Riding pain

[motochick]

Do any of you guys ever get that burning feeling between your shoulder blades while riding? I've had a few bikes and have had this problem on my WeeStrom also.

I went for a long ride today and it was real bad and affected my riding. I don't ride tense. I keep my arms slightly bent and relaxed as possible, loose on the grips, but today started with a little tightness between the shoulder blades and as the day went on it was a searing, burning pain. This has got to be fixed. I'm not the fittest person in the world, but I'm doing something wrong.

Anyone have this problem and solved it?

Thanks,

Jen

 

[madmike2]

More hugs! :yahoo:

It's been semi-scientifically proven that hugging stretches those muscles.

Seriously, when recovering from my KLR incident last year I had "issues" and that pain was one of them. I found that stretching "all the time" and especially before riding helped. Oh yeah, massive doses of ibuprofen......

I still have a little "knot" between my shoulder blades, especially troublesome after extreme use (like stacking 4,000 lbs of Gnocchi today).

When riding long distances (300-600 miles in the saddle) I try to stretch myself often. I have a throttle lock so I can take my right hand off the bar and rotate my shoulders, reach back and touch the top case, etc. Anything to modify my posture and stimulate blood flow to any muscle groups that tend to be held in one position.

 

[painman]

I think the subject has been touch upon here. Upper body strength is key to a good ride. You don't have to go all out crazy at a gym everyday but strengthen the back/shoulders/arms and upper body in general will give a noticeable difference in how you feel during and after the ride. Inner core strengthening is a plus and also not to be overlooked when it comes to riding is working on the legs as well.

The Moto GP guys are prime examples of this in what they have to endure in only 60 minutes of racing. While we don't have to reach that level just a few minutes 3 to 4 times a week working out will make a huge difference and along with combined streaching as MM2 advised. I personally like to streach before I ride and while I do so it mentally prepares me to get in the right frame of mind which is a plus for the safety factor as well. I see you just started with this bike so really the more you ride the more fit you should become and adjust to the bike. But working out will produce great results not only in riding but just feeling great. Take care, PM. <><

 

[madmike2]

Here's a little reading that might help:

master yoda riding position site:fjrforum.com

I put some snake skin pads on my tank to give me better grip.

 

[RenoJohn]

No doubt the exercise, stretching, riding posture and all the noble ways to deal with it previously mentioned are the best route.

For those who are too lazy and/or want to keep it in the family ..you can always go to our sister:

Sister morphine that is.

...just sayin'

But, I very much agree with Painman and upper body strength, however I'm not so sure that in a generic gym workout that you target the exact muscles that you are having trouble with while riding(?) Not sure the answer other than miles, but getting the upper body conditioned is the key IMO. For me it is lower neck, but over the years and miles much stronger now.

 

[fjrrider]

The morphine's good but it makes me itch!

I find relief by taking my left hand off the bar as often as its safe to do so. On longer rides I use wind resistance and do exercises. Not everyone feels comfortable with this, but I stand up alot while riding and as others have stated "stretch" while on the bike.

If you dont change your position and change fairly frequently you will get that knot!

Good Luck!

 

[wfooshee]

You got bar risers? Sometimes that inch up and back makes all the difference in the world.

 

[v65]

+1 on the master yoda position. If that doesn't work try this

. There are lots of ways to duplicate that movement: it can also be done with dumbbells laying face down on a bench, on a rowing machine with elbows up, etc. Legal disclaimer: I have no medical training, perform at your own risk, blah blah blah.

 

[Big Sky]

If you ride with pillion, have her (him?) give that spot a vigorous and deep massage. Sounds like a myofacial trigger point - nasty stuff.

 

[v65]

myofacial trigger point

There are other sites for talking dirty, let's keep it clean.

 

[Big Sky]

myofacial trigger point

There are other sites for talking dirty, let's keep it clean.

Was it "facial" that turned your crank? Or maybe "trigger" or "point"?

Actually, I learned the term from a massage therapist who was working on me, then later a chiropractor. Haven't been bothered by the problem for about three years.

 

[palerider]

Do any of you guys ever get that burning feeling between your shoulder blades while riding? I've had a few bikes and have had this problem on my WeeStrom also.
I went for a long ride today and it was real bad and affected my riding. I don't ride tense. I keep my arms slightly bent and relaxed as possible, loose on the grips, but today started with a little tightness between the shoulder blades and as the day went on it was a searing, burning pain. This has got to be fixed. I'm not the fittest person in the world, but I'm doing something wrong.

Anyone have this problem and solved it?

Thanks,

Jen

Had this all my life. Never solved it.

 

[FJRONAMISSION]

I didn't think that was dirty at all!!!.... hell I was gonna say stop every hour for ***... until you build up your riding strength, then

every two hours from then on......... ;> ......Doctors orders

and if your odot or bustanut... you don't need anyone

B.

 

[jazsr]

Similar pain here as well on stock seat. I am 6"2" with a pretty long reach.Very tempted to try the bar risers but since my new Russell saddle(December) requires a lowering of the underseat adjuster,a long springtime ride will be necessary to determine if the pain issue remains before I make other changes.Can anyone here say conclusively that bar risers have cured neck/shoulder pain for you? If so, how tall are you? Physical conditioning sounds logical, hopefully the solution isn't to just keep spending more money 'till you figure it out. :blink:

jazsr

 

[Foxhuntr]

I've got the same issue - mine is more on the right side of my back than the middle. I put on the bar risers, but that didn't cure it. I find that if I take two tylenol before I get on the bike, and two more 4 hours later it doesn't really bother me much and I do some of the stretching things mentioned by others as well. I can live with it. If I put my seat in the high position it is better, but then I can't comfortably get my feet on the ground, which seems a poor choice!

I do go to the gym and lift weights and do yoga, which also helps.

By the way, I'm 5'9" and ride with a Bill Mayer saddle.

 

[GWing]

:clapping: Treatments and drugs are after the fact... I would suggest for those extremely long rides you plan well in advance and borrow a goldwing :rofl: (and let me ride your fjr :yahoo: )

 

[Keyzcat]

I had the exact same pain when I first got my bike. Coming off a cruiser I felt it was different muscle usage. It goes away after riding awhile and your muscles adjust,so exercise will work. Risers helped and I now never get that burn anymore.

 

[Dangerous Dave]

Do any of you guys ever get that burning feeling between your shoulder blades while riding? I've had a few bikes and have had this problem on my WeeStrom also.

Jen, I can't help but notice that's a real sportbike in your avatar. Are sportbikes typically your ride of choice? If so and you don't have this problem on sportbikes, we're in the same boat. I do like my FJR, but I've always said I'd like it ALOT better if it sat more like a sportbike. I can go farther 'in comfort' on any of my sportbikes than I can on my FJR. Sad but true. I don't think (at least for me) that it's a muscle stretching or strength issue...my job provides plenty of that 45 hours a week. Tried different seats, different bar risers, different shields, all to no avail. I think at least for me, it's just a matter of the riding position my body prefers...head and arms forward, feet back! I tolerate the riding position of the feej because it does everything else so darn well. But if I was flying solo instead of two-up, I'd probably do it on a VFR.

Anyone have this problem and solved it?
Thanks,

Jen

Have it, yes. Solved it, no.

Sorry,

 

[E-Ticket Ride]

Years ago, Dexter Ford did a really good article about adjusting your bike for yourself. He started with moving the levers, then rotating the bars, moving the shift lever and the rear brake lever, all to get your bike the best it could be -- for you. If none of that works, then try a different set of handlebars. Early on with my FZ1, I'd get neck cramps on just a short commute, which never happened over longer distances with my other bikes. I tried risers, to no effect. I then moved to a Superbike bar which was a couple inches wider than the factory bar, and, no more pain. Try all the no cost fixes first, but you may find a change in the bend, or width of your bars ends up being the cure.