Just done first ride bit of advice please

moffmcewan

Just done 15 miles on first ride with first ever road bike. Got a real sore neck trying to look forward all the time. If I move my handlebars up will this help relieve this or will I just get used to it? I noticed my seat sits approx inch or 2 above my bars.

KillerMetre

Just a matter of letting your body adapt to an unusual position.Dont start altering your position yet give it time.

Limburger

Can be the bar hight but more likely the reach (Length from your saddle tip to the back of the bars). Bar height is more about lower back flexibility. Maybe try sliding your saddle forward a cm if this is possible.

There is a good online fit calculator here that should give you a good starting point to find the right set-up which you can adjust to personal preference and flexibility. Just get someone else to measure you - it is impossible to do it yourself accurately.

Oh and you will of course get used to it more over time but it is best to get the right starting point first so that you don't inflict misery on yourself and end up heating your bike.

Hope it helps and your pain goes away.

moffmcewan

thanks for the advice, just been on the online fit calculator and bugged my wife for 20 mins to help me and the results make no sense to me whatsoever so still at square 1. as much as i know the position will be foreign to me i didnt think it'd be so difficult to look ahead and hurt my neck as much

Sean1504

I was in the same position as you a couple of weeks ago. I found a hot bath and some ibuprofen sorted out the immediate pain and on my subsequent rides it's gradually worn off even though i've been riding in the drops a lot more. Think it's just a case of letting your body get used to it.

moffmcewan

hanks sean just wanted to know it was normal, i feel fine just my neck trying to look up, will stick with it for few more miles

antfly

Were you on the drops a lot? If so use the hoods more.

moffmcewan

hardly touched the drops at all, 95% hoods as just getting used to my new bike but had to fit myself to it as the shop never done anything apart from put the pedals on i bought

unixnerd

Try a shorter or more upright stem until you get used to the bike. You might just be able to turn your existing stem upside down to raise the bars a bit.

You might also find a few stretching exercises help.

Anonymous

You'll get used to it.