Subject: Developing Neck/Back Stiffness on Bike A few weeks ago I purchased my first tri bike, a new Felt B12. I had a basic Fit to the bike and it rides fairly comfortable. (Actually it rides pretty awesome!) However, any ride over 5 or 10km I start to develop muscle stiffness in the back of the neck, and also the lower trapezius, just adjacent the spine. (Say the mid thoracic area.) So the mid/upper back muscles directly adjacent the spine. Basically I'm straining my neck always looking forward/up while on the road, and it feels as though my back is perpetually arc'd while riding. I actually want to drop the headset/bars soon to get lower and "under" the wind more, but concerned this may actually aggrevate the problem more as I will be even lower. This has to be a common problem with a common solution? Besides doing some stretches and maybe warming up a bit before hopping on the bike what else can I do? Is it possible I don't fit this bike, or bad posture/form? Riding +20km I start to feel like an "old man" when I get off with some fatigue in the neck and back. I notice it more the next morning waking up. It disappears by the following day, but still not a welcome condition. Or perhaps this is part of "geting to know my new bike?" and will simply disappear as my muscles get familiar to the new ride/positions? Help welcome! Thanks. |