Bike fit / correct riding position

can i preface the following by saying "I'm off for an actual bike fit but not till the end of the month."

I'm getting sharp pain in my lower neck and between my shoulder blades. I don't feel like i'm stretched out though. Having experimented sitting down could this pain be caused by too short a reach compacting my top half?

sounds more like poor posture leaving collapsing at your shoulders, this will then compress the top of your neck

core strength and postural control might help

yep, i could believe that. I'd of preferred a diagnosis I could just fling money at though...

I am predominately a runner, but I do still ride from time to time. I'm actually hoping to increase my mileage, but I find that after 10-15 mins of hard effort the hamstring in my right leg hurts a lot.

Does it sound like running has caused an imbalance in the muscles in my legs/lower back/glutes?

Is it a case of trying some shallow squats to help my Glutes?

Edit: Made no sense

I am predominately a runner, but I do still ride from time to time. I'm actually hoping to increase my mileage, but I find that after 10-15 mins of hard effort the hamstring in my right leg hurts a lot.

Does it sound like running has caused an imbalance in the muscles in my legs/lower back/glutes?

Is it a case of trying some shallow squats to help my Glutes?

Hard to say, you may have a twist at your pelvis, overly tight right hand side (esp if you are right handed), scoliosis in your spine. There could be the after effects of an old injury, a genetic weakness etc etc

Rather than diagnose the problem, it might be easier to find stretches and strengthening exercises that offer a solution.

I am predominately a runner, but I do still ride from time to time. I'm actually hoping to increase my mileage, but I find that after 10-15 mins of hard effort the hamstring in my right leg hurts a lot.

Does it sound like running has caused an imbalance in the muscles in my legs/lower back/glutes?

Is it a case of trying some shallow squats to help my Glutes?

I get this. I feel that cycling keeps the hamstrings stretched more than running. Which continually stretches and relaxs them to a higher degree.

This means going for a run after a lot of cycling actually feel Nice, as it seems to loosen everything up. While going for a ride after a lot of running does the opposite.

I've been stretching and taking magnesium. As it eventually causes cramp. I also run less when a cycle event approches. Not much of an answer sorry.

I'd check sleeveless sites.

Quack alert: I lowered my saddle and my low TT-position pulled my hamstrings a lot less.

I get this. I feel that cycling keeps the hamstrings stretched more than running. Which continually stretches and relaxs them to a higher degree.

This means going for a run after a lot of cycling actually feel Nice, as it seems to loosen everything up. While going for a ride after a lot of running does the opposite.
I think you might be on the right track - I also definitely find running after cycling a really nice experience. I think I'll check out a physio local to me who has had a lot of experience in cycling and triathlon as I'm sure he must have come across this before.

I'd check sleeveless sites.

I also lowered my saddle a smidge. Which seemed to help. It was probably a bit high anyway though. Considering the biggish saddle to bar drop.

After styrkeproven I tilted my saddle a tiny bit, tilted my bars a tiny bit, and cranked up the float resistance on my pedals. Feels perfect.

Not sure I want to ride 545km each time my position needs adjusting though.

any suggestions for positional tweaks which could help fend-off quad cramps?

Hydration

I am predominately a runner, but I do still ride from time to time. I'm actually hoping to increase my mileage, but I find that after 10-15 mins of hard effort the hamstring in my right leg hurts a lot.
Does it sound like running has caused an imbalance in the muscles in my legs/lower back/glutes?
Is it a case of trying some shallow squats to help my Glutes?

Hmm, the single sidedness of your complaint shows that it's not the running per se (probably!) - I would start with working out what is causing the problem- so bike / fit / cleat/shoe related or body related. From a training point of view are you trying to increase your mileage AND riding harder than usual? Sorry to offer more questions than answers but you should at least try to exclude the simple "too much/too soon" possibility. Have you never ever had hammy problems before?

Thanks for replying @scherrit - I've been cycling for about 9 years now and this issue first came about 2 years ago. I've never had hamstring issues before, but have suffered from acute achilles pain (right leg) when cycling and hip-flexor pain (both sides) when trying to up my distance too quickly during running...
When this issue first arose in 2012, I was probably running more than I was cycling. I bought a new bike in 2011 and I haven't changed my shoes, pedals (or even cleats) since then.
I've never had hamstring problems before and when running there is no pain whatsoever (execpt maybe after the ride in a Tri).
At the moment I am mixing the week up with a short (1hr max) fast bike session and with a ~3hr 15-16mph ride on the weekend in the attempt to work on overall condition.

Although I could probably change a few things with my bike fit, I think I'll fist check out Eamonn Deane, who is local to me.
http://www.sportsmassagebournemouth.co.uk

Theres a very handy video/motion analysis tool called Kinovea where you can assess your angles (if you know what to look for). Basically take a side profile video clip while you're on a turbo or rollers and measure away. It helps if you place some reference dots on your Greater trochanter (hip dot), end of Femur (knee dot) and a dot on your ankle.

If you're totally at a loss regarding bikefit you can phone and ask for me (Nigel) at Cadence performance. Its the best time/money you'll ever spend on Cycling.

If you are going to look at/video yourself from the side for heaven's sake look at left AND right and see if they look the same or different- and look/ video from behind too- you may be able to see asymmetrical movement better from there.

As far as I understand @scherrit is the @mdcc_tester of bike fits, so really happy to see you taking part in this thread.

Thanks for replying Scherrit - I've been cycling for about 9 years now and this issue first came about 2 years ago. I've never had hamstring issues before, but have suffered from acute achilles pain (right leg) when cycling and hip-flexor pain (both sides) when trying to up my distance too quickly during running...
When this issue first arose in 2012, I was probably running more than I was cycling. I bought a new bike in 2011 and I haven't changed my shoes, pedals (or even cleats) since then.
I've never had hamstring problems before and when running there is no pain whatsoever (execpt maybe after the ride in a Tri).
At the moment I am mixing the week up with a short (1hr max) fast bike session and with a ~3hr 15-16mph ride on the weekend in the attempt to work on overall condition.

Boring update - Put my track bike together and went out for a fast spin on it for the first time in a couple of years. No pain at all.
So I attempted to mirror the fit of it onto my road bike. Installed 15mm extra spacers under the stem and raised the saddle 10mm, which has really helped. Moderate paced 50km yesterday with only mild discomfort after ~30km.

Excellent news, do you have access to a long spirit level?

@edscoble I don't Ed, but I could make one. What for?

It's usually a very easy way to replicate the fit of your track bike to the road bike.

Measure the horizontal distance from the saddle nose to centre of BB, then measure distance from saddle nose to centre of bar clamp, when you got the number, replicate it to the road bike and see what the difference is.

Thanks - I'll give it a go. I assume a spirit level and a plumb line would work? I measured the length between pedal axle (when crank at bottom of pedal stroke) to the top to the saddle.

Using the saddle as a measurement point is a bit inaccurate though isn't it? I mean, nobody stays in one fixed position when on the bike do they? Not all saddles are the same length either, so taking the measurement from the nose wouldn't be very accurate either. My road and track bikes have different saddles.

Obviously IANAbikeFitter, just trying things out as a stop gap until I can sort myself out with a fit.

This just popped up on my Twitter, he looks uncomfortable...

So.
I changed my compact dropbars to risers, nothing else changed, saddle angle/position, stem, everything the same and suddenly my knees are exploding.

I realize I have a more upright position on the bike now, but does it really change that much?