Arm fatigue

Javier said:

What else can I try?

A recumbent.

Mike

Javier Rojasj said:

After a good 25 mile ride on my road bike my left bicep always seems
to fatigue and some minor discomfort sets in. I've been back to my
LBS for a refitting but my fit is dead on, and I'll admit besides
the left arm fatigue I could ride another 25 miles. I've also been
to my doctor and cardiologist just in case there are any underlying
issues but everything checks out.

You might try push-ups to strengthen those muscles. I think you'll be
amazed at how much easier the bicycle rides when your body is fit, and
I mean when just rolling along. Climbing hills will just go a bit
faster but not strikingly. That will improve with more riding.

Jobst Brandt

Quoted message said:

After a good 25 mile ride on my road bike my left bicep always seems to
fatigue and some minor discomfort sets in. I've been back to my LBS for
a refitting but my fit is dead on, and I'll admit besides the left arm
fatigue I could ride another 25 miles. I've also been to my doctor and
cardiologist just in case there are any underlying issues but
everything checks out.

I've installed those Specialized gel pads on my handle bars and they
have helped a bit but so far nothing has been able to get rid of the
fatigue. I've tried a more upright riding position and that hasn't
helped either. What else can I try?

Thanks,

Javier

I had upper arm fatigue that would set in, that was solved by installing
a more narrow handlebar. My shoulders are not very wide for my height, so
for my bike size they always install 44's, when only 42's will do for me.
But of course I would not feel the fatigue until I had at least gone 100
miles in a ride. Under 80 miles, I would not really feel it. After 150
miles, it would feel like hot foot in the arm, excruciating pain. After the
more narrow bars, nothing at that milage mark, amazing.

Javier said:

After a good 25 mile ride on my road bike my left bicep always seems to
fatigue and some minor discomfort sets in. I've been back to my LBS for
a refitting but my fit is dead on, and I'll admit besides the left arm
fatigue I could ride another 25 miles. I've also been to my doctor and
cardiologist just in case there are any underlying issues but
everything checks out.

I've installed those Specialized gel pads on my handle bars and they
have helped a bit but so far nothing has been able to get rid of the
fatigue. I've tried a more upright riding position and that hasn't
helped either. What else can I try?

It may be that your arms are of unequal length.

I've occasionally helped people with this problem by the simple
expedient of setting their handlebars slightly crooked.

Sheldon "Cheap Solutions" Brown
+----------------------------------------+
| It is easier to ask forgiveness |
| than it is to get permission |
| --Admiral Grace Hopper |
+----------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

Javier said:

After a good 25 mile ride on my road bike my left bicep always seems to
fatigue and some minor discomfort sets in. I've been back to my LBS for
a refitting but my fit is dead on, and I'll admit besides the left arm
fatigue I could ride another 25 miles. I've also been to my doctor and
cardiologist just in case there are any underlying issues but
everything checks out.

I've installed those Specialized gel pads on my handle bars and they
have helped a bit but so far nothing has been able to get rid of the
fatigue. I've tried a more upright riding position and that hasn't
helped either.

Quoted message said:

What else can I try?

You could look into strengthening your lower back and other parts of
the core of your body so you can use those structural muscles to
support more of your weight, rather than using your arms.

JT

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Road bike, stock 2006 Trek 1200

Sheldon,

You could be right, I noticed that I tend to put more pressure on my
left arm as compared to my right arm. I guess I'll break out the
measuring tape.

Sheldon Brown said:

It may be that your arms are of unequal length.

I've occasionally helped people with this problem by the simple
expedient of setting their handlebars slightly crooked.

Why not stretch the shorter arm or cut off part of the longer arm?

Procrustes

Mike Causer said:

Javier said:

What else can I try?

A recumbent.

Don't you know that suggesting a recumbent as a solution for discomfort
is not allowed on rec.bicycles.tech?

--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley

Ceasar Valeroso said:

Quoted message said:

After a good 25 mile ride on my road bike my left bicep always seems to
fatigue and some minor discomfort sets in. I've been back to my LBS for
a refitting but my fit is dead on, and I'll admit besides the left arm
fatigue I could ride another 25 miles. I've also been to my doctor and
cardiologist just in case there are any underlying issues but
everything checks out.

I've installed those Specialized gel pads on my handle bars and they
have helped a bit but so far nothing has been able to get rid of the
fatigue. I've tried a more upright riding position and that hasn't
helped either. What else can I try?

Thanks,

Javier

I had upper arm fatigue that would set in, that was solved by installing
a more narrow handlebar. My shoulders are not very wide for my height, so
for my bike size they always install 44's, when only 42's will do for me.
But of course I would not feel the fatigue until I had at least gone 100
miles in a ride. Under 80 miles, I would not really feel it. After 150
miles, it would feel like hot foot in the arm, excruciating pain. After the
more narrow bars, nothing at that milage mark, amazing.

I had a similar, but somewhat opposite, experience. I discovered that my
arms and shoulders were much more comfortable with wider bars.

I said:

Quoted message said:

It may be that your arms are of unequal length.

I've occasionally helped people with this problem by the simple
expedient of setting their handlebars slightly crooked.

Procrustes got out of his bed to suggest:

Quoted message said:

Why not stretch the shorter arm or cut off part of the longer arm?

Jeez, I hate these wishy washy "on-the-one-hand-but-on-the-other-hand"
posts!

Stretching the shorter arm is not a good idea, liable to damage the
joints and weaken the bones.

MUCH better to cut off part of the longer arm. This has the further
benefit of saving weight!

Sheldon "Chop It Off! Chop It Off!" Brown
+--------------------------------------------------+
| Take sides! Always take sides! |
| You will sometimes be wrong--but the man who |
| refuses to take sides must _always_ be wrong. |
| Heaven save us from poltroons who fear |
| to make a choice. --Robert A. Heinlein |
+--------------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

I had that problem too check to see your front forks aren't bent.

Sheldon Brown said:

I said:

Quoted message said:

It may be that your arms are of unequal length.

I've occasionally helped people with this problem by the simple
expedient of setting their handlebars slightly crooked.

Procrustes got out of his bed to suggest:

Quoted message said:

Why not stretch the shorter arm or cut off part of the longer arm?

Jeez, I hate these wishy washy "on-the-one-hand-but-on-the-other-hand"
posts!

Stretching the shorter arm is not a good idea, liable to damage the
joints and weaken the bones.

MUCH better to cut off part of the longer arm. This has the further
benefit of saving weight!

Sheldon "Chop It Off! Chop It Off!" Brown

Good thing we don't have two penises. (And STEER with 'em!)

Bill "slow morning" S.

More stiff leg deadlifts and cruches for me...not a problem. 🙂