lower back trouble

boing

Hi, all.

Quick question.

I recently started cycling regularly to an from work, and it's killing my back. I am not that old (27) or that unfit (I'm a competitive fencer). I've never had any real back trouble from any exercese other than cycling? Can anybody give me an idea of what is likely to be wrong. Is it just my poor posture/technique? Are my back muscles too weak? Are my handlebars to low or my seat too high?

I ride a racer (I'm told it's a decent one). The journey is about 4 miles each way, and there is a fair climb whichever way you go. I normally do it in 15-25 minutes, depending on traffic, weather and my will to pedal.

Any comments greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Pav

Elyob

"boing" <usenet-forum@cyclingforums.com> wrote in message news:3f93bb5d$1_2@news.chariot.net.au...
> Hi, all.
>
> Quick question.
>
> I recently started cycling regularly to an from work, and it's killing my back. I am not that old
> (27) or that unfit (I'm a competitive fencer). I've never had any real back trouble from any
> exercese other than cycling? Can anybody give me an idea of what is likely to be wrong. Is it
> just my poor posture/technique? Are my back muscles too weak? Are my handlebars to low or my seat
> too high?
>
> I ride a racer (I'm told it's a decent one). The journey is about 4 miles each way, and there is a
> fair climb whichever way you go. I normally do it in 15-25 minutes, depending on traffic, weather
> and my will to pedal.
>

Where abouts is the pain? Is it lower or upper back? Normally back pain is to do with posture, and
this is often due to handlebar height, although having to stretch to the handlebars is another
possibility.

Seat height is easy to guage, just make sure your legs never get to full stretch (i.e.
locking knees).

I'd recommend a visit to your local bike shop for one-to-one advice. Some have measuring devices to
check what frame size, geomotry etc suits you.

Dirtylitterboxo

>Is it just my poor posture/technique? Are my back muscles too weak? Are my handlebars to low or my
>seat too high?

Could be one of the lot/combination. Could be saddle wrongly positioned/angled, stem too
long/tooshort, bars at wrong angle for you, wrong size cranks... all sorts of things.

Best advice I can think of is take you & bike along to a friendly LBS (local bike shop) and get
properly fitted. If you say where you are located, some posters here may be able to recommend a bike
shop they have experience of where they've received good service.

Cheers, helen s

This is an invalid email adress to thwart spammers To get my correct email remove the dependency on
fame & fortune from h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$

Any speeling mistakes are as a result of cats on the keybrrrdd

Ian

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers must be edykated coz e writed:

>> Is it just my poor posture/technique? Are my back muscles too weak? Are my handlebars to low or
>> my seat too high?
>
> Could be one of the lot/combination. Could be saddle wrongly positioned/angled, stem too
> long/tooshort, bars at wrong angle for you, wrong size cranks... all sorts of things.
>
> Best advice I can think of is take you & bike along to a friendly LBS (local bike shop) and get
> properly fitted. If you say where you are located, some posters here may be able to recommend a
> bike shop they have experience of where they've received good service.
>
> Cheers, helen s
>
> This is an invalid email adress to thwart spammers To get my correct email remove the dependency
> on fame & fortune from h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$
>
> Any speeling mistakes are as a result of cats on the keybrrrdd
>
Succumb to the dark side, we have no back pain here.

--
Ian

http://www.catrike.co.uk (http://www.catrike.co.uk/)

W K

"boing" <usenet-forum@cyclingforums.com> wrote in message news:3f93bb5d$1_2@news.chariot.net.au...

> Quick
...
> I recently started cycling regularly
...

> I ride a racer
...

That happened to me too.

It also happens when I get the "racer" out in the spring time. (My other bike gives me a more
upright position and has mudguards).

For me it was just a muscular thing that improves if you sit more upright, or with time.

Graham

"boing" <usenet-forum@cyclingforums.com> wrote in message news:3f93bb5d$1_2@news.chariot.net.au...
> Hi, all.
>
> Quick question.
>
> I recently started cycling regularly to an from work, and it's killing my back. I am not that old
> (27) or that unfit (I'm a competitive fencer). I've never had any real back trouble from any
> exercese other than cycling? Can anybody give me an idea of what is likely to be wrong. Is it
> just my poor posture/technique? Are my back muscles too weak? Are my handlebars to low or my seat
> too high?
>
> I ride a racer (I'm told it's a decent one). The journey is about 4 miles each way, and there is a
> fair climb whichever way you go. I normally do it in 15-25 minutes, depending on traffic, weather
> and my will to pedal.
>
> Any comments greatly appreciated.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Pav
>
>
Your hamstrings are too tight, causing your back to compensate. Do a lot of stretching for
Hamstrings and Hips.

Graham
>
> --
> >--------------------------<
> Posted via cyclingforums.com http://www.cyclingforums.com (http://www.cyclingforums.com/)

Anonymous

boing tried to scribble ...

> Hi, all.
>
> Quick question.
>
> I recently started cycling regularly to an from work, and it's killing my back. I am not that old
> (27) or that unfit (I'm a competitive fencer). I've never had any real back trouble from any
> exercese other than cycling? Can anybody give me an idea of what is likely to be wrong. Is it
> just my poor posture/technique? Are my back muscles too weak? Are my handlebars to low or my seat
> too high?

Could be any of the above, but I find lower back trouble to be mostly down to seat, rather than
handlebar, position.

I'd suggest visiting a local bike shop and seeing if they'll offer decent advise.

Failing that, a rough estimate to seating position is to aim at getting each leg slightly bent at
the knee, when sat on the seat, at the bottom of the pedalling stroke, without having to 'roll' the
backside during the pedal stroke. The ankle/foot at this point should be at about 90 degrees to the
lower leg. This generally gives a reasonable starting point for further minor adjustments to suit
riding style and type of ride.

Try moving the seat forwards and backwards on the rails and you could also try changing the seat
attitude to horizontal by rotating it about the seat clamp as well. In general make only one type of
adjustment at a time and try it out before trying another adjustment.

--
Digweed '79 Beamish RL 250, '85 Swift Corvette, '95 Dyna-Tech CroMo Comp, '97 Landrover Discovery
300 Tdi, '03 Associated RC10 B4 .... ;)

Michael Macclan

"boing" <usenet-forum@cyclingforums.com> wrote in message news:3f93bb5d$1_2@news.chariot.net.au...
> Hi, all.
>
> Quick question.
>
> I recently started cycling regularly to an from work, and it's killing my back. I am not that old
> (27) or that unfit (I'm a competitive fencer). I've never had any real back trouble from any
> exercese other than cycling? Can anybody give me an idea of what is likely to be wrong. Is it
> just my poor posture/technique? Are my back muscles too weak? Are my handlebars to low or my seat
> too high?
>
> I ride a racer (I'm told it's a decent one). The journey is about 4 miles each way, and there is a
> fair climb whichever way you go. I normally do it in 15-25 minutes, depending on traffic, weather
> and my will to pedal.
>
> Any comments greatly appreciated.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Pav
>

One of the problems of Usenet is that we can't see you or your bike or you on your bike. You're best
going to your local bike shop and asking them to take a look at things. If that doesn't sort it out
a trip to your doctor may be needed. Don't rely on the advice of people who guess that your problem
may be something like tight hamstrings. They may sometimes be right but they'll often be wrong.

___
Michael MacClancy

Graham

"elyob" <newsprofile@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:HtPkb.142$Db1.1700886@news-text.cableinet.net...
>
> "boing" <usenet-forum@cyclingforums.com> wrote in message news:3f93bb5d$1_2@news.chariot.net.au...
> > Hi, all.
> >
> > Quick question.
> >
> > I recently started cycling regularly to an from work, and it's killing my back. I am not that
> > old (27) or that unfit (I'm a competitive fencer). I've never had any real back trouble from any
> > exercese other than cycling? Can anybody give me an idea of what is likely to be wrong. Is it
> > just my poor posture/technique? Are my back muscles too weak? Are my handlebars to low or my
> > seat too high?
> >
> > I ride a racer (I'm told it's a decent one). The journey is about 4 miles each way, and there is
> > a fair climb whichever way you go. I normally do it in 15-25 minutes, depending on traffic,
> > weather and my will to pedal.
> >
>
> Where abouts is the pain? Is it lower or upper back?

Are you for real ?

Graham

Normally back pain is
> to do with posture, and this is often due to handlebar height, although having to stretch to the
> handlebars is another possibility.
>
> Seat height is easy to guage, just make sure your legs never get to full stretch (i.e.
> locking knees).
>
> I'd recommend a visit to your local bike shop for one-to-one advice. Some have measuring devices
> to check what frame size, geomotry etc suits you.

Niv

> Your hamstrings are too tight, causing your back to compensate. Do a lot
of
> stretching for Hamstrings and Hips.

You could try what I've done (can't remember where I first read/heard the idea), but put a "slant"
board in front of your sink. i.e a 2' wide by 1' deep board with a piece of 2" x 1" across the back.
This makes the board slant up at about 20 deg or so.

The few minutes I spend washing up standing on this stretch my hamstrings nicely. It's not
difficult, it's not taking time out from anything else, & I can always de/increase the angle with
less/more thin strips added. Start gently & see how you go.

Of course, this means that you DO have to do some washing up! So, unplug the dishwasher & tell the
other half (assuming there is one) that you'll do the washing.

Very simple & it works.

Niv.

Dave Larrington

Helen S wrote:

> But you have lost your soul ;-)

Nonse. I never had one in the first place...

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
===========================================================

Elyob

"Graham" <gtg74@btinternetDOT.com> wrote in message news:bn0hcr$hob$1@hercules.btinternet.com...
>

> > Where abouts is the pain? Is it lower or upper back?
>
> Are you for real ?
>

Why? I suffer from sciatica, so know a little about lower back pain. I also know that I've had pain
between the shoulder blades whilst on someone elses bike for extended periods due to low handlebars.

What part of that confuses you? I must admit I may not be as qualified to answer as yourself.

Graham

"elyob" <newsprofile@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:AVQkb.219$6V1.2350112@news-text.cableinet.net...
>
> "Graham" <gtg74@btinternetDOT.com> wrote in message news:bn0hcr$hob$1@hercules.btinternet.com...
> >
>
> > > Where abouts is the pain? Is it lower or upper back?
> >
> > Are you for real ?
> >
>
> Why?

He said in the original post that he suffers from lower back pain !

I suffer from sciatica, so know a little about lower back
pain. I also
> know that I've had pain between the shoulder blades whilst on someone
elses
> bike for extended periods due to low handlebars.
>
> What part of that confuses you? I must admit I may not be as qualified to answer as yourself.

Ouch

>> > Where abouts is the pain? Is it lower or upper back?
>>
>> Are you for real ?
>>
>
>Why? I suffer from sciatica, so know a little about lower back pain. I also know that I've had pain
>between the shoulder blades whilst on someone elses bike for extended periods due to low
>handlebars.
>
>What part of that confuses you? I must admit I may not be as qualified to answer as yourself.

Hi elyob,

I don't know but I have a feeling he was "having a go" because you asked whether the pain was in the
lower or upper back. The OP specifically said lower back in his subject.

;-)

I too have had disc problems and sciatica (very painful) in my lower back. This has caused a
constant clicking in my left knee that has nothing to do with cycling. Indeed when I'm cycling it
actually doesn't click!

Now to find a cure for my right knee.

:-(

Elyob

"Graham" <gtg74@btinternetDOT.com> wrote in message news:bn0m39$17q$1@titan.btinternet.com...
>
> "elyob" <newsprofile@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:AVQkb.219$6V1.2350112@news-text.cableinet.net...
> >
> > "Graham" <gtg74@btinternetDOT.com> wrote in message news:bn0hcr$hob$1@hercules.btinternet.com...
> > >
> >
> > > > Where abouts is the pain? Is it lower or upper back?
> > >
> > > Are you for real ?
> > >
> >
> > Why?
>
> He said in the original post that he suffers from lower back pain !
>

Oh yeah ... woops. I just sort of skimmed the message.

Nick Kew

In article <3f93bb5d$1_2@news.chariot.net.au>, one of infinite monkeys at the keyboard of boing
<usenet-forum@cyclingforums.com> wrote:
> Hi, all.
>
> Quick question.
>
> I recently started cycling regularly to an from work, and it's killing my back. I am not that old
> (27) or that unfit

When I was your age, I worked full-time in an office where I wasn't in charge of my desk, chair or
posture, and suffered from sometimes-crippling back pain from it. Cycling regularly - not least
commuting - was one of just two activities that brought relief.

I couldn't say why you're experiencing the opposite, but have you spoken to a local expert to find
out whether your posture/etc are OK? Perhaps a crude test would be to try out a few different bikes
if you can get the opportunity.

> I ride a racer (I'm told it's a decent one).

Hmmm, something more relaxed - a tourer - might help (quite apart from the fact that a racer will be
totally unsuitable if and when we ever get some rain). They may look similar, but the subtle
differences in geometry make a big difference to riding.

--
Axis of Evil: Whose economy needs ever more wars? Arms Exports $bn: USA 14.2, UK 5.1, vs France 1.5,
Germany 0.8 (The Economist, July 2002)

Callas

usenet-forum@cyclingforums.com wrote:
> I recently started cycling regularly to an from work, and it's killing my back. I am not that old
> (27) or that unfit (I'm a competitive fencer). I've never had any real back trouble from any
> exercese other than cycling? Can anybody give me an idea of what is likely to be wrong. Is it
> just my poor posture/technique? Are my back muscles too weak? Are my handlebars to low or my seat
> too high?

It's almost certainly your position. Try changing the angle of the seat so it's flat, or leans
forward a little. I find if my saddle is tilted back at *all*, I get real lower back pain.

--
Callas

Taywood

boing wrote:
> Quick question.
Dont expect a quick answer.

> I recently started cycling regularly to an from work, and it's killing my back. I am not that old
> (27) or that unfit (I'm a competitive fencer). I've never had any real back trouble from any
> exercese other than cycling? Can anybody give me an idea of what is likely to be wrong. Is it
> just my poor posture/technique? Are my back muscles too weak? Are my handlebars to low or my seat
> too high?
My suggestion would be first a sensible bike shop and second a sports physio, ask for one who
rides a bike.

My lower back pain is either at waistband level (from sitting badly at an office desk) or over the
hip joints (sacroiliac - from falling on my tailbone once too often).

The guy at BikeTreks Ambleside setup my riding stance and rode round the block with me, one of their
customers was a sports physio who also watched me ride then proposed a daily stretch/exercise
routine. It was expensive, but the solutions worked. Mike

Andy P

"boing" <usenet-forum@cyclingforums.com> wrote

> I recently started cycling regularly to an from work, and it's killing my back. I am not that old
> (27) or that unfit (I'm a competitive fencer). I've never had any real back trouble from any
> exercese other than cycling? Can anybody give me an idea of what is likely to be wrong. Is it
> just my poor posture/technique? Are my back muscles too weak? Are my handlebars to low or my seat
> too high?

From doing press ups and sit ups off and on over the years it seems to me that I nnever get any back
pain when my stomach muscles are in good shape but do start to get a bit of pain if I've been
slacking for a while. But if you do fencing you've probably already got good stomach muscles anyway.

Andy P