pain in the shoulder blades

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I am very new to road biking. I have been training to do my first triathlon. On long rides I have noticed that after about an hour of riding I start to get a sharp pain in my left shoulder blade. It feels like there is a knife in my back and some one is twisting it. I have tried changing positions while riding. So far that doesn't seem to work. Could it be simply from being tense. Will this eventually work itself out? If I don't get this figured out my biking (trathlon) career could be very short.

I've had something like this when doing long tours - although not as severe. Check that the saddle is level, otherwise you'll be putting too much weight on your shoulders and arms. You might also need to alter the fore/aft saddle position.

Another possibility is that the stem lenght needs changing. If adjusting the saddle doesn't work go back to the shop where you bought it - or to any decent bike shop and get some help in setting it up properly.

There's no reason why you should live withthis sort of thing

yep, check your bike setup, sounds like your seat is too far forward or your stem is too long

I have exactly the same problem, very sharp pain in left shoulder blade, did moving the seat further back fix the problem.

If so how long did it take for the pain to go away.

Thanks

I would love to hear some answer to this. I had the same issue, more of a sharp soreness/cramp during long rides. Anything thing over 20 miles I would notice it.
I believe I have slimed it down to one main thing. When I get a drink or shift the rear gears I brace/steer the bike with my left arm letting the right do the task at hand. I think this puts a good bit of strain on my left shoulder. I've made a concious effort to steer more with my right side and switch up my routine. I can't help the most of my shifting will be with my right hand though and I still get the soreness from time to time but not as severe.

Cheers,

Originally posted by Tim Moore
I am very new to road biking. I have been training to do my first triathlon. On long rides I have noticed that after about an hour of riding I start to get a sharp pain in my left shoulder blade. It feels like there is a knife in my back and some one is twisting it. I have tried changing positions while riding. So far that doesn't seem to work. Could it be simply from being tense. Will this eventually work itself out? If I don't get this figured out my biking (trathlon) career could be very short.


The pain is, of course, not in your shoulder blade, but the muscles that attach/surround it. They are not used to being kept at a certain level of contraction for extended periods.

Find someone who knows their sh*t on bike set up and be properly fitted to your bike.....i.e. Bernard Hinault's "two sides to a roof made by your back and arms". You'll also find this pain can be lesened by regular stretching (on and off the bIke), changing hand positions on the bike as well as simply riding more. Your body will adjust to the new stresses.

Good luck

I get it right in the middle of the shoulder blades when I ride. It has to be a posture thing. I'd love if someone could say that I'm either not leaning far enough forward or I'm not sitting up enough.

I've also noticed it's more likely to happen at night as I'm riding home from work. I've started turning my head around as if I'm looking at the scenery. It helps a little. It certainly isn't helping to keep my head locked in at one spot on the road in front of me all the time.

I used to have the same problem. Got rid of it then I followed Sheldon Brown's advice (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/pain.html)and stopped riding with straight arms.