Upper Back / Shoulder Blade Pain ?

[queenridingbee]

I've been riding since March on a hybrid. 3 wks ago I started riding a road bike. Each time I ride I notice that I have a pinching pain in my left upper middle back shoulder blade area. It's not too much on the right side but very pronounced on the left after riding for about an hour. I've read that if there is a pinching pain between the shoulders (on both sides) it could be that the handle bar reach is too short. But I'm not sure if what I'm experiencing is indicative of a fit issue or my physical condition.
Last week the bike shop guy who sold me the bike, without taking any measurements, said that I might be hunching or tensing on my left side. Today I paid extra attention on my ride to be sure that I was *not* doing either of those things and I still had the pain after an hour.
I want to take the bike back (again) but this time be armed with some info/suggestions of things to change. I'm not sure if the handle bars are too wide and if that even matters but I figured I'd ask y'all first :-)

Q

[mimitabby]

Part of this might be the bike but it probably has more to do with you and your posture. I have the exact same pain right this minute and for me, it didn't originate on the bike, but bicycling exacerbates it.

Do make sure that your bike fits you right, but work on your posture, (there are muscles that need to be toned) which includes core exercises.
hopefully one of our PT ladies will pop in here and give us suggestions!

[Eden]

Are you left handed? I get shoulder/neck pain from being in the saddle for long periods, not exactly because of the bike, but that it aggravates an injury from having a bad desk with a poorly positioned mouse. Getting rid of the mouse (computer that is... I switched to a tablet, or if I have to use a mouse I put it in my lap) and having some massage has helped a lot.

[tulip]

Have your bike professionally fitted to you. It'll really make a difference. Do keep your shoulders relaxed, your elbows slightly bent and relaxed, and your head straight (I tend to tilt my head to one side and that causes me problems).

Also make sure to strengthen your core so you will be able to support your weight with your core and not by putting too much pressure on your hands.

[queenridingbee]

Actually Eden, I am left handed. Does that make a difference? I'm kind of regretting not buying it from a LBS instead of a Performance. I should ask them if they'll give me a "real" bike fitting since I bought the bike.

q

[Eden]

Actually Eden, I am left handed. Does that make a difference?

I was just thinking if that was your dominant hand, that there could be something else that is aggravating your neck and shoulders (like me and my computer mouse), and that the bike is just making it apparent. That's not to say that you probably don't need a good bike fitting, you probably do and that should help the comfort situation, but also look carefully at your work ergonomics and see if there might be something else that is irritating it too.