At first, I only had pain on the non-surgery side of my neck. The surgery side wasn't working to support my head, but had no pain. With recent flare ups, the surgery side has pain and gets weak, but the other side is okay. Flare ups have been weird. One day, feeling recovered, I sneezed really hard and had 2 days of symptoms. A more recent flare up has lasted over a week after one too many short rides. One star... I do not recommend.
Great topic. I got it twice. Once 800 miles into RAAM and once only 600 miles into a 800 miler. Both times I had my aerobars too low and was exhausted from not sleeping enough. Dehydration might play a part as well. I feel that as long as I don’t risk slamming the aerobars it is usually not a problem. But I am always thinking about it as it will almost always a cause a dnf.
Thank you for sharing. That checks out with how others got it too. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a link with dehydration or electrolyte imbalance of some kind. I am amazed at the stories people shared fighting through for days to finish their rides. Those stories probably over-represent the chance for success after getting Shermer's neck though. Not too many people want to publicize stories of quitting, even though it is very likely and also the most sensible/safe choice.
I hope you recover soon! Please do make a follow up video about the progress of your recovery. There's not much information available on the kind of exercises that help prevent this condition or that aid in the recovery. I suffered from Shermer's neck myself earlier this year, during a 5,5 day ultra race (almost 2000k). During the second day I rode through a massive head wind for 130k and on the third day there was a 150k stretch on bumpy brick roads. That probably lead to weakening neck muscles during the second half of the fourth day. I managed to keep on riding by maintaining a straight position on the bike, with my hands on the elbow rests of my aerobars. Strips of medical tape from my neck to my shoulders and back supported the neck muscles.
Thanks Tim, I certainly will follow up. I will be doing some exercises for sure, but no guarantees they will be 'correct'. Probably continue with back/shoulder/chest work at the gym with some resistance band neck exercises and planks added on. That is quite the experience you had finishing after suffering so much. Those headwinds are a killer. Congratulations on finishing your race. You bring up a good point that bumpy roads probably add a lot of neck strain. That could be another factor to consider. I often grab the aero bar pads during my brevets, especially when climbing. I like to think of them as 'super tops'. I would hate to be required to ride that way though. Good job on your ride!
My own experience is similar. Despite previous rides of 600km, I’ve had Shermer’s neck twice, both at around 400km. The first was right at the end of a 400km ride, and low back pain preceded it. Second time was at about 450km in to a 1,000km very hilly event here in the U.K. (All Points North). I made all the classic mistakes leading to this - aero bars, light on the front of the helmet, previous neck injury. I think my new glasses contributed too. The frame across the top was quite thick, and when riding on either the hoods or the aero bars, this was right in my eyeline, forcing me to tilt my head back further than I usually would. The onset was sudden, and I could not hold my head up for more than a second or two. It’s taken several weeks, but I now feel that I could manage a 200km ride again, albeit with different glasses and bike setup. Thanks for the video, I was beginning to think I was the only one that had experienced this after “relatively” short distances.
Thanks for sharing Andy! When doing research for the video, some doctors expected the condition should be possible in a shorter distance that what is usually observed. I'm not surprised low mileage cases haven't been discussed more though. I felt some embarrassment when I got it after only 200k, so I can empathize that many people would just keep the experience to themselves. Especially since the sport revolves around perseverance and is filled with so many exceptionally tough athletes. Hopefully we can build some awareness and help others take preventative action. I am glad to hear you you've recovered well since All Points North. I watched AndyC's video on that and it looked pretty tough. Hopefully you can avoid flare ups in the next few months. I'm curious what the best glasses setup might be. I had similar issues with my giant Rudy Cutline. They would fall down my nose when on the aero bars and block upper sight line, perhaps due to their weight with prescription lens inserts. More traditional prescription sunglasses block a bit with their frame too, but at least don't fall down my nose as they weigh half the Cutline. I've been thinking of getting taller spacer for my aero bars too. All signs point to the risk for Shermer's being a long term consideration. Maybe 5cm spacers will do well. Cheers!
@@overbikedrandonneuringsometimes I use a eyeglass strap that goes around the back of my head to keep my prescription glasses from sliding. This even just for off the bike exercising. I use to do 60 and 100 mile club rides but I haven’t ever done a brevet. I want to get back into cycling and your videos are very educational and inspiring. I am from the US and have been living in Mexico City for two years. The language is still a challenge for me but I am finding out that all types of cycling is very popular here. It has been very humbling to be a minority. The people of Mexico have been very kind and welcoming, though. Thank you for the videos.
@@berniekeene868 Thanks for tuning in. It means a lot that my videos have motivated you. A glasses strap is probably a good idea for aero bars. I've never visited Mexico before, but I bet it has stunning scenery for cycling. That the people are wonderful is no surprise too. Good luck with the adventure of living abroad. There are always ups and downs, but they tend to be less severe as time passes. Building at least survival level language skills goes a long way to smooth out the experience. I found value in researching 'acculturation' to reflect on my experience living abroad. Cheers!
Thoughts about strength training for the neck? I find hypertrophy training to be very beneficial for all muscle groups that experience muscular fatigue on long rides. Especially lower back, quads, and front calves. Been thinking about doing it for the neck during off season, but never got around doing it with consistency. Motor sport drivers must do this for neck muscle endurance, especially for formula one. Could be useful for your recovery; rest is seldom the best.
+1. Since surgery was on my trapezius, I expect my weakness issues are there. No evidence to support it, but I reckon the scalene and SCM muscles got exhausted from overcompensating for my useless trapezius. I've been doing gym work with some focus on back/chest/shoulder strength. It takes a few days recovery after each session, but once the mid and lowers traps become more robust, I'll add in some neck specific work, perhaps with a resistance band.
Thank you for the kind words. I'm mentally preparing for setbacks to be a possibility, but hopefully things go smoothly. Hoping to rebuild my recumbent proficiency for the 600k in the fall. The final event of the year is a hilly 200k I hope to do on the Polygon. Gym, indoor cycling, and short rides should help build up to that.
I've really been enjoying your videos. This was another good one, and sorry to hear about your issues. Hope you take it slow coming back and achieve a full recovery!
Thank you! It's a set back, but possible to overcome. Hopefully the video can raise some awareness of the risks. One more reason to try and sleep more on long brevets.
Had it after 4 13 hour days in the saddle with limited recovery between sessions. It resolved fairly quickly- within days- and was painless but a very strange experience. It made the last few hours riding on the fourth day very challenging and at times risky. I definitelty think helmet lights etc. should only be mounted when necessary on long rides.
I were looking at that handlebar all throughout the video, so I knew something was up. I hope you recover from your surgery, but until then it'll be interesting to follow along and see how you like your new secret weapon.
Thank you! It's an odd bike for sure. I've had it since 2018 or 19, but haven't ridden it much since 2020. I managed to make it through the 400k I was working towards, but just barely. I hope for a better experience on it in the fall with the 600k, but training is required.
Thanks Bas! It saw me through the 400k in April. But between it being terrible at climbing, and that I hadn't ridden it regularly since 2020, it was a slog. Many thanks to patient Jason and Blair on that one. Looking forward to GBG.
Wow didn't know about this condition. Good to know the recovery and prevention. I have an upright hybrid bike ... Also didn't know about randonneuring! Very interesting! Would like to visit Korea one day!
Cheers, thank you for tuning in. Korea is an interesting place for sure. There is a nationwide cycling path that many travelers like to enjoy. The route from Seoul to Busan is most popular, but the East Coast path, Jeju Island loop, and Seomjingang path are also great. The Busan area has a lot to offer too, with some curated routes here: routesbusan.com/
@@overbikedrandonneuring Thanks that's great info! I didn't know about that cycling path! Are the cycling path signs all in Korean or is there some English?
@@AlbertArt Signage is largely in English. Between English signs, arrows, GPS tracks, and Google Translate camera function, lots of international travelers successfully enjoy the paths here. There is also a Facebook group called Seoul to Busan and Beyond to discuss those topics in detail.
Have you tried physiotherapy or even massage? I am a champion self-injury guy (doh!) and can speak highly to the power of physiotherapy. I also find many of the things you spoke of also directly impacts the lower back too.
Funny enough, we had purchased a massage gun a week before my ill-fated 200k. I've been using it regularly and it gives great temporary relief. I'd wager those temporary benefits add up over time. The lower scapula area and where the trapezius and SCM meet at my head have been most benefited by the hand and machine massage.
Why do you sometimes flip the video? For the first 5 minutes, the perspective was correct, then it got flipped between minutes 5 and 6. I don't know about others, but I find it distracting to have the background text ("Bicycle" on your poster) flipped in a way that is similar to overhearing a conversation and only understanding parts of it.
That one slipped by, sorry. I have to manually flip each scene in editing and missed that one. This channel is the only filming or editing I've ever done, and these skills fall pretty far outside wheelhouse. Still, I hope to continually improve. Thank you for the feedback.
I am about to install aerobars for the BRM400 in August, especially to relax my hands. I really hope my neck doesn't pay the price of my hands. This sport is weird.
That gives you just a month (maybe 6 weeks) to get used to aero bars? My cheap aero bars put me in a quite aggressive position. I like the idea of being able to raise the bars (stacking) especially for a loong ride. Unfortunately mine can't. (still love them though. I find the relaxing and saving my hands / wrists)
@@wazzup105 Well, let's see what the next few weeks will be. At least I will have one more position for my hands. I took the similar model to the one presented in the video (quite adjustable) and the risers are on their way.
A weird sport indeed. It takes most riders a fair bit of time to adapt to various changes and get little adjustments in order, but 6 weeks of mindful practice should allow them to be an asset. Don't be surprised if your body rejects using the bars somewhere around 200-300km. The specific muscle development for the position can take quite a while, although I'd bet more fit and harder working athletes than myself can speed up that process compared to my experience.
At first, I only had pain on the non-surgery side of my neck. The surgery side wasn't working to support my head, but had no pain. With recent flare ups, the surgery side has pain and gets weak, but the other side is okay. Flare ups have been weird. One day, feeling recovered, I sneezed really hard and had 2 days of symptoms. A more recent flare up has lasted over a week after one too many short rides. One star... I do not recommend.
Great topic. I got it twice. Once 800 miles into RAAM and once only 600 miles into a 800 miler. Both times I had my aerobars too low and was exhausted from not sleeping enough. Dehydration might play a part as well. I feel that as long as I don’t risk slamming the aerobars it is usually not a problem. But I am always thinking about it as it will almost always a cause a dnf.
Thank you for sharing. That checks out with how others got it too. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a link with dehydration or electrolyte imbalance of some kind.
I am amazed at the stories people shared fighting through for days to finish their rides. Those stories probably over-represent the chance for success after getting Shermer's neck though. Not too many people want to publicize stories of quitting, even though it is very likely and also the most sensible/safe choice.
Thank you so much, i as not aware of this condition, in the end ones health is the most important thing...
I hope you recover soon! Please do make a follow up video about the progress of your recovery. There's not much information available on the kind of exercises that help prevent this condition or that aid in the recovery. I suffered from Shermer's neck myself earlier this year, during a 5,5 day ultra race (almost 2000k). During the second day I rode through a massive head wind for 130k and on the third day there was a 150k stretch on bumpy brick roads. That probably lead to weakening neck muscles during the second half of the fourth day. I managed to keep on riding by maintaining a straight position on the bike, with my hands on the elbow rests of my aerobars. Strips of medical tape from my neck to my shoulders and back supported the neck muscles.
Thanks Tim, I certainly will follow up. I will be doing some exercises for sure, but no guarantees they will be 'correct'. Probably continue with back/shoulder/chest work at the gym with some resistance band neck exercises and planks added on.
That is quite the experience you had finishing after suffering so much. Those headwinds are a killer. Congratulations on finishing your race. You bring up a good point that bumpy roads probably add a lot of neck strain. That could be another factor to consider.
I often grab the aero bar pads during my brevets, especially when climbing. I like to think of them as 'super tops'. I would hate to be required to ride that way though. Good job on your ride!
Time to incorporate weighted neck extensions into the strength training routine!
My own experience is similar. Despite previous rides of 600km, I’ve had Shermer’s neck twice, both at around 400km. The first was right at the end of a 400km ride, and low back pain preceded it. Second time was at about 450km in to a 1,000km very hilly event here in the U.K. (All Points North). I made all the classic mistakes leading to this - aero bars, light on the front of the helmet, previous neck injury. I think my new glasses contributed too. The frame across the top was quite thick, and when riding on either the hoods or the aero bars, this was right in my eyeline, forcing me to tilt my head back further than I usually would. The onset was sudden, and I could not hold my head up for more than a second or two. It’s taken several weeks, but I now feel that I could manage a 200km ride again, albeit with different glasses and bike setup. Thanks for the video, I was beginning to think I was the only one that had experienced this after “relatively” short distances.
Thanks for sharing Andy! When doing research for the video, some doctors expected the condition should be possible in a shorter distance that what is usually observed.
I'm not surprised low mileage cases haven't been discussed more though. I felt some embarrassment when I got it after only 200k, so I can empathize that many people would just keep the experience to themselves. Especially since the sport revolves around perseverance and is filled with so many exceptionally tough athletes. Hopefully we can build some awareness and help others take preventative action.
I am glad to hear you you've recovered well since All Points North. I watched AndyC's video on that and it looked pretty tough. Hopefully you can avoid flare ups in the next few months.
I'm curious what the best glasses setup might be. I had similar issues with my giant Rudy Cutline. They would fall down my nose when on the aero bars and block upper sight line, perhaps due to their weight with prescription lens inserts. More traditional prescription sunglasses block a bit with their frame too, but at least don't fall down my nose as they weigh half the Cutline.
I've been thinking of getting taller spacer for my aero bars too. All signs point to the risk for Shermer's being a long term consideration. Maybe 5cm spacers will do well. Cheers!
@@overbikedrandonneuringsometimes I use a eyeglass strap that goes around the back of my head to keep my prescription glasses from sliding. This even just for off the bike exercising. I use to do 60 and 100 mile club rides but I haven’t ever done a brevet. I want to get back into cycling and your videos are very educational and inspiring. I am from the US and have been living in Mexico City for two years. The language is still a challenge for me but I am finding out that all types of cycling is very popular here. It has been very humbling to be a minority. The people of Mexico have been very kind and welcoming, though. Thank you for the videos.
@@berniekeene868 Thanks for tuning in. It means a lot that my videos have motivated you. A glasses strap is probably a good idea for aero bars.
I've never visited Mexico before, but I bet it has stunning scenery for cycling. That the people are wonderful is no surprise too. Good luck with the adventure of living abroad. There are always ups and downs, but they tend to be less severe as time passes. Building at least survival level language skills goes a long way to smooth out the experience. I found value in researching 'acculturation' to reflect on my experience living abroad. Cheers!
Thank you for sharing your individual experiences with shermers neck. Again i learned a lot. THX
Thanks Stephan, I hope it was useful for you. Safe travels on your ultra adventures. Wonderful scenery on the Imperator ride by the way.
Thoughts about strength training for the neck? I find hypertrophy training to be very beneficial for all muscle groups that experience muscular fatigue on long rides. Especially lower back, quads, and front calves. Been thinking about doing it for the neck during off season, but never got around doing it with consistency. Motor sport drivers must do this for neck muscle endurance, especially for formula one. Could be useful for your recovery; rest is seldom the best.
+1. Since surgery was on my trapezius, I expect my weakness issues are there. No evidence to support it, but I reckon the scalene and SCM muscles got exhausted from overcompensating for my useless trapezius. I've been doing gym work with some focus on back/chest/shoulder strength. It takes a few days recovery after each session, but once the mid and lowers traps become more robust, I'll add in some neck specific work, perhaps with a resistance band.
Sorry to hear about your injury, thanks for sharing it hope you continue to make storing progress in your recovery with out any setbacks.
Thank you for the kind words. I'm mentally preparing for setbacks to be a possibility, but hopefully things go smoothly. Hoping to rebuild my recumbent proficiency for the 600k in the fall. The final event of the year is a hilly 200k I hope to do on the Polygon. Gym, indoor cycling, and short rides should help build up to that.
I've really been enjoying your videos. This was another good one, and sorry to hear about your issues. Hope you take it slow coming back and achieve a full recovery!
Thank you! It's a set back, but possible to overcome. Hopefully the video can raise some awareness of the risks. One more reason to try and sleep more on long brevets.
F1 drivers do a lot of neck strength exercises...
Had it after 4 13 hour days in the saddle with limited recovery between sessions. It resolved fairly quickly- within days- and was painless but a very strange experience. It made the last few hours riding on the fourth day very challenging and at times risky. I definitelty think helmet lights etc. should only be mounted when necessary on long rides.
Thank you for sharing. I felt lucky, in a way, to avoid needing to ride through it. It sounds pretty tough.
Thank you or sharing and a speedy recovery with the help of the secret weapon!
I were looking at that handlebar all throughout the video, so I knew something was up. I hope you recover from your surgery, but until then it'll be interesting to follow along and see how you like your new secret weapon.
Thank you! It's an odd bike for sure. I've had it since 2018 or 19, but haven't ridden it much since 2020. I managed to make it through the 400k I was working towards, but just barely. I hope for a better experience on it in the fall with the 600k, but training is required.
Great video! I Hope to see you in the second half of the year on your secret weapon!
Thanks Bas! It saw me through the 400k in April. But between it being terrible at climbing, and that I hadn't ridden it regularly since 2020, it was a slog. Many thanks to patient Jason and Blair on that one. Looking forward to GBG.
Wow didn't know about this condition. Good to know the recovery and prevention. I have an upright hybrid bike ... Also didn't know about randonneuring! Very interesting! Would like to visit Korea one day!
Cheers, thank you for tuning in. Korea is an interesting place for sure. There is a nationwide cycling path that many travelers like to enjoy. The route from Seoul to Busan is most popular, but the East Coast path, Jeju Island loop, and Seomjingang path are also great. The Busan area has a lot to offer too, with some curated routes here: routesbusan.com/
@@overbikedrandonneuring Thanks that's great info! I didn't know about that cycling path! Are the cycling path signs all in Korean or is there some English?
@@AlbertArt Signage is largely in English. Between English signs, arrows, GPS tracks, and Google Translate camera function, lots of international travelers successfully enjoy the paths here. There is also a Facebook group called Seoul to Busan and Beyond to discuss those topics in detail.
I sprained my neck about two years ago, trying to backflip on a trampoline. I will be more careful about my neck now 😅
Have you tried physiotherapy or even massage? I am a champion self-injury guy (doh!) and can speak highly to the power of physiotherapy. I also find many of the things you spoke of also directly impacts the lower back too.
Funny enough, we had purchased a massage gun a week before my ill-fated 200k. I've been using it regularly and it gives great temporary relief. I'd wager those temporary benefits add up over time. The lower scapula area and where the trapezius and SCM meet at my head have been most benefited by the hand and machine massage.
Totally agree. Massages combined with suction therapy can do wonders! This is how I recovered a few months ago from a double fractured pelvis.
Sounds awful. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thank you, I hope the video can help others avoid the same fate. Luckily it's not a life altering condition, but it still sucks.
Why do you sometimes flip the video? For the first 5 minutes, the perspective was correct, then it got flipped between minutes 5 and 6. I don't know about others, but I find it distracting to have the background text ("Bicycle" on your poster) flipped in a way that is similar to overhearing a conversation and only understanding parts of it.
That one slipped by, sorry. I have to manually flip each scene in editing and missed that one. This channel is the only filming or editing I've ever done, and these skills fall pretty far outside wheelhouse. Still, I hope to continually improve. Thank you for the feedback.
I am about to install aerobars for the BRM400 in August, especially to relax my hands. I really hope my neck doesn't pay the price of my hands. This sport is weird.
That gives you just a month (maybe 6 weeks) to get used to aero bars? My cheap aero bars put me in a quite aggressive position. I like the idea of being able to raise the bars (stacking) especially for a loong ride. Unfortunately mine can't. (still love them though. I find the relaxing and saving my hands / wrists)
@@wazzup105 Well, let's see what the next few weeks will be. At least I will have one more position for my hands. I took the similar model to the one presented in the video (quite adjustable) and the risers are on their way.
A weird sport indeed. It takes most riders a fair bit of time to adapt to various changes and get little adjustments in order, but 6 weeks of mindful practice should allow them to be an asset. Don't be surprised if your body rejects using the bars somewhere around 200-300km. The specific muscle development for the position can take quite a while, although I'd bet more fit and harder working athletes than myself can speed up that process compared to my experience.