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Wondering if anyone else suffers from similar...
For a few years now, I've ended up with achey shoulders after long (all-day) rides. Have noticed this particularly on my drop barred bike, despite switching positions (drops/hoods) and stretching occasionally while riding to try and loosen things up, but get it on flat bars too. So it's not one particular position as drops/flat are quite different.
I had a bike fit with a very well regarded fitter about 2 years ago, which hasn't changed much (it wasn't a huge problem at the time, but hasn't made things significantly worse or better). I need to go seem him again having changed a few bits.
It's come to a bit of a head having done a 200km, 18 hour ride on my loaded full-susser with a small rucksack (which I try to avoid as it definitely doesn't help) 3 weeks ago (Bearbones 200 for anyone wondering). I had the not-uncommon stabbing pain deep in my right shoulder afterwards, but the other night I was fitting something inside a kitchen cupboard and, while there was no sudden "ouch" moment, afterwards my neck was really stiff and painful. Three days and lots of ibuprofen later, it's still painful to make small movements and I'm off to the docs this afternoon.
Admittedly that ride was a bit foolish, being completely out of condition after a summer of too much DIY and too little riding, but there's clearly an underlying problem. Other things that might be contributing: desk job using a mouse all day 4 days a week, above-mentioned DIY, general neglect.
Any relevant experiences from the hive mind?
Try some core conditioning? not gonna be a quick fix, but will help unless it is an actual injury/issue.
Yeah, I'm suffering at the minute with neck & shoulder stiffness from riding. I think it's a combination of not having ridden much over the last year or so (we were walking more instead) and just getting older and less flexible :/ I sometimes set it off just putting socks on in the morning 🤣 but also 😣
Hate to admit it, but you're probably both right. I used to a bit of yoga or some interval training every morning. Didn't really feel like it helped, but maybe wrong. My core and upper body strength is not my natural strong point it has to be said.
And I'm definitely getting older, though at 32 I feel I should have a few more years of being able to make simple movements without wincing yet 😏
i realised the source of my stiff neck and shoulders was a lack of using my core. i got into the habit of locking my arms out and putting all my weight on the bars, which then just made my neck and shoulders scrunch up.
Although its easier said than done, i now try and remind myself to use my core/tummy to stay upright, with a slight bend in my arm.
On drops bars, have you got the bar in its lowest possible position, under all spacers and the stem flipped upwards?
If not, perhaps the height of the bars is making you hunch your shoulders up and you aren't bending your elbows enough (but this will create tricep fatigue on the hoods and also the tops to some extent).
On drops bars, have you got the bar in its lowest possible position, under all spacers and the stem flipped upwards?
The opposite - stem is on top of the spacers, angled down... but that makes the height of the bars not far off what you suggest. Bar has a slight rise just to make things more complicated.
I've played with bar height, roll, lever positions, stem lengths, saddle position and angle, on various bikes but I've always felt I'm either putting too much weight on the bars, or I'm too stretched out.
v7fmp might be onto something with it being a conscious effort needed to get the right posture, rather than the absolute position of the bars, etc. Easier said than done as you say though. I'm always telling myself to loosen up more on the bike, but then catch myself tensing up somewhere.