Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => Velo Fixe => Topic started by: The Solo Socialist on 22 February, 2019, 01:50:40 pm

Title: Advice
Post by: The Solo Socialist on 22 February, 2019, 01:50:40 pm
Probably not the correct forum? But nothing ventured!
I've been riding Fixed Gear for the last three years.
Over the last three months or so after approximately 80-100 km, my biceps begin to ache and as the ride progresses become painful, the pain extends into my shoulders then neck. The result it becomes difficult to continue and or hold my head up!

I've gone through 63" to 70" gearing in an attempt to alleviate the problem. As in spinning more to grinding more!

Title: Re: Advice
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 22 February, 2019, 02:01:07 pm
Work on core strength. You shouldn't particularly need to support yourself on your biceps while riding along.
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 22 February, 2019, 02:10:56 pm
Work on core strength. You shouldn't particularly need to support yourself on your biceps while riding along.

What he said.

Also, try a longer stem.
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: The Solo Socialist on 22 February, 2019, 02:19:04 pm
Hi MrCharly, Tried with longer stem, however the problem got worse and I felt stretched out. Current stem is 110, tried 120 got worse. Core is something I'm working on ???
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: Ivan on 22 February, 2019, 02:37:32 pm
I would have said the opposite - shorter / higher stem to reduce the weight on the arms and get a more upright position.
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: Jurek on 22 February, 2019, 03:02:52 pm
Gotta agree with Ivan.
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: hellymedic on 22 February, 2019, 04:05:58 pm
I've never ridden fixed.

Biceps will be under most stress when pulling up on bars, going uphill. How you reduce/relieve that stress is up to you...

I don't know what effect you'd get putting your hands under the bars. The biceps would be stronger but I don't know in what way this might influence the pain.
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: rogerzilla on 22 February, 2019, 05:10:44 pm
I doubt it's due to the fixed gear.  Are you sure it's biceps and not triceps?  Biceps don't do much on a bike unless you're honking uphill, and even then they're not providing much of the effort.  Triceps support some of the weight.
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: The Solo Socialist on 22 February, 2019, 05:35:28 pm
Hi Rogerzilla,
Definitely Biceps!
I've assumed its due to continual pedalling = working harder, hence fixed?
Seems to occur faster on hilly routes, so lowered gearing to 63", the only difference more spin when descending.
Raised gearing to 66", better downhill, of course, harder climbing slightly earlier onset.
Visits to Chiropractor and Physio with only temporary relief in that it came on slightly later.
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: mzjo on 22 February, 2019, 05:47:09 pm
Do you have a geared bike with the same position as the fixed to try? I am not convinced that the fixed is the source of the problem but it would be useful to confirm or exclude this possibility.
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 22 February, 2019, 06:14:23 pm
Get your position checked because sore biceps suggests to me that you might be sitting too far back.
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: The Solo Socialist on 24 February, 2019, 05:46:31 pm
Do you have a geared bike with the same position as the fixed to try? I am not convinced that the fixed is the source of the problem but it would be useful to confirm or exclude this possibility.
R
myjo No I only have a fixed wheel bike!
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: The Solo Socialist on 24 February, 2019, 05:56:32 pm
LittleWheelsandBig
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Re: Advice
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2019, 06:14:23 pm »
Quote
Get your position checked because sore biceps suggests to me that you might be sitting too far back.

That's interesting as I had a bike fit in October 18 the fitter moved my saddle back, by swapping seat pin for one with a greater setback. The bike fit was because of neck/shoulder problems on long rides eg 200km. This hasn't really altered. I tried a longer stem, but the neck was worse and I felt stretched out, struggled to brake as I grew tired.
As currently set up balance seems good, in that I can easily raise my hands off bars whilst cycling!
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 24 February, 2019, 09:34:56 pm
Go back to the bike fitter so that he can have a second go (at no cost to you). Alternatively, you may have a more fundamental problem that bears proper investigation.
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: The Solo Socialist on 25 February, 2019, 10:14:59 am
Thanks for that Littewheelsandbig, I'll phone them, might be a logistic challenge, though nothing lost.
I'm going to try your other suggestion too and move the saddle forward, I have a 200 DIY tomorrow so maybe do it today and see if I get any improvement. Try 5mm first....

Title: Re: Advice
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 25 February, 2019, 11:24:34 am
How low are your bars relative to your saddle?

'Struggling to brake as you grew tired' sounds like your position on the bike is not stable at all. You maybe need to look into multiple things; raising the bars and improving core strength.
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: The Solo Socialist on 25 February, 2019, 04:23:08 pm
Hi mrcharly-YHT
Bars are 5mm lower than the saddle, saddle is level.
I've judged balance by being able to raise my hands off the bars, both on the road and on a turbo trainer, which also implies from I've read my core is reasonably strong, though I've been doing the plank daily @ 3x 60, with the intention of increasing duration over the coming weeks to increase its strength.
I'm coming to the conclusion that my upper body, particularly my arms are not as strong as they should be, which possibly explains part of what is happening. My first thoughts were that it largely happened when a lot of climbing was involved, eg honking. But recently tried staying seated as long as possible, then walking, however it didn't alter anything.
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 26 February, 2019, 08:30:48 am
Nothing wrong with your bar height.
3x60 is good.

Getting out of the saddle, even when riding on the flat at low revs, actually helps your body, legs and back. On one long ride in a group, the person on fixed reckoned that doing that was a contributing factor to his better recovery after rides (compared to riding on a geared bike).
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: ElyDave on 26 February, 2019, 10:13:30 am
Late to the party here, but seem to me that longer stem and more setback are only going to stretch the body out more, putting more weight onto the hands/arms as the core tires.

I had similar issues with neck/shoulders/wrists, which were mostly aleviated by going recumbent.  On the upwrongs, I shortened the stem which has definitely helped.  I'd also question whether the biceps pain is the direct symptom or could it be a referred pain from neck/shoulders or wrists/forearms?
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: The Solo Socialist on 27 February, 2019, 09:57:59 am
Well to update my challenge, yesterday (after moving the saddle forward by 8mm and swapping stem to 120mm, from 110mm). I rode a 200 DIY (total of 226 km with 2984 Elev), arms no problem all day. Neck ached and only became really sore which extended into my shoulders some 10km from home. So it seems I've moved back to pre-bike fit. Back to bike fitter next week!

ElyDave pain seemed to start in Biceps, becoming at first difficult to remove the bottle from its cage and drink as in bending my arms to take the bottle to lips it became tender. This progressed to pain in shoulders then my neck. Neck/ shoulders reach a point where it becomes difficult to hold my head up.
First thoughts apart from reach etc was wearing a helmet plus headlight.

Onto bike fitter. Or swap seat post back too prior to original prior to first bike fit.
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: The Solo Socialist on 25 March, 2019, 04:39:09 pm
Further to my question and all of your help! It seems I’ve damaged the bit between my vertebrae in neck, which isn’t helping I guess. Question now is if I swapped to flat bars would that help in that I sit more upright ? I rode a 200 DIY on Saturday and everything was okay until 150 km in when neck and shoulders started to be problematic, eased by riding on the tops?
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 26 March, 2019, 03:43:47 pm
As I read through this I suspected the problem was your neck. What is called radiculopathy. You may need to look at specialist bars but other people with neck problems may be able to help.
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: The Solo Socialist on 26 March, 2019, 04:29:45 pm
Hi chrisbainbridge,
I crashed heavily some two years ago, landing on my head. Doctor at the time said I had stressed( not the correct phrase) the discs in my neck. However an xray at the time showed nothing, so I had dismissed it. However new doctor as in change of GP, now feels the neck pain coupled with other symptoms as in tingling in my toes and pain in my right leg may be carry over. Though he is not sure if it would be irritated by cycling. Hence my asking for advice.
Specialist bars ?
Title: Re: Advice
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 19 April, 2019, 11:39:13 pm
Hi sorry for the late reply. You will probably get more responses posting in the health section.

My understanding is that people with neck problems do better with a more upright posture.