elbows

[im4smiley]

Ok girls, I went out for a ride yesterday, it was such a beautiful day, it was my first ride out on my new road bike. I rode with a small group, a beginner group. We rode a route I have traveled before on my old hybrid bike, I felt like a kid, I was able to ride must faster and I didn't have too much trouble with the hills, it was so much fun. My question is why are my elbows sore? Is it because of my new riding position with the drop handlebars and my body is not used to it? They aren't so sore that they are killing me but I feel the soreness if I stretch my arms out straight. Maybe someone here has some thoughts. Thanks ahead of time

[Veronica]

Maybe handlebar width? Have you broken your arm previously? Since Thom broke his arm last June he occassionally experiences some soreness on long rides.

V

[DeniseGoldberg]

I only have some very basic questions - which may not apply to you, but maybe they will stir some thoughts. Are you leaning on your hands / arms as opposed to using your abs to help hold your upper body in riding position? Are your arms stiff while you are riding, or relaxed?

--- Denise

[im4smiley]

V, I have not broken my arm and I was fitted to the bike so the width is "supposed" to be correct.

D, you may be right about leaning too much, stiff arms and not using my abs...do I have abs? I was trying to be relaxed, I noticed last weekend when I was practicing my shoulder/neck area was sore so I knew I was tense and needed to relax more.

Thanks for the ideas, I will try to be relaxed and use my abs more. If it doesn't get better I will have the LBS check my width again.

Karen

[Grog]

Take it easy at first: it's normal that some parts of your anatomy hurt because your core muscles needed for cycling are not very developed yet. You may also be leaning too much on your arms and not bending your elbow enough...

However, elbow pain can indicate tendonitis and you don't want to go there. Last year I had excruciating pain in my left elbow, it was really killing me after my first metric century. It started by 3/10 pain after my first 60-ish rides but was greatly increased as time in the saddle piled up. I went to the bike shop. Turns out that, according to the charts and to the length of my forearm, my stem was already too short, but we still brought the handlebars one hair closer (by flipping the side of the stem, which has some angle to it) and after that (and a few days of rest to let the pain subside) I was fine. So fitting only goes so far.

When I started longer rides this February I had some pain between the shoulders again - time to rebuild those endurance muscles - but never anymore elbow pain.

[RoadRaven]

Just a thought here... do you have aero bars, smiley?
Did you use them?
One of my elbows/outside of forearm gives me jib when my aeros aren't "just so" - but angling them differently by millimetres and I have no pan at all.

On a different note, if you are using your drops and didn't have them on old bike, then your weight of your upper body resting on your arms will compound any jarring or tension on your elbows.

I used to get aching in my hands as they got used to the levers/braking, and in my elbows and upper arms from the new angle I was asking my body to perform at. However, as your body "gets used" to the different demands it should begin to ease.

However, as Grog's post suggests, listen to your body and be careful it is not something like tendonitis...

Good luck

[Trekhawk]

Ok girls, I went out for a ride yesterday, it was such a beautiful day, it was my first ride out on my new road bike. I rode with a small group, a beginner group. We rode a route I have traveled before on my old hybrid bike, I felt like a kid, I was able to ride must faster and I didn't have too much trouble with the hills, it was so much fun. My question is why are my elbows sore? Is it because of my new riding position with the drop handlebars and my body is not used to it? They aren't so sore that they are killing me but I feel the soreness if I stretch my arms out straight. Maybe someone here has some thoughts. Thanks ahead of time

im4smiley you might want to get yourself a copy of Andy Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists. Its got stacks of good info on bike fit and it discusses remedies for pain associated with cycling. Im fairly new to cycling and found this book very informative.

Hope you sort out the elbow pain soon.

[im4smiley]

I went out for a 16 mile ride yesterday, it was a bit colder and wetter than on Saturday, and I was riding with a "fast" group" from our LBS. They slowed way down, I pedaled like crazy to keep up. Actually wasn't too bad, the guys were very nice to me, I rode about 8 miles with them and then they went on their way. I managed an avg speed of 15.8. whew my fastest ride yet. I tried to be relaxed on this ride and not stiffen up, I think it worked cause wasn't as sore after this ride. I will try riding for awhile and if my elbows still give me problems I will check with the LBS about adjustments. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

Karen

PS I don't have aero bars

[tulip]

Before you go out spending all sorts of money on new bars and stems, be aware of your riding position on your next ride. I see people all the time who ride with stiff-straight elbows. BEND YOUR ELBOWS! They will thank you for it. Bent elbows are better shock absorbers.

Look at photos and/or videos of professional cyclists and follow their examples. None of them have straight elbows.

[im4smiley]

Thank you Tupip I am going to pay attention to my posture when I go out again this weekend. I will be glad to have the time change happen so it stays lighter out at night then I can ride after work!!