Trying to get use to my road bike

[cyclinnewbie]

I need to get so bike shorts. I don't know whats worse - being 30 lbs over weight in bike shorts or having regular shorts riding up.

I have decided that regular shorts are marginally worse than being 30 lbs overweight in bike shorts. MARGINALLY!!

I've been trying to get used to my road bike too. It's coming along. I certainly have not taken to it like I thought I would, but I still love it....it's so fun! So, if you're driving down the road and see a short fluffy chick in bike shorts cussing her gears and grinning like a toddler, it's probably me!

[NoNo]

I picked up my first road bike in September and still have shoulder and neck pain after anything longer than an hour. Last week my friend told me about keeping my elbows in. I have a tendency to kind of wing them out. On the 50 miler Sunday I made a concerted effort to keep my elbows in and I noticed a big difference. Sure I was sore, but it was definitely better than past rides. Perhaps you're unknowingly doing the same thing?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I picked up my first road bike in September and still have shoulder and neck pain after anything longer than an hour. Last week my friend told me about keeping my elbows in. I have a tendency to kind of wing them out. On the 50 miler Sunday I made a concerted effort to keep my elbows in and I noticed a big difference. Sure I was sore, but it was definitely better than past rides. Perhaps you're unknowingly doing the same thing?

Oh that reminds me....yes in addition to keeping your shoulders and elbows down and relaxed....do not lock your elbows straight! Locking your elbows lets you put your entire torso weight onto your hands and puts way more additional strain on your shoulders- not good, ever!
Again, try to put more of your weight on your feet and less on your hands and butt. Remember you are riding your bike- not just sitting on it like a passive lump on a reclining chair.

[KathiCville]

Ditto everything said above about keeping elbows loose, down and in! You'll find it makes a big difference! And let yourself sit upright every so often as you're moving along, to give yourself a chance to stretch your neck and shoulders a bit.

On the shorts front, if at the moment you don't feel comfortable with regular bike shorts, how 'bout trying something like the Shebeest Shindiggers? (Or another just-below-the-knee capri.) I much prefer the Shindiggers to standard shorts because they're not as tight AND don't have the grippy elastic stuff that makes you feel like you're wearing sausage casing. They come down just a bit over the knee and (I think) look slenderizing. I wore them on a multi-day bike tour recently and loved them. Not too warm and no shorts-length tan line!! The chamois padding isn't thick, but that's my preference anyway........

Have fun!!

[KnottedYet]

I read this hint somewhere, and I just love it for the arm-position thing: hold the bar like it's bigger around than it is. (so keep your hand a bit more open, but not loose or sloppy)

I've only had the chance to try it once so far, but that one cue seems to tie in core/spine posture/arms/elbows/shoulders for me. And I liked it even more than the "playing piano" cue.

It's very hard to ride with too much weight on the bars if you are holding your hands a bit more open. I could really feel it in my core, so I'm guessing that's my weak spot.