Does riding in an aggressive aero posotion (78) contribute to hamstring strain/pulls on the run? I’ve got a pulled hammy, and wondering if recent aggressive position riding would have made this a risk when running. I managed to pull the ham running not cycling, but I’m wondering if it’s possible that the aero position would be a contributing factor. Any help is much appreciated.
I think I know why you are thinking this…you feel as if you use your hamstring more when forward on the bike. And anytime you change the way you use your muscles, you have a slightly better chance of an injury.
However, I doubt it contributed to your pull. Unless you are just frying the hamstring; then running (possibly overstriding, too?!) very hard and getting hamstring cramps and just trying to gut it out and keep “running through it”. Hamstring pulls usually are as a result of an imbalance of strength between the hamstring and your quads (unless it is a cramp that precipitates the pull). My guess would be you were overstriding when it pulled.
If it is an actual hamstring tear, I hope you take good care of it, they can really mess you up for a long time if you don’t.
Hmmm, this is a very interesting question. My sense (supported by absolutely no factual or anecdotal evidence) is “no”. Perhaps I was premature in saying I have no supporting evidence: In Dan’ F.I.S.T. workshop we were given a manual with several insights on fit and positioning. In it is a discussion of a study called “Garside and Doran” appearing in the Journal of Sport Sciences in June 2000. The study evaluates the effects of steep (greater than 76 degrees) seat tube angles on triathletes in a test protocol that measures both cycling and running performances. The test reveals triathletes performed better on the bike (faster) but then were significantly better in the run portion of the test (immediately following the bike, like in a race) as compared to a shallow (73 degree) seat tube angle. What does this have to do with cramps? Well, not much… Except it does not indicate a disproportionate or elevated incidence of muscular spasm, cramps, fatigue, etc. In fact, it is quite the opposite. For some reason athletes in the “Garside” study performed better with steep seat tube angle not only on the bike, but on the run. My personal, anecdotal sense is that I run MUCH better off the bike with a steep seat angle, in fact, I RIDE better with a steep seat tube angle in everything but a criterium or supper hilly circuit race with drafting. I don’t believe, given the information I’ve been exposed to (admitedly limited) there is any correlation between steep seat tube angles and hamstring (semimembranosis?, is that how you spell it?)pulls.
Assuming your bike position was set up properly, one would think not. All the literature claims that riding steep saves the hamstrings for the run. I raced initially on a road bike and then later in the “big slam” position before riding steeper at about 76 degrees that I ride now. My hamstrings used to kill for the first five minutes or so into the run after riding shallow. I actually haven’t noticed riding steep being any faster for me, but the advantage now is at the start of the run.
I think it depends on what your normal hip angle is when riding. If you are riding at a more acute hip angle than usual (with thighs closer to your chest), you are going to put more stress on your glutes and hamstrings.
Normally, moving to a steep seat angle helps relax your hip angle so should reduce stress on your glutes and hammies, but it depends on how low you set your bars and what setup you normally train with.
-MK
From my own experience the opposite was the case, did a half couple yrs back where I rode in a typical TT position and could hardly run off the bike (infact walked the frist 8km) My hams were so tight. I have used moderately steep angle since and never had an hamstring issue. Could it be as simple as cramp? Just came of session #3 on my new P2, though I will not run today, I did yesterday after a ride with no ill effects whatsoever, in fact the legs feel pretty good.
Most people probably get less hamstring strain from riding steep. BUT, if you are one of those that tends to pull up with your hamstrings when moved forward, you could fatigue them more riding steeply. Or, as the previous poster wrote, if you put the front end lower in relation to your usual thorax-hip angle, you may get more strain in the hamstrings. The way an individual reacts to their positioning isn’t always as simple as a math equation…there will be those that confound the tendencies of the majority and have a different experience.
This is where people that have a LOT of experience in fitting people may do their best work…determining when the “usual” remedies aren’t working for a particular individual. Even then, sometimes it takes a while before it becomes apparent that an individual isn’t settling into the new position, and they aren’t obtaining the expected results…this is why I think it’s not unreasonable for a person to return to a fitter within a certain time frame for a re-position, if they just don’t perform well after a genuine attempt at adaptation.
After all, the best fitters don’t want an unsatisfied customer out there any more than a rider wants to be unsatisfied with their fit.