Aching neck

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John342

Active Member
Hi all, recently started increasing my distance I cover on the bike and over last few days now I am averaging 20-30miles per ride I am developing an aching feeling down the back of my neck.
Is this normal to start with?
Cheers John.
 
vickster

vickster

Squire
Yes pretty normal, while you get used to the position on a bike. is your reach comfortable? You could try flipping the stem to raise the bars

What sort of bike is it? Do you wear a helmet? If so how are you looking at the road? What sort of terrain are you riding
 
lpretro1

lpretro1

Guest
Get a proper bike fit to check your position is spot on. Also a good idea to change hand position often when riding so you are not in one position all the time.
 
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John342

Active Member
Boardman cx comp 2014. Lovely bike, the reach is really comfy no probs there. Just riding normal country roads around northern Lincolnshire and I don't wear a helmet. I do try and straighten up a bit every few miles for few mins but I find the geometry pretty relaxed anyway.
 
vickster

vickster

Squire
Try flipping the stem...doing off the bike stretches...and working on your core

Are the handlebars the right width for you?

Do you wear glasses?

All assuming you don't have a natural weakness in your neck
 
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John342

Active Member
Many thanks, yes I wear glasses day to day but not on the bike. (Too costly to risk getting scratched or damaged lol)
I am beginning to think a bike fit might be the solution if it carries on.
By flipping the stem, what do you mean. Surely that won't change anything unless I higher/lower it? Or am I missing something. Many thanks.
 
vickster

vickster

Squire
John342 said:
Many thanks, yes I wear glasses day to day but not on the bike. (Too costly to risk getting scratched or damaged lol)
I am beginning to think a bike fit might be the solution if it carries on.
By flipping the stem, what do you mean. Surely that won't change anything unless I higher/lower it? Or am I missing something. Many thanks.
Click to expand...
It will raise the bars so you'll be more upright. You can turn the stem round, as mine in this pic
 

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John342

Active Member
Now I get you, thank you so much. I thought you meant the tube going into the frame Itself. I will try that then.
 
vickster

vickster

Squire
John342 said:
Now I get you, thank you so much. I thought you meant the tube going into the frame Itself. I will try that then.
Click to expand...
Presumably the spacers are all below the stem than above
 
Globalti

Globalti

Legendary Member
Not only can you add spacers and flip the stem so as to change the angle by a good amount, probably about 20 to 30 degress, on Specialized bikes there's also an eccentric shim inside the stem where it clamps on the steerer and reversing this raises or lowers the stem by 10 degrees.

Another adjustment you can make is to rotate the handlebars backwards so that the tops of the bars and the brake hoods are horizontal or even tilted up towards you, which I find more comfortable anyway.

Finally, if you're not wearing a helmet, are you wearing a cap? I find that the peak of a cycling cap cuts off a couple of degress from the top of my field of vision forcing me to raise my head and giving me a sore neck.
 
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John342

Active Member
I did fiddle with the angle of the bars when I first got the bike a few months ago. I now find a slight tilt towards me has helped a bit, not with regards to the neck issue, but just general comfort etc.
No I don't wear a cap either, but I do have a slight visual impairment, since birth, hence the glasses. Am just thinking maybe that is causing me to lift my head slightly more than I should in order to see properly down the road.
 
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