[jonasto]

Hi,

I have a new bike with a 100mm stem. After some rides i have a little bit pain in my neck, so thinking about a longer stem. My bike is a 56, and im 188 cm long. Its diff for you to recomend something, but should i go for a 110/120mm stem instead?

 

[bikerjulio]

Bike sizes are not standard, so without knowing the make & model# it's hard to comment too much.

If you are new to a road bike, then some initial pains are normal.

The standard answer here is to tell you to go to a competent shop and get fitted. There's also online calculators you can use to assist a little.

You are 6' 2" in imperial, how did you chose the bike size that you are on?

I'm shorter than you, and on a (probably) larger frame and longer stem btw. But you need to fitted properly for saddle height, setback, bar drop and reach. Hard to do that with advice online.

 

[Mike T.]

It's really impossible for anyone here to advise you only in very general terms. We have no idea if your neck pain is due to a bad fit or not enough riding time (with neck muscle adapting).

Even the term "bike is a 56" means nothing as this only relates to the manufacturer's size designation and sometimes that doesn't even relate properly to seat tube length, let alone top tube length, which is part of the geometry that affects your reach. Numbers mean nothing, whether they be seat tube, top tube or stem length (or even handlebar reach). The only thing that matters is how the bike fits you and your variables as to inseam, torso and arm length. A good fitter is probably what you need but how do we find a good one? My physiotherapist advised me from personal assessment and video recording. I went from a 100mm stem to a 130 and I'm 5'9" (175cm).

 

[pmt]

Yeah, it's worth the money to get properly fitted. You spent all that money on the bike, why skimp on a fitting?

Stems are cheap on eBay. You can get some various sizes for about $10 each.

 

[davez26]

Fitting aside, we have a local bike store that keeps boxes of take-off stems and stuff for cheap. I usually confirm the size with a cheap one before I invest in a keeper.

 

[Camilo]

Agree with all the comments above. I will only add that even with a well-fitting bike, new riders need to teach themselves to relax and reduce stress on the shoulders and neck. Concentrate on relaxing. Move your shoulders around to loosen them up from time to time. Change positions, sit up, stretch, relax. You're not glued to the bike and can move around a lot and it helps.

Learn to keep your neck in a neutral position rather than flexed up. Use your eyeballs to look up the road rather than your neck.

I'm not saying any of this is the cause of your problem, but it's something you should think about anyway.

 

[SystemShock]

I have a new bike with a 100mm stem. After some rides i have a little bit pain in my neck, so thinking about a longer stem. My bike is a 56, and im 188 cm long. Its diff for you to recomend something, but should i go for a 110/120mm stem instead?

Generally-speaking, 1cm longer in the stem is considered a minor change, and 2cm longer is a major change.

Do you feel like you need a minor change or a major one? And are you sure your stiff neck was due to your upper body extension, or could it have been something else (stem height or new handlebars, for instance)?

 

[Christopha]

Interesting, I am 188cm (with long legs and arms) and ride anywhere between a 58 to 60cm frame.

I run a zero setback post and 120mm stem, I like to be on top of the cranks & have more weight on the front wheel for descending.

Neck pain (IMO) is usually caused by too much saddle to bar drop, how much seatpost do you have extending from the frame?

 

[Jasra]

A stiff neck has at some time probably afflicted all riders that I know which is not surprising when you consider how long you remain in a static position on the bike. I have suffered terribly over the last few years, to the extent that I have considered giving up road biking and going back to mountian biking where the constant movement and more upright position didn't cause as much pain.

As others have said the best way to go is get a professional opinion on the fit of your bike as everything else is trial and error and could compound the issue. I know this because in the absence of a bike fitter where I live I tried just about everything with mixed results. There were 3 things that worked for me in varying degrees. Getting a shorter stem, to push you up a bit so you do not have to flex your neck quite as much when looking up. Getting a rather unsightly and heavy steerer tube extender, essentially lifting the handlebars up 2 inches, and doing specific stretching excersizes whilst riding to keep the blood flowing in your neck.

However the final solution for me was to go with an endurance type geometry (new bike) which fits and my neck pain has all but disappeared.

Im not suggesting you get a new bike which is significantly more than a new stem but having a proper bike fit.

 

[Mike T.]

A stiff neck has at some time probably afflicted all riders that I know which is not surprising when you consider how long you remain in a static position on the bike.

I talked to my physiotherapist this last week about cycling-related neck-ache issues and she's really surprised that the small muscles that are responsible for being in a constant state of contraction from having to hold up a 10lb head for a few hours don't give more problems than they do. Try holding a 10lb weight with a contracted bicep for a few hours and see how well that muscle performs.

Hardly anyone does neck-muscle strengthening exercises so the only adaptation they get is by performing when we're on the bike - a very good reason for incremental increases in riding time rather than expecting the muscles to perform beyond their current ability.

 

[Len J]

I had a major face-plant accident on 3/3 this year. Ended up w a severely bruised spinal cord in my neck.

Phisical therapy has concentrated on strengthening all of the periphery muscles in the upper back and chest and in my neck. I'm back on the bike now and the difference in neck comfort is amazing.

Re changing position to stretch out more, go slow, make small changes and acclimate, instead of bending at the waist sitting on the bike, bend at the hips.....rolling the hips forward flattens your back and takes strain off your neck. All of this is a practiced position, so you have to consciously work on it. IME.

A change in fit guided by a competent fitter will be oriented at getting you to a good fit.

Good luck.

Len