Chronic neck problems - should I get a new bike?

[kaian]

I'm in PT now for the neck and I think it is getting better, but it is being really stubborn. 6 weeks of this neck madness! Anyway, I haven't stopped riding, just cut back a little and try to change my hand positions. I'm still concerned though because I did PT for this problem before and it came back. I'm seriously wondering if my body just doesn't like the road position.

I was looking at the Trek FX bikes...basically flat bar road bikes, but I'm just not sure about it. Seems like quite a gamble of $$$ if I don't know whether or not it will solve my problems. I wonder if it would be ridiculous to try and get my handlebars even higher on my road bike? They are already higher than the seat and at a 17 degree upward angle.

Anyone ride flat bar bikes? How are they for longer distances (over 50 miles)?

[KnottedYet]

I'm still concerned though because I did PT for this problem before and it came back.

PT made it go away, but then it came back? did you continue with your home program and it came back even though you were doing everything every day your PT told you? Or did you stop your PT exercises, or maybe only did them when you remembered, and it came back?

Sometimes PT is a maintainence issue, not a "quick fix" issue. If you remember what you were doing in PT (or if what you are doing in PT now is working) please try to do it every day from now on and see if it helps.

Flat bar road bikes: I found flat bar to be very irritating beyond about 40 miles. Hard on my crabby neck, because I couldn't change positions. I have super tall stems and drop bars and it's peachy.

Dimension makes high-rise threadless road stems.
Nitto makes beautiful high-rise quill stems.
Salsa makes bars with shallow drops.

[kaian]

Yes, I did continue my PT stuff, but not every day. What I did was incorporate the exercises I learned into my upper body weights work out, so I was doing them 3 times a week. I guess this time around I will do them daily and see if that makes a difference. It's hard being such an active person and still having injuries and such. It's not like I never exercise or stretch...it is ongoing for me.

I guess I can look for other stems or go get fit again. I am wondering if eventually I should just get a more relaxed geometry road bike when I can afford it. The Trek 1500 has more of a race geometry and I wonder if getting more of a relaxed frame with a sloped top tube will bring the front end of the bike up even more (with the right stem) and just make it easier on my body overall. I feel pretty comfy on my bike, I really do, but the neck just doesn't like being perched out there in that position.

[violette]

Kian, what kinda core exersices do you do?

[kaian]

I do a variety of core exercises. There are some tri sites that have a whole bunch of them that I found helpful. Here's one site I use:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cm...?articleid=486

I also do "good mornings" for my lower back and also twists and side bends with weights for my core.

I do these about 3 times a week when I do my overall upper body weights workout.

I have my full body covered when it comes to exercise. I'm not a couch potato who just gets on a bike once in a while. This is my fourth season riding and I've been active my whole life, including weights and strengthening exercises for several years.

[ladyicon]

I hate to say this but I had chronic neck and shoulder pain all the time (riding for 5 years), I just thought it went with bike riding. Never went away after going through PT and stretches. I just got a new bike 3 weeks ago and believe it or not the pain has gone away I don't know if it had to do with bad fits on my other bikes or not Maybe it was just a coincidence My neck and shoulder pain is better now after only riding my new bike for 3 weeks....go figure. Diane in San Diego

[kaian]

Ladyicon, what kind of bike did you have and then what did you switch to? What were the differences between the bikes/fit? Just curious! If I can find a bike or a position that will help me, I would be delighted!

[ladyicon]

I don't know if it was the bike or not, but it had to be cause now I feel fine. I was riding a Trek Pilot which has a sloping top tube and I always felt kinda crunched up on the bike. I went to Trek a few times for fits and got 3 different one (3 different people) Still had the pain......My husband bought me a Specialized Ruby which has a straighter top tub and different frame geometry, all I had to do was put a shorter stem and got fitted once and the pain went away. One thing you have to do is stretch your neck before, after, and during the ride. Make sure you are not leaning on your handlbars too much, too much weight forward can hurt. Try tipping the nose of your saddle up a teenie bit so that your weight is on your sit bones, and you are not sliding forward.
Also while you are riding shrug your shoulders every few miles to make sure they are not all tensed up. Sounds like you need a real experienced fitter to fit you correctly. Everyone is different. Good luck, but DO NOT give up!