Shouldering the bike

iglooboy

I'm new to Cross. A lot to learn...
I'm having difficulty shouldering the bike. Numerous collar bone breakages means it hurts like hell. I need some sort of padding and wondered if anyone had some advice/ideas. I tried pipe foam from the plumbers but it takes up too much room. Is there any Cross specific jerseys with padding?

Left shoulder is fine but I suppose it is not used due to the chain etc.

Thanks

David T

bendertherobot

Rapha did a long sleeve one that has right shoulder padding. Plenty on ebay but it's not hugely effective.

Shouldering can be important, but there are very few occasions in our league where I find it a real benefit.

You could wear a rugby vest type thing underneath? Some of those have removeable shoulder parts?

joey54321

I actually take most of the weight of the bike in my arm rather than my shoulder. If you are new to cross it might be a case of a mix of technique (wrap your arm under the downtube and hold the left part of the handlebar to support some weight) and just getting accustom it it.

Alternatively, look up solutions people have applied for the 3 peaks challenge, one cross race where padding is a lot more common.

CitizenLee

Would something like this help?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/661- ... prod129499

tgotb

Nothing wrong with drive-side dismounts and using the other shoulder if you have a good reason (as you do); it works for Kevin Pauwels and others. Chain isn't going to be anything more than a minor inconvenience.

Flat-bottomed top tubes are *way* more comfortable, and it helps a lot to rotate the bike so it's across your back and sitting on the muscle between the back of your neck and your shoulder. When I did 3 Peaks I had no padding, just a thin base layer and jersey; shouldering the bike was one of the few things I didn't have any problems with.

At league level, you're probably only going to have a couple of venues where you need to shoulder the bike up steps etc. However when it gets stupidly muddy and you have to do a lot of running, you really want the bike on your shoulder. Ditto if you stick your mech into the wheel (which tends to stop it rotating) and need to run to the pits.

imposter2.0

As mentioned above, there aren't really that many occasions where shouldering is necessary - unless you're doing the Three Peaks or something. But 99% of local CX league events where you need to be off the bike, it is probably just as easy to lift/carry it via the seat tube or push instead.

bendertherobot

CitizenLee wrote:

Would something like this help?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/661- ... prod129499

These are a bit cheaper!
https://www.lovell-rugby.co.uk/Rugby-Bo ... ck-or-Blue

tgotb

bendertherobot wrote:

CitizenLee wrote:

Would something like this help?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/661- ... prod129499

These are a bit cheaper!
https://www.lovell-rugby.co.uk/Rugby-Bo ... ck-or-Blue

If the padding on either of those helps, you're not carrying the bike correctly...

CitizenLee

bendertherobot wrote:

CitizenLee wrote:

Would something like this help?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/661- ... prod129499

These are a bit cheaper!
https://www.lovell-rugby.co.uk/Rugby-Bo ... ck-or-Blue

A fair bit! :shock:

TGOTB wrote:

If the padding on either of those helps, you're not carrying the bike correctly...

OP has pre existing shoulder issues...

tgotb

CitizenLee wrote:

TGOTB wrote:

If the padding on either of those helps, you're not carrying the bike correctly...

OP has pre existing shoulder issues...

I read that bit, which is why I suggested considering a drive-side dismount. My point with the padded tops is that the padding, particularly on the Chain Reaction garment, is in the wrong place to be of any use. You shouldn't be resting the top tube on that part of your shoulder; if you are, it's going to be very uncomfortable (and the bike isn't going to be particularly stable). Solve that problem by learning to carry the bike correctly, not by adding padding in the wrong place. Moreover, having the padding in the wrong place is likely to encourage the OP to learn poor technique.

webboo

Get a job as a pipe fitter and spend all day at work carrying pipes on your shoulder. Bike will be a doddle after that.

iglooboy

Thanks for all of the advice. I have found a piece of foam held in place with zinc oxide tape has helped. Girlfriend has suggested a shoulder pad from an 80's dress (Think Sue Ellen) so a trip to the charity shop is in order.
As mentioned, the technique is what I need to work on more than anything.

David T