Yet another "what bike should I get" post

[Kano]

What they've said -- and your shoulders/upper back thing: CORE WORK! Won't cure the shoulders and back, but if your lower torso is doing more work to hold you up, you won't put so much pressure on your hands and thus not your shoulders either. Bike fit is important, and they can do a lot, which is a good reason to buy from a bike dealer rather than a box store (this is part of the added value that comes with the bike shop bike, until there are parts needed), but they can't fix our bodies. That's up to us!

(I take a moment now and then to survey my body and fix things like lifted shoulders and anything else that tends to cause me bother when I'm riding. I find I do less "fixing" as the season progresses -- my body remembers eventually!)

Karen in Boise

[HappyTexasMom]

Thanks, everyone, you've all been helpful.

Kano, I think you are on to something with that core work. Mine is not terrible, but not great, either. Today I was really paying attention to my posture/position and what was causing things to go wrong. I really do think I have too long of a reach to my handlebars. They are flat bars on a mountain bike. I'm constantly trying to push myself back in the saddle (and the saddle is level) and even though I can't tell it by looking at myself, I just feel like I'm reaching too far forwards. I think something like moustache handlebars might be enough get me by until I can afford to buy something better.

However, I did notice that when I tried to straighten up to where I thought I should be, that the core muscles needed to be there (and weren't as much as they should be).

Still not sure about the neck and shoulders...I still can't imagine leaning over with my neck cranked up will ever be comfortable for a long ride, but I think that's a little bit different problem than "too much weight on my shoulders because I'm stretching too far". Maybe correcting one problem will at least lessen the other...only trying out bikes that fit will tell me.

And I do totally get buying a bike from a bike shop. I never did before...but then I only road around the neighborhood a bit, so it probably didn't matter, anyway. Now I'm trying to get recommendations for good ones (in a different thread).

[Kano]

Still not sure about the neck and shoulders...I still can't imagine leaning over with my neck cranked up will ever be comfortable for a long ride, but I think that's a little bit different problem than "too much weight on my shoulders because I'm stretching too far". Maybe correcting one problem will at least lessen the other...only trying out bikes that fit will tell me.

One of the things I have discovered over time is that for whatever reason it happens, the too much weight on my shoulders IS what makes my neck feel "cranked." My neck may indeed be "cranked," I'm not sure, but it FEELS like it when I'm not keeping my shoulders down. Shoulders where they belong, and even if I'm starting to hurt, it's still always amazing how much happier my body feels!

I know there's very possibly some structural issue you can't fix that causes the pain you experience in your neck and shoulders, but anything you can do to help, right?

Karen in Boise

[sarahspins]

Still not sure about the neck and shoulders...I still can't imagine leaning over with my neck cranked up will ever be comfortable for a long ride, but I think that's a little bit different problem than "too much weight on my shoulders because I'm stretching too far". Maybe correcting one problem will at least lessen the other...only trying out bikes that fit will tell me.

It is different.. when you're stretched out too far, you really can't rely on your core to help effectively, because it's just asking too much. If you're on a bike that fits, you're not fighting gravity.. and it doesn't feel like you're reaching too far for comfort... if you are, muscles get tired faster, and some joints may hurt.

Since I just swapped out my bars I am finding myself using new muscles in my shoulders/upper back and upper arms.. but it's not in a bad way, if that makes sense. I'm not hurting, but I am aware that some muscles are getting more of a workout than they had been. I actually expect that in just a week or two (it's only been 2 days), I won't even notice.