for the rest of the afternoon.
I'm riding a road bile (boardman size large) and am 6ft, but quite 'leggy'. I'd previously been advised to go for a shorter stem (the bike came with a 120mm) and my reach was too long and my arms too outstretched when riding. I swapped the stem to a 100mm one the week before the ride.
I know the real answer is a bike fit. But without spending the money yet, could anybody advise what may be the issue?
Can anybody recommend somewhere near London who would do a bike fit (and let me have the measurements)?
A bike fit will save you money in the long run However, about half way in the top of my back started aching (between my shoulders), leading to a headache for the rest of the afternoon.
I'm riding a road bile (boardman size large) and am 6ft, but quite 'leggy'. I'd previously been advised to go for a shorter stem (the bike came with a 120mm) and my reach was too long and my arms too outstretched when riding. I swapped the stem to a 100mm one the week before the ride.
I know the real answer is a bike fit. But without spending the money yet, could anybody advise what may be the issue?
Can anybody recommend somewhere near London who would do a bike fit (and let me have the measurements)?
russy01 said:
Is this neck related? i.e your back is low and you are having to pull your head back up to see where you are going?
How often do you ride? This could just be an ache that you need to get through and strengthen said area...
Yes, I did wonder if it was me using my neck to look up rather than my eyes! I ride a few times a week and have been for a year, although usually only 10 miles or so at a time (work commute) and maybe a 30 miler at the weekends.How often do you ride? This could just be an ache that you need to get through and strengthen said area...
I can get similar if I go for a ride in my normal glasses - I'm trying to look through the top of the frame so I'm trying to keep my head up too high so I'm looking through the lens. Kicks in after a couple of hours.
Never a problem if I wear contact lenses and cycling sunglasses instead - can look further "up" in my vision.
There are various DIY bike fit guides which may bring up something worth trying - a lot of it just comes down to experimenting. Lots of bikes get set up to look like the pro ones, but most people aren't that flexible.
If you know other cyclists, worth asking around if they have spare stems so you can try some other lengths and see how you get on. Remember you can flip them, and move spacers above and below the stem to get some adjustment there too.
Never a problem if I wear contact lenses and cycling sunglasses instead - can look further "up" in my vision.
There are various DIY bike fit guides which may bring up something worth trying - a lot of it just comes down to experimenting. Lots of bikes get set up to look like the pro ones, but most people aren't that flexible.
If you know other cyclists, worth asking around if they have spare stems so you can try some other lengths and see how you get on. Remember you can flip them, and move spacers above and below the stem to get some adjustment there too.
I'm researching similar although mine's lower in the back so very much likely core strength or lack thereof. Higher suggests (in my very inexperienced opinion) craning the neck and/or possibly too much tension in the shoulders, maybe from gripping the bars too tightly or possibly a poor fit meaning you can't relax your arms as much?
Maxf said:
I did the 46 mile Ride London on Sunday (71 miles with riding to and from it) and enjoyed it hugely - once we'd got out of the masses of hybrids and mountain bikes.
However, about half way in the top of my back started aching (between my shoulders), leading to a headache for the rest of the afternoon.
I'm riding a road bile (boardman size large) and am 6ft, but quite 'leggy'. I'd previously been advised to go for a shorter stem (the bike came with a 120mm) and my reach was too long and my arms too outstretched when riding. I swapped the stem to a 100mm one the week before the ride.
I know the real answer is a bike fit. But without spending the money yet, could anybody advise what may be the issue?
Can anybody recommend somewhere near London who would do a bike fit (and let me have the measurements)?
Too much reach. Stem is probably fine, but there is a good chance your saddle setback is off. If it is too far back, your reach will still be too long, even with the 100mm stem. Setback should be set based on your femur length, but most people do it wrong.However, about half way in the top of my back started aching (between my shoulders), leading to a headache for the rest of the afternoon.
I'm riding a road bile (boardman size large) and am 6ft, but quite 'leggy'. I'd previously been advised to go for a shorter stem (the bike came with a 120mm) and my reach was too long and my arms too outstretched when riding. I swapped the stem to a 100mm one the week before the ride.
I know the real answer is a bike fit. But without spending the money yet, could anybody advise what may be the issue?
Can anybody recommend somewhere near London who would do a bike fit (and let me have the measurements)?
If you normally ride 10 and did 71, then part of the explanation is right there
Without seeing you in your bike, too much reach is where I would guess first
Old fashioned rule of thumb was that if you put the back of your elbow on the nose of the saddle so that your forearm is parallel to the top tube, your finger tips should just touch the bars
That isn't a proper bike fit technique, just how we set up bikes back in the day, before bike fits had developed to where they are now
Without seeing you in your bike, too much reach is where I would guess first
Old fashioned rule of thumb was that if you put the back of your elbow on the nose of the saddle so that your forearm is parallel to the top tube, your finger tips should just touch the bars
That isn't a proper bike fit technique, just how we set up bikes back in the day, before bike fits had developed to where they are now
JPJPJP said:
That isn't a proper bike fit technique, just how we set up bikes back in the day, before bike fits had developed to where they are now
There is no surefire method for setting stem length. You can measure from acromion to knuckle and do some basic math, or you can do what you just described. None of the modern snake oil systems are any better.
scherzkeks said:
There is no surefire method for setting stem length. You can measure from acromion to knuckle and do some basic math, or you can do what you just described.
None of the modern snake oil systems are any better.
I was 'taught' this technique by the now deceased George Steers back when I was a kidNone of the modern snake oil systems are any better.
George is still listed as a Record Holder on the VTTA website for the 25:15 "10" he posted in 2009, when he was 86 years old!
http://www.vtta.org.uk/information/recordsdetail.p...
I remember a couple of years before that, he had been talking about being skint. Then I saw him on a brand new bike - a really nice one! I asked him where it had come from and said I thought he was skint. He said he had cashed in his funeral bond "I don't care if they leave me on top, I wanted one more new bike to have a crack at some time trials"
Some boy!
JPJPJP said:
If you normally ride 10 and did 71, then part of the explanation is right there
Without seeing you in your bike, too much reach is where I would guess first
Old fashioned rule of thumb was that if you put the back of your elbow on the nose of the saddle so that your forearm is parallel to the top tube, your finger tips should just touch the bars
That isn't a proper bike fit technique, just how we set up bikes back in the day, before bike fits had developed to where they are now
Thanks - I have done quite a few 40s, so it wasn't a massive leap (and the first 10 of the 70 was a steady ride to the start) - back/neck ache started well before I'd done 40 proper miles.Without seeing you in your bike, too much reach is where I would guess first
Old fashioned rule of thumb was that if you put the back of your elbow on the nose of the saddle so that your forearm is parallel to the top tube, your finger tips should just touch the bars
That isn't a proper bike fit technique, just how we set up bikes back in the day, before bike fits had developed to where they are now
I tried the 'rule of thumb' technique and I'm a good 15mm off being able to touch the bars still. I feel I may have got a large bike based on height (I'm at the bottom end of the sizing scale for large), but as my legs are quite long, the bike is too big for my body - if that makes sense? I hope I'm wrong as I don't really want to be buying a new frame!
I'm booking a bike fit for next week, so hopefully that will sort me out.
JPJPJP said:
I was 'taught' this technique by the now deceased George Steers back when I was a kid
George is still listed as a Record Holder on the VTTA website for the 25:15 "10" he posted in 2009, when he was 86 years old!
http://www.vtta.org.uk/information/recordsdetail.p...
I remember a couple of years before that, he had been talking about being skint. Then I saw him on a brand new bike - a really nice one! I asked him where it had come from and said I thought he was skint. He said he had cashed in his funeral bond "I don't care if they leave me on top, I wanted one more new bike to have a crack at some time trials"
Some boy!
George is still listed as a Record Holder on the VTTA website for the 25:15 "10" he posted in 2009, when he was 86 years old!
http://www.vtta.org.uk/information/recordsdetail.p...
I remember a couple of years before that, he had been talking about being skint. Then I saw him on a brand new bike - a really nice one! I asked him where it had come from and said I thought he was skint. He said he had cashed in his funeral bond "I don't care if they leave me on top, I wanted one more new bike to have a crack at some time trials"
Some boy!
scherzkeks said:
JPJPJP said:
That isn't a proper bike fit technique, just how we set up bikes back in the day, before bike fits had developed to where they are now
There is no surefire method for setting stem length. You can measure from acromion to knuckle and do some basic math, or you can do what you just described. None of the modern snake oil systems are any better.
Herman Toothrot said:
I have always suffered base of neck / shoulder ache on my road bikes. Buying them I have always measured myself to the letter and followed sizing guides. I just used your method and one bike my finger tips are about 2cm away from being able to touch the bars the other 3cm. Both bikes I had reduced the advised stem length by 10mm in a quest for more comfort and I position the saddle slightly forward on the rails. So fact I've already reduced reach and still no where near close to fingertips touching the bars it makes both my bikes look really rather too big. :-(
Don't take the rough rule of thumb measure I cited as anything other than that: a rough rule of thumb.I had the bike fit yesterday - it was really informative and thorough. My existing setup wasn't horrible (his words) but needed a few tweaks.
Saddle went up about 10mm and I can chop another 10mm off my stem (to 90mm). Seat position was changed and I was advised to sit a little further back.
He thought my back ache probably came from not being relaxed and holding my lever hoods too tightly, meaning my arms were way straighter than they should be.
Saddle went up about 10mm and I can chop another 10mm off my stem (to 90mm). Seat position was changed and I was advised to sit a little further back.
He thought my back ache probably came from not being relaxed and holding my lever hoods too tightly, meaning my arms were way straighter than they should be.
Maxf said:
I had the bike fit yesterday - it was really informative and thorough. My existing setup wasn't horrible (his words) but needed a few tweaks.
Saddle went up about 10mm and I can chop another 10mm off my stem (to 90mm). Seat position was changed and I was advised to sit a little further back.
He thought my back ache probably came from not being relaxed and holding my lever hoods too tightly, meaning my arms were way straighter than they should be.
Sounds good.Saddle went up about 10mm and I can chop another 10mm off my stem (to 90mm). Seat position was changed and I was advised to sit a little further back.
He thought my back ache probably came from not being relaxed and holding my lever hoods too tightly, meaning my arms were way straighter than they should be.
Let us know how it feels after your next long ride.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff