Elbow hurting!

[Bikechic]

I know this might be a weird question but I did my longest ride today of 30 miles (only second week with bike) and my left elbow started to really hurt especially when I would bend it (to wipe my face or what not). I am left handing and don't know why this is happening. ANyone have any ideas?

THanks bunches,
Kila

[nuthatch]

I posted a question like this a while back when I first got my road bike (I was riding my more upright hybrid before that). Both my elbows were hurting after about 30/40 miles. Just getting stiff and sore in that position and hard to bend. I knew I wasn't "locking" them in a fully extended position, so I checked with the LBS where I bought the bike and they suggested a shorter stem (so did my helpful friends here at the forum ;) ). I ended up putting an adjustable MTB stem on so I could get a shorter reach and a higher position. That helped tremedously but there was an element of my arm muscles getting stronger to hold me in that position as well. They feel fine now!

[Grog]

Same thing here. (I think I added a couple of cents to Nuthatch's discussion at the time - early June if I remember correctly).

My elbow was hurting like hell, especially when extended. Tendinitis was my doctor-friend diagnosis. Although according to the charts my stem was already too short, it obviously felt like that was the problem. I wanted to get an even shorter one but the LBS didn't have them on stock, so we ended up just turning the stem upside down so I gained about 1 cm, certainly not more. No more elbow problem from that point! I am not as comfortable as I was when riding in the drops, though, and I feel that my thumb can get very slightly numb in the new position. So sometime in the next year I'll probably get that measured again and get a new stem.

Other suggestions: change position often, try and see if riding on the tops or in the drops make a difference... But DO fix the problem, it can lead to worse hands/elbows problems quite fast...