Chronic neck problems - should I get a new bike?

[kaian]

Hmmm...I took a look at the touring bikes and I feel like they aren't really what I want/need. I am not going to do any loaded touring and the thought of big tires is kind of unattractive to me at this point. I may do some "touring" down the road, but what I do most are rides between 50-100 miles. Are there other bikes I may want to consider in the future (if the issues continue)? Are the Trek Pilots more upright than the 1500?

I think I would like to stick with 23-25 tires/wheels and something lightweight, but just more upright, relaxed geometry. I ride with other roadies and I have a feeling that I wouldn't keep up as well with a heavier touring bike. I'd like to keep it in the lightweight range. I've also wondered if a change of materials would help at all - in other words, riding steel or carbon as opposed to aluminum. Not sure if that would help the neck problem though.

I really appreciate all of the comments/suggestions.

[mimitabby]

I don't think the steel vs aluminum vs carbon thing is going to affect your neck.
There is definitely less choice for shorter women.
I am having a bike custom made for me with your specs. relaxed position and very light.
I got tired of messing around; but then on the other hand, I rode a Bianchi Volpe (less than 1000 dollars) and was very impressed.

keep looking, good luck

[Eden]

you could try the tennis ball stretch too - the exercises that I was given when I was having the shoulder/neck trouble didn't touch the problem, but the tennis ball stretch was a miracle.
I wrote it all out in this thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...t=tennis+balls

You could also make sure that you are wearing a very light helmet - and it doesn't have to be a super duper expensive one either. Some of the less expensive wsd helmets are actually lighter than the spiffy $200 ones. That is one place where shaving off a few grams might really make a practical difference.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hmmm...I took a look at the touring bikes and I feel like they aren't really what I want/need. I am not going to do any loaded touring and the thought of big tires is kind of unattractive to me at this point. I may do some "touring" down the road, but what I do most are rides between 50-100 miles. Are there other bikes I may want to consider in the future (if the issues continue)? Are the Trek Pilots more upright than the 1500?

I think I would like to stick with 23-25 tires/wheels and something lightweight, but just more upright, relaxed geometry. I ride with other roadies and I have a feeling that I wouldn't keep up as well with a heavier touring bike. I'd like to keep it in the lightweight range. I've also wondered if a change of materials would help at all - in other words, riding steel or carbon as opposed to aluminum. Not sure if that would help the neck problem though.

I really appreciate all of the comments/suggestions.

I do understand what you are saying about touring bikes.
But I would like to just point out that my DH and my steel Rivendells have 700x27cm smooth tires (not knobby), we don't put any heavy touring loads on them (yet), they are pretty quick and lively on the road, and they weigh 25 pounds with everything on them including a saddlebag with tools and tube, and water bottles. Not that heavy really. The handlebars are at the same height as the saddles- very easy on the back and neck. Touring bikes are not necessarily slow heavy clunkers with tank treads.

Mimi's bike sounds well worth checking into as well.

Jamis Bikes makes some less expensive bikes with slightly relaxed or touring geometry too. (not very heavy either)

If you are looking for a very lightweight bike that is going to give you a better neck position, I envision that might be less easy to find. The reason?- the people looking for very lightweight bikes are usually seeking fast racing bikes....and fast racing bikes are the very bikes that usually put the rider in an extreme racing position which will be hard on the neck. Most hybrid bikes will put you in a more upright position...but hybrids are not generally very lightweight bikes.

You ride long distances- 50-100 mile rides. I would think you'd feel best on a bike with relaxed geometry made for distance riding.
Ok, I'll stop now!

[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!