In pain - what might be causing these issues?

barrybridges
barrybridges Posts: 420
edited April 2013 in Training, fitness and health
I went out today for a long ride (85 miles - am training for the marmotte) and found that from about 60 miles onwards, I suffered quite badly with discomfort in my posture.

Having got off the bike, I'm in a lot of discomfort and in desperate need of a massage.

This is specifically where it hurts. Orange is for 'hurty' and red is for 'really bloody sore':

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=1zpqhjk&s=6

What might be wrong with my set-up? This is a fairly common occurrence on long rides?

The outside of the tops of my arms are the first to go - they're really painful. The back of my neck also feels 'crunched' where my back is down but my neck is arched upwards to look where I'm going.

I wonder if I'm putting too much weight on my arms by consequence of having my bars too low - and this is why my neck hurts also. But I don't think my bars are that low (there's one spacer below).

Comments

  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    I think it's called 'fatigue'. Don't worry about it. Do more of whatever it is you are doing and your body will eventually adapt.
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    When was the last time you over 60 miles in 1 hit?
    I suspect not for a long time... if thats the case you just need to get back into a regular routine of riding before going off on a tangent of 'I think my bike setup is all wrong' .
    We all get aches and pains when riding.. you just get normalised as to ones that are critical issues and need attention (like saddle sores) and the majority of merely just shut up ffs and get on with it.
  • ut_och_cykla
    ut_och_cykla Posts: 1,594
    Bars too low /far forward for current adaptation to riding? Tight clothing round neck? Helmet/ glasses too low? All cause neck/shoulder discomfort. You might adapt given time but a less painful way to go would be to raise your bars for a few rides (and then lower them bit by bit if you want to later). If you don't adapt you will suffer from chronic discomfort and maybe even injure yourself.
  • alihisgreat
    alihisgreat Posts: 3,872
    classic cause of lower back pain is tight hamstrings.
  • barrybridges
    barrybridges Posts: 420
    JGSI wrote:
    When was the last time you over 60 miles in 1 hit?

    Normally once or twice a monthly, but if not then I'll do a weekly ride of around 40 - 50 miles, so I don't think it's that.

    Lots of ideas and thoughts here. I think I'll try raising the stem with the spacers, but if that doesn't work than it might be a case of manning up.

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