Cockpit Setup Dilemma

[Steven D Williams]

Hi Guys,

 

I'm having issues trying to find the right cockpit setup. I used to ride with riser bars and my stem was the "right way" up but i often used to wash out on high speed corners or struggeled to keep the front wheel down on steep climbs. So i flipped my stem over and switched to flat bars. This has remedied my previous problems, but now, after around 25km of riding, I am experiencing serious neck and shoulder pain. What can i do to help with the pain? Are there exercises that could help with the pain? Alternatively, what can i could i change in the setup to help the pain subside, yet still allow for better traction on the front wheel?

 

Thanks a mill in advance for your input.

[gummibear]

That's a sudden drop of over 2 cm.

 

What bike are you on at the moment?

[shaper]

go for a proper bike set up, try cyclefit http://www.cyclefit.co.za/

[Steven D Williams]

go for a proper bike set up, try cyclefit http://www.cyclefit.co.za/

 

I have, angles are apparenly all good.

[Steven D Williams]

That's a sudden drop of over 2 cm.

 

What bike are you on at the moment?

 

I am riding a Trek superfly FS9.

 

Should have only made one change at a time?

[gummibear]

I am riding a Trek superfly FS9.

 

Should have only made one change at a time?

 

Go back to where you started......then check tyre pressure and suspension pressure.

 

Try riding with your elbows lower down on the climbs.

[MaXiMuM]

 

I am riding a Trek superfly FS9.

 

Should have only made one change at a time?

Oh look, you answered your own question.

 

Stay with the flat bars, flip the head over, ride for a while.

Change again, if needed.

[Steven D Williams]

Oh look, you answered your own question.

 

Stay with the flat bars, flip the head over, ride for a while.

Change again, if needed.

 

It was all changed in one go while my setup was being done. Personally i thought it was a bit extreme, but i trusted the expertise of the guy doing the setup.

 

But I will flip the stem and see what happens.

 

Thnaks for the advice.

[Steven D Williams]

Go back to where you started......then check tyre pressure and suspension pressure.

 

Try riding with your elbows lower down on the climbs.

 

Ok thanks, will try this.

[droo]

Sounds like you're carrying yourself on your arms instead of your core. 2 options - core strength training or flip the stem back.

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

Sounds like you're carrying yourself on your arms instead of your core. 2 options - core strength training or flip the stem back.

 

Core training for sure, had the same problems. Flipping the stem slowed my steering down so went back to the negative angle.

I also have an aggresive riding position to counter the "slower" turning characteristics of the 29er wheels. Also my style needs me to load the front tyre which this positioning helps with.

[Tjokkits]

Are your bars flat as in flat or a bit of a kink? If the latter try tilting your handlebars to get a lee bit more hight, that was all i needed after the same issue