Question: How come the backs of my upper arms are sore for several days after a long bike ride? — Timothy W. Coach Fred Matheny Replies: Your triceps muscles get sore because they are not used to supporting your body weight on the handlebar for long periods. To eliminate this nuisance, first check your riding position….
Question: After about 30 minutes of riding, my hands get so numb and tingly that I can’t shift gears. My handlebar is level with the saddle. Can you help? — David W.
Question: I’m 63 and ride 150 miles a week, often with a fast group of younger riders. I get a perverse delight in staying with the young bucks and even making them hurt on occasion. But they still haven’t accepted me completely, probably because I was riding an early ’80s steel bike with friction shifting and…
Question: I lowered my stem slightly after 18 months of riding in the same position. Immediately I felt knee pain on my usual 20-mile lunch ride. Coincidence, or did the stem change cause it? If it did, is there some other adjustment I should make to compensate, like lowering my saddle? — Mike P. Coach Fred…
Question: My Achilles tendon gets aggravated, apparently by my pedaling style. If I pedal with my heel just slightly lower than normal on the power part of the stroke, it doesn’t hurt. Can you suggest how to keep my heel at this “ideal” pain-free level? — Jim L. Coach Fred Matheny Replies: I suppose you could use…
