Shoulder Pain while on Bike

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2011-04-20 11:54 PM

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Subject: Shoulder Pain while on Bike
I am training for a HIM so I have been putting more millage into my bike. I have been fitted to my bike by a trusted professional but when I ride over about 20 miles my left shoulder right above the shoulder blade starts to hurt and get really tense. I put my head down to try and stretch it out and relieve some of the pain but I wnd up doing this and in pain for the remainder of the ride. Any ideas? 

2011-04-21 12:10 AM
in reply to: #3457963

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Subject: RE: Shoulder Pain while on Bike
What kind of bike, road or tri? How long ago was the fit?
2011-04-21 12:38 AM
in reply to: #3457976

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Subject: RE: Shoulder Pain while on Bike
road bike. Probably got fit two years ago.
2011-04-21 4:33 AM
in reply to: #3457963

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Subject: RE: Shoulder Pain while on Bike

Sounds very similar to what I was getting.

Tense behind the shoulder blade, sometimes all the way up my neck and working into a tension headache at the left temple.

My fitter recommended a narrower set of bars (down from 42cm to 40cm) and no more shoulder pain.

2011-04-21 6:24 AM
in reply to: #3457963

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Subject: RE: Shoulder Pain while on Bike
Four common issues resulting in soreness as you are describing... too wide handlebars, too short (commonly this is the very top of the shoulders going up into the neck) or too long reach (no skeletal support, muscular only as your elbows will end up way in front of your shoulders) and most common... weaker core.

Go back to your fitter and discuss this issue with him/her. Most likely, it's just a small adjustment needed.

Edited by audiojan 2011-04-21 6:24 AM
2011-04-21 1:48 PM
in reply to: #3458077

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Subject: RE: Shoulder Pain while on Bike

audiojan - 2011-04-21 7:24 AM  Go back to your fitter and discuss this issue with him/her. Most likely, it's just a small adjustment needed.

I had something like this during my "pre-fit" trial riding on a new road bike - tension/pain above my right shoulder and into my neck.

When I went in for the detailed fit, they replaced my stem to move the handlebars up and closer to me. It was a very small adjustment - I think something in the neighborhood of one centimeter or less in both dimensions - but it made a HUGE difference.

The other thing that helps is maintaining good posture - and this is a core strength issue. I will sometimes get lazy mid-ride or at the end, and the tension comes back. This is mostly about keeping a flat back: if I let my back hunch over, it puts more strain on my neck/shoulder area.

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