Kicks in about an hour into the ride then gets worse! Any thoughts?

MTB presumably. Try raising your bars, or maybe even just rotate the brake levers up a bit ?

? possibly gripping too tight

(have you got a massive peak on your hat ?)

shorter/higher stem ?

Yeah mtb. Adjustable forks. Do drop them on the climbs/flat sections. Keep them extended then?

well, that might take a bit of weight off your hands but it’s equally or more possible that the distance/angle to your grips from your arse is what’s wrong (and that doesn’t alter when the fork drops)

It’s a cheap test though – try it and see ?

Ensure you back remains as straight as you can get it – like Bradley Wiggens but maybe not so horizontal…

A lot of blokes bend from the middle of their back and look a bit like a ?, but then this increases the angle you neck is at.

If you tilt your pelvis instead and maintain a straight back then the neck angle won’t be so much. And your pedalling will probably be better as well.

To enable it try touching your toes but keeping a straight back, which will stretch your gluts, and maybe hams a little.

Also look at whether you have a big peak on your helmet, as then you might tend to overextend your neck to peer under it. Consider no peak or an adjustable one (giro xar).

You an also think about a slightly greater angle on you stem and maybe shortening it, plus look for riser bars with a nice sweep.

Perhaps also think of doing some regular neck exercises to increase flexibility – side-to-side, up and down and one pulling your head to the side with your hand on the top of your head.

not wearing a rucksack made a massive difference for me. no more neck ache

try it on a ride.

Stem’s too long and you are riding with your neck hunched. Shorter stem required. If stem is already short, then smaller frame required. My neck used to hurt for a day after riding. Now have no problems with shortened stem.

Same bike for 5 years. Nothing altered on it. Had it originally (neck ache) when I first had it but nothing this bad. Had a full rucksack on Saturday though when out as it was a planned 3/4hr pootle so the weight may have been greater than normal. Will look for some neck exercises for sure!

Be careful with the neck exercises as you can do yourself damage – pull your chin in first, or something like that – see “Treat your own neck”.