Elbow Pain

Morning Guys and Girls.

I have a quick question which may sound a bit daft but please bear with me.

First off though - hello again. It's been too long since I posted.

OK, so - I've only been riding since October and I've tried to get out most weekends just to keep my new found skills remembered. What I've noticed though is that after 20 mins or so of riding my pointy, my right elbow really aches. I discoverd that it is really tense and is essentially holding me up. My left arm is nice and relaxed so doesn't ache.( I don't sit bolt upright, but I'm not using the tank as a bed either - I'm somewhere in between. )

It was then that I realised that I was never taught how to sit on a bike. i.e how stiff should my arms be; how strongly do I hold on; do I grip with my thighs; do I have everything relaxed?

So to the question - How do I stop my elbow from hurting? How should I maintain my posture whilst out and about?
(In case it maters - I'm about 6'4" and have arms like a gibbon).

I want to sort out these problems before any bad habbits creep in and cripple me for life.

Oh, and happy Valentines day everyone. May we all spread the love.

[Geodude]

Hello and welcome NewStu. Try gripping with your knees more and using your core to take the weight to take it away from your arms and try flapping your arms like a chicken now and then when riding just to relax your arms/grip. This worked for me as i had arm/wrist pain until i tried this method.

[carelesschucca]

This might sound daft but when you hold the bars you should be able to ride almost without gripping, and control the bike just using the palms of your hands and your thumbs (don't completely let go) this should make your shoulders and arms more relaxed.

What it will also do is make you actually think about counterstearing as you'll end up pushing the bars with your palms instead of pulling them with your fingers... the bike will drop into corners quicker and you'll actually have better feeling through the bars. First time I was shown how to do it properly it was a revelation...

I also remember being told the Chicken thing through my intercom while I was getting my lessons, and it works... You should always be able to flap like a bird...

Thanks for the tips. I've not heard the chicken thing before. I'll try out all suggestions next time I'm out and about.

The weather is lovely today. I wish I was out there now

[Bibio]

Originally Posted by carelesschucca

This might sound daft but when you hold the bars you should be able to ride almost without gripping, and control the bike just using the palms of your hands and your thumbs (don't completely let go) this should make your shoulders and arms more relaxed.

What it will also do is make you actually think about counterstearing as you'll end up pushing the bars with your palms instead of pulling them with your fingers... the bike will drop into corners quicker and you'll actually have better feeling through the bars. First time I was shown how to do it properly it was a revelation...

I also remember being told the Chicken thing through my intercom while I was getting my lessons, and it works... You should always be able to flap like a bird...

+1

but i'll add.. try to get your forearms as parallel to the road surface as possible that way your arms act as a cantilever and take most of the upper body movement away. its weird at first but perseverance pays off.

Originally Posted by Bibio

+1

but i'll add.. try to get your forearms as parallel to the road surface as possible that way your arms act as a cantilever and take most of the upper body movement away. its weird at first but perseverance pays off.

+1 notice the strain on the wrists is a lot less when you get your arms more parralel to the road as well.

I always find that I end up gripping really hard. But its the same with anything: Holding hands, playing xbox, riding my bike... I always end up squeezing!

Originally Posted by Reeder

I always find that I end up gripping really hard. But its the same with anything: Holding hands, playing xbox, riding my bike... I always end up squeezing!

lol someone do something with that one.


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It's all to easy to just rest on your arms. Your upper body doesn't weigh much at that angle, and I often find (particularly on long straight sections) that my arms have become nearly locked out straight, which really is not a good way to ride, because you're basically controlling the bike with your shoulders.

Good advice here. Keeping them slightly bent will help in a lot of ways, but if not, I'm sure you wouldn't be the first to ride with an elbow support of some kind under their jacket.

[andrewsmith]

Originally Posted by carelesschucca

This might sound daft but when you hold the bars you should be able to ride almost without gripping, and control the bike just using the palms of your hands and your thumbs (don't completely let go) this should make your shoulders and arms more relaxed.

What it will also do is make you actually think about counterstearing as you'll end up pushing the bars with your palms instead of pulling them with your fingers... the bike will drop into corners quicker and you'll actually have better feeling through the bars. First time I was shown how to do it properly it was a revelation...

I also remember being told the Chicken thing through my intercom while I was getting my lessons, and it works... You should always be able to flap like a bird...

+1 its the best way, few of the mags will be doing the refresh your skills features aswel soon.

PB and fast bikes is normally do a spot article on for the tips about this time of year

id say your lever position will have something to do with it as well, have you adjusted them to suit yourself, saves a load of pain belive me