Sore elbows?

[lunacycles]

My question is: why are your arms fully extended? That is, why is that what you want or have a tendency to do? Is your body preferring to be more upright, so you ride with your elbows locked to avoid bending over? If that's the case, Tulip's advice might help a lot.

If you are pretty fit and have neck or back pain when you bend forward to allow a bend in the elbows, you also may need to tweak your fit to accommodate your body better.

If you are already reaching too far, moving your saddle back is probably (imo) going to exacerbate the problem.

Locked elbows is really a recipe for problems.

What happens when you try to ride with bent elbows?

Have you had a bike fit done?

Just some questions before you try radical changes.

[cobalt]

I am not fit... yet. I have lost 65 lbs over the past 18 months and have another 40 to lose. My core could use a lot of work.

When I bought the bike it was fitted to me.

I would say that when my lower back bothers me I go upright and that is when I lock my elbows. That just occurred to me when I thought about why I stay up. I do like to go down into my drops but not when my back is sore. So a bit of a revelation. My back didn't bother me at the start of the summer and my elbows did not either.

As I lose over the winter I am hoping that this will help my lower back. I suppose I could do the exercises that I saw my athletic father do every night for his back.

Thanks a bunch and happy new year!

[tulip]

I never ride in the drops...just so you know that it's not required. It does sound to me like perhaps you are stretching out too far. I'd suggest going back to get a second fitting--your body has changed alot since you started and your bike fit might need some tweaking.

Great news about the weight loss! Get working on that core. You don't need to wait. Sign up for a reputable Pilates class, you won't regret it.

[cobalt]

Thanks Tulip!

[lunacycles]

I am not fit... yet. I have lost 65 lbs over the past 18 months and have another 40 to lose. My core could use a lot of work.

When I bought the bike it was fitted to me.

I would say that when my lower back bothers me I go upright and that is when I lock my elbows. That just occurred to me when I thought about why I stay up. I do like to go down into my drops but not when my back is sore. So a bit of a revelation. My back didn't bother me at the start of the summer and my elbows did not either.

As I lose over the winter I am hoping that this will help my lower back. I suppose I could do the exercises that I saw my athletic father do every night for his back.

If you are having low back pain it is often a sign you are reaching too far. It may be a fitness thing, it may be anatomical. Sometimes increased fitness helps, sometimes it doesn't. If you didn't get a professional fit, i.e., if a salesperson set you up on the bike but you didn't have body measurements taken plus a "fit session," then the bike still may not fit ideally for you, as it is and as you are. From what you are telling me, it might really benefit you to try a shorter stem. This is just a hunch, but I do a lot of online fit troubleshooting with my work. A shorter stem is maybe a $30 investment, and it will instantly reduce your reach. You may at the same time get a stem with a bit more rise. The goal, in my mind, is that you are comfortable on the bike without locking your elbows. Stems are easy to swap out, so you can experiment without spending a lot of dough.

Often as you get more fit on the bike and/or strengthen your core, your back gets more used to the position and you will want to stretch out your position more (and return to using a longer stem). But it shouldn't be forced into initially. IMO There is no way to be efficient on the bike if you aren't comfortable. Your position doesn't sound comfortable yet to me.

[cobalt]

I guess I thought I had a fit but did not. The person at the store had me get on the bike and then watched me ride it but we didn't measure anything.

Thanks for the tip about the stem. Will do that.

[Dogmama]

It's been awhile, how are you doing?

I would try adjusting your hand position which will automatically adjust your elbow bend. Riding with your hands vertical, thumbs up will cause your elbows to bend & might take some pressure off of those tendons & ligaments.

Also, Tulip had great advice about core strengthening.

[RoadRaven]

I do like to go down into my drops but not when my back is sore. So a bit of a revelation.

Isn't it interesting how different we all are... I prefer to be in the drops when my back is sore!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Isn't it interesting how different we all are... I prefer to be in the drops when my back is sore!

Yeah me too. We are indeed all different!

[RoadRaven]

Yeah, Bleecker... and i like my TT bike as stretching out on the aeros feels good too