Neck Pain

"Running Bear" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi! I'm new to cycling. Recently I bought a FUJI Absolute as a
cross-training tool. Everytime I'm about 3-4 miles into the ride, I
begin to experience neck pain.

The bike comes with a flat bar. I have made sure my seat is high
enough to allow enough room for leg extension, but this makes my
sitting pose less than upright and forces my head tilted up during the
ride. Is it the cause of my pain? Will I aggravate my neck pain if I
switch to a bike with drop bar (e.g. a touring bike)?

===
Hi Running Bear. Like you, I bought a FUjI Absolute (about a month ago)
Although I don't have the neck pain you described, I get lots of numbness in
my hands. The bike frame (23"😉 / (58cm) is correct for my inseam (34"😉, but
my seat is considerably higher than the handle bar. W/ 220-plus pounds,
leaning downward on the bars, it doesn't take long before the numbness
ensues. Like you, I'm thinking about getting a (Fuji) touring bike, but I
have reservations about the rams-type handlebars which all touring bikes
have... I much prefer to being more upright. I know that lots of cyclist
insist that the "rams" are more comfortable than a flat bar but maybe that
just *them*. I don't like the so called comfort bikes, as they tend to be
overly heavy w/ all the suspension and the large adjustable stems... don't
like the looks of them either. Anyway, I don't know what to do. Hope you
get some answers and fare well in the matter.

"Glenn Civello" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Running Bear" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi! I'm new to cycling. Recently I bought a FUJI Absolute as a
cross-training tool. Everytime I'm about 3-4 miles into the ride, I
begin to experience neck pain.

The bike comes with a flat bar. I have made sure my seat is high
enough to allow enough room for leg extension, but this makes my
sitting pose less than upright and forces my head tilted up during the
ride. Is it the cause of my pain? Will I aggravate my neck pain if I
switch to a bike with drop bar (e.g. a touring bike)?

===
Hi Running Bear. Like you, I bought a FUjI Absolute (about a month ago)
Although I don't have the neck pain you described, I get lots of numbness

in

Quoted message said:

my hands. The bike frame (23"😉 / (58cm) is correct for my inseam (34"😉,

but

Quoted message said:

my seat is considerably higher than the handle bar. W/ 220-plus pounds,
leaning downward on the bars, it doesn't take long before the numbness
ensues. Like you, I'm thinking about getting a (Fuji) touring bike, but

I

Quoted message said:

have reservations about the rams-type handlebars which all touring bikes
have... I much prefer to being more upright. I know that lots of cyclist
insist that the "rams" are more comfortable than a flat bar but maybe that
just *them*. I don't like the so called comfort bikes, as they tend to

be

Quoted message said:

overly heavy w/ all the suspension and the large adjustable stems... don't
like the looks of them either. Anyway, I don't know what to do. Hope

you

Quoted message said:

get some answers and fare well in the matter.

Could be both of your seats are to far forward?

The following is some really interesting advice on position that considers
your
body composition and flexibility rather than dogmatic rules.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=2004/letters08-09
Knee over pedal spindle

http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=2004/letters07-26#Cleat
Cleat position #1 and #2

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/kops.html
Myth of KOPS, Bontrager

Bill

"Bill" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Could be both of your seats are to far forward?

The following is some really interesting advice on position that
considers your
body composition and flexibility rather than dogmatic rules.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=2004/letters08-09
Knee over pedal spindle

http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=2004/letters07-26#Cleat
Cleat position #1 and #2

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/kops.html
Myth of KOPS, Bontrager

Here's another interesting fitting page that ignores KOPS as a dogmatic
rule:

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

--
Mike Barrs

On 20 Aug 2004 09:40:39 -0700, [email hidden] (Running Bear)

Quoted message said:

Hi! I'm new to cycling. Recently I bought a FUJI Absolute as a
cross-training tool. Everytime I'm about 3-4 miles into the ride, I
begin to experienceneckpain.

The bike comes with a flat bar. I have made sure my seat is high
enough to allow enough room for leg extension, but this makes my
sitting pose less than upright and forces my head tilted up during the
ride. Is it the cause of my pain? Will I aggravate my neck pain if I
switch to a bike with drop bar (e.g. a touring bike)?

Raise the handlebars. Plain and simple- one way or another, get those
bars higher!

I had neck pain from a new bike. One inch higher on the handlebars-
nothing else, no fore/aft, no seat position, etc.- and it was gone.

"Running Bear" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi! I'm new to cycling. Recently I bought a FUJI Absolute as a
cross-training tool. Everytime I'm about 3-4 miles into the ride, I
begin to experience neck pain.

The bike comes with a flat bar. I have made sure my seat is high
enough to allow enough room for leg extension, but this makes my
sitting pose less than upright and forces my head tilted up during the
ride. Is it the cause of my pain? Will I aggravate my neck pain if I
switch to a bike with drop bar (e.g. a touring bike)?

I believe that your handlebars are too low. Get a higher stem, and maybe
even riser bars.

Quoted message said:

Hi! I'm new to cycling. Recently I bought a FUJI Absolute as a
cross-training tool. Everytime I'm about 3-4 miles into the ride, I
begin to experience neck pain.

The bike comes with a flat bar. I have made sure my seat is high
enough to allow enough room for leg extension, but this makes my
sitting pose less than upright and forces my head tilted up during the
ride. Is it the cause of my pain? Will I aggravate my neck pain if I
switch to a bike with drop bar (e.g. a touring bike)?

Neck pain can sometimes be due to a seat that's tilted down at the front.
With a tilted-down saddle, you're spending the entire ride pushing back
against the bars (to hold your position on the saddle), and your
neck/shoulder area can get pretty stressed & painful.

A drop bar shouldn't aggravate neck pain, and in some cases can actually
relieve it because you have multiple positions to move your hands around.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

"foldedpath" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Bill" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Could be both of your seats are to far forward?

Could be. My seat was pretty far forward, so I adjusted it back a bit.
Can't try it out right now as it pouring rain outside right now. Hope it
helps though. Thanks for your input.

On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 16:31:46 -0400 in rec.bicycles.misc, "Glenn

Civello said:

Hi Running Bear. Like you, I bought a FUjI Absolute (about a month ago)
Although I don't have the neck pain you described, I get lots of numbness in
my hands. The bike frame (23"😉 / (58cm) is correct for my inseam (34"😉, but
my seat is considerably higher than the handle bar. W/ 220-plus pounds,
leaning downward on the bars, it doesn't take long before the numbness
ensues.

Adjust the stem height or get a new stem, but RAISE THE
HANDLEBARS until they are level with the seat!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hi Running Bear. Like you, I bought a FUjI Absolute (about a month ago)

Although I don't have the neck pain you described, I get lots of numbness in
my hands. The bike frame (23"😉 / (58cm) is correct for my inseam (34"😉, but
my seat is considerably higher than the handle bar. W/ 220-plus pounds,
leaning downward on the bars, it doesn't take long before the numbness
ensues.
==

Quoted message said:

Adjust the stem height or get a new stem, but RAISE THE

HANDLEBARS until they are level with the seat!
==
Thanks for the input Dennis. My handlebars will not raise further w/o an
extender. When I bought my Fuji Absolute, a little over a month ago, the
LBS salesperson agreed to get me an extender in the color black. I had
decided that the (available) chrome one would look sort of tacky. The black
one has been on backorder for the past 4 weeks. I also own a '92 Bridgestone
mountain bike. I got it cheap... only problem was that the frame was too
small for my size. I had the same problem I'm having w/ my Fuji (high seat
low handlebars.) I bought one of those adjustable stems made by Kalloy, and
it remedied my problem... except that I get "creaking noises" when I go up a
hill or even on a bike path w/an "upgrade." That's pretty annoying, but at
least I'm comfortable. Question to group: Am I correct in thinking that
getting a new quill stem would not work with my threadless headset? I'm
still "new" at this stuff.

"Glenn Civello" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
snip

Quoted message said:

==
Thanks for the input Dennis. My handlebars will not raise further w/o an
extender. When I bought my Fuji Absolute, a little over a month ago, the
LBS salesperson agreed to get me an extender in the color black. I had
decided that the (available) chrome one would look sort of tacky. The

black

Quoted message said:

one has been on backorder for the past 4 weeks. I also own a '92

Bridgestone

Quoted message said:

mountain bike. I got it cheap... only problem was that the frame was too
small for my size. I had the same problem I'm having w/ my Fuji (high

seat

Quoted message said:

low handlebars.) I bought one of those adjustable stems made by Kalloy,

and

Quoted message said:

it remedied my problem... except that I get "creaking noises" when I go up

a

Quoted message said:

hill or even on a bike path w/an "upgrade." That's pretty annoying, but

at

Quoted message said:

least I'm comfortable. Question to group: Am I correct in thinking that
getting a new quill stem would not work with my threadless headset? I'm
still "new" at this stuff.

See if you bike shop has an adjustable threadless stem you can "borrow" for
a few days. Then you can determine the reach and rise you are comfortabloe
with and get a stem to match.
bill

Quoted message said:

See if you bike shop has an adjustable threadless stem you can "borrow"

for
a few days. Then you can determine the reach and rise you are comfortabloe
with and get a stem to match.
Bill

===
Good idea. Thanks Bill.
Glenn

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hi! I'm new to cycling. Recently I bought a FUJI Absolute as a
cross-training tool. Everytime I'm about 3-4 miles into the ride, I
begin to experience neck pain.

Here's a pretty low tech and cheap way of fixing this: address the way you
raise your head. If you're looking down and want to look up, don't use your
neck muscles to raise up. Imagine a string attached to the top of your
scalp, and what would happen if that string was steadily pulled. Your upper
back, shoulders, neck and head would all move in one steady motion. Got this
advice from an LMT, and ever since, my neck and shoulders have been much
less stressed.

"Running Bear" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi! I'm new to cycling. Recently I bought a FUJI Absolute as a
cross-training tool. Everytime I'm about 3-4 miles into the ride, I
begin to experience neck pain.

The bike comes with a flat bar. I have made sure my seat is high
enough to allow enough room for leg extension, but this makes my
sitting pose less than upright and forces my head tilted up during the
ride. Is it the cause of my pain? Will I aggravate my neck pain if I
switch to a bike with drop bar (e.g. a touring bike)?

Another possibility that hasn't been mentioned: Do you wear a helmet? Does
it have a visor? Take off the visor and/or move the helmet back on your
head.