sore elbows

dg75
dg75 Posts: 3
edited July 2011 in Road beginners
hi i'm new to cycling and find that after a ride my elbows hurt when i extend my arm does anyone know the reason and or cure or is it something that will get better the more i ride

Comments

  • Duffer65
    Duffer65 Posts: 341
    The usual cause is over reaching, due to your stem being too long or your saddle set too far back or perhaps a combination of the two. Although others with more experience may be able to suggest other causes.
    Where would you be if you fell down a hole?.. Stuck down a hole... in the fog... Stuck down a hole, in the fog, at night... WITH AN OWL!
  • danowat
    danowat Posts: 2,877
    When you ride, are your arms straight, or bent at the elbow?
  • ollyridesfirst
    ollyridesfirst Posts: 486
    danowat wrote:
    When you ride, are your arms straight, or bent at the elbow?

    as he said....make sure your arms aren't locked out. If they are then you're too far away from your handlebars. Assuming your saddle is at the correct height and set back correctly, then your stem is too long (or your bike is too big for you).

    Have you had your bike set up properly? Or just adjusted the seat a bit when you got it? Take a look here:

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

    First get your crank length right, then adjust your saddle height and adjust fore/aft in relation to your pedals, and then look at your reach to the handlebars....
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    The condition is likely a chronic inflammation similar to tennis elbow due to gripping the bars too tight, probably exacerbated by over-reaching, as stated. With a bit of rest, it should clear-up in time. You need to relax your grip and keep a bend in your elbows - sounds like you need to adjust your position e.g. shorter stem to accommodate.
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  • dg75
    dg75 Posts: 3
    thanks for the tips think i must be over reaching it's the only thing i haven't calculated properly.
  • Secteur
    Secteur Posts: 1,971
    It's golfers elbow - I had the same thing when I started, and it's still sore several months on.

    It's caused by riding with elbows "locked out" - for me due to being inflexible on my bike and having a stem a little too long.

    I flipped the stem and worked on my spinal flexibility and now I can easily ride on the hoods with a good flex in my elbow, and will be re-flipping the stem back soon.

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