cedricbosch

I've been experiencing some elbow pain while riding, especially on the hoods.

It hurts because my elbows are straight and pretty well locked out, so my straight elbows are absorbing bumps rather than my muscles.

I've only had my road bike for a week now, so I think it's because I'm not flexible enough yet. Could this be a good explanation?

BenBanned

So bend them, I myself have no problems keeping mine straight.
I see people do both when Im riding.

srsly

they should be slightly bent. are you incapable of reaching your bars otherwise? if so, you should check your bike fit...

cedricbosch

No, I can reach them perfectly well if my elbows are bent, it just isn't very comfortable. I guess this is just an issue of me being unflexible, or not having enough upper body strenght to maintain that position for a long period of time.

hi565

From what I have noticed, when you are reaching for the hoods, you're arms should be almost completely straight but with the slight bend to make sure you are not locking your arms. Some bend a little more than others depending on the bike, arm length etc. But mainly you want to make sure you are not locking your arms.

BenBanned

Are you bending them in or out?

ed073

Not if you're Luc Roosen.

Worst....position....ever......

cedricbosch

Isn't that the guy who rides with one hand on the hoods and the other on the bars?

By the way, my elbows bend outwards.

dcvelo

Your elbows should not be straight, period.

Either you have fit issues or flexibility issues here...the latter you need time to work out, the former you need a decent fitting to work out.

MIN 

Monkey see, monkey do.

FIVE ONE SIX

i do that all the time, but i have my left hand in the drops and my right hand on the hoods...

Machka 

Yes, your elbows should be bent. I tend to lock my elbows too ... and when I do I end up with elbow and shoulder pain.

I developed tricep tendonitis (work-related injury) in my right arm last December, and discovered that the only way I felt comfortable on the bicycle was with my elbow bent ... so I began to get out of the habit of riding with my elbows locked.

Then I crashed and I've got a separated left shoulder. It isn't comfortable to ride ... but it is more comfortable to ride with my left elbow bent than locked. Even more incentive to ride with bent elbows!!

But you have the option of developing the habit of riding with bent elbows without sustaining those injuries!!

Machka 

FIVE ONE SIX ... I just noticed ... you've got half a quote from me in your sig line!

cedricbosch

Ouch! Well thanks for the advice. Do you bend your elbows out, or down?

Machka 

More down-ish than out. If I bent my elbows out the mirrors of passing trucks would nick them.

urbanknight

Yep, they should be bent. It helps absorb shocks, and for those who ride in packs or race, if you have a locked elbow bumped by another rider, you have involuntary steering! I learned that the hard way in my first Cat3 velodrome race. Always bent them ever since.

cedricbosch

Ah, I see. I went out and tried that, and it does feel more natural to have my elbows bent. However, it feels totally awkward bending them outwards...

Problem solved!

Dubbayoo

The faster I ride the more elbow bend I have. Since I mostly do LSD pace I keep them near locked now.

ed073

nah....but always rode in this weird, locked-out arms position. Looked like a frog on a matchbox.

Won some good races, tho.

chipcom 

I tend to move back slightly off the hoods, just ahread of the curve of the bar, when doing LSD. (that didn't come out right...when 'riding' LSD...crap, it ain't gonna come out right no matter what I write. )