I have been leading a 'car-free' cycling life for about two years now, morphing between road and recumbent bikes. This Summer I decided to, for the most part, use my road bike for work commuting (five miles to-and fro). I work with kids in the Summer, which instantly translates into 'active' living (working). About one weekafter I 1- fell down roller skating, hitting the side of my right leg, and 2- an unusually rigorous three mile walk at one trip site, I had three bouts of what seemed to be sciatica, TWO bad enough to drag me to the hospital. The first kinda came on late one night, after I discovered that Ibuprofen was NOT effective for relief. The second worked its way on me during a trip to see relatives, from simple walking. This one was SOMEWHAT allieviated with emergency 'Saturday Call' with my father's chiropractor. The treatment made me walk funny toward one side for a while, but it DID help some with the pain. The third occurred after I decided that I was 'Superman' once again, and decided to pick up a small dresser (to move it, but instead of getting close to it, I picked it up about arm's length).
Chiropractic AND PT was at my disposal (ala HMO), but the PT was quick to respond so I started there. I was given a regimen of stretch exercizes to do daily, and in two weeks, I felt better, overall. More importantly, however, might have been the changes that I made to my upright road bike: Before the incidents, I added a stem adapter to give me a more 'upright' back position on the bike. Man, the road bars were up higher than the seat (the top bar, anyway). Additionally, the seat stem was about three inches out of the seat post. While it gave a great view, in retrospect it might have been jarring my lower back at every bump. NOW, after two sources confirmed that my seat needed to be higher (one source gave a formula, the other a general idea (6 inches above the seat post hole)), I raised it. Further, I junked the handle bar 'extender' (you know, the 'Aheadset' extender), and lowered the road bar on its OWN post about half way down.
Granted, My UPPER back felt what is best described as 'discomfort' for a few days or so, but I figured that 'discomfort' was a far cry better than excrutiating pain shooting straight down to my TOES! Also, I have adopted the practice of stretching my upper back while riding the upright. The first few days seemed like constant 'cracking' in my upper back, NOW I hardly notice it!
The question NOW is, should I DITCH the recumbents (Haluzak Horizon, Lightning Thunderbolt, Rotator Pursuit) all together? I tried the Thunderbolt today and, even after shortening the tube a bit, I still 'got that feeling' a little AFTER I rode it. Even though I attribute the 'back' problem to a poor set-up on the ROAD bike, the question still remains in MY mind: Could this be the 'Dirty little secret' of recumbency, or do I need adjustments THERE as well? Or do I need to pick either (road OR recumbent), and CHUCK the other, to be relegated to one FOR EVER?
I would appreciate any comments, experiences similar to this (namely the sciatica/piriformis syndrome), and how others came through this ordeal. As for me, it presently looks like the road bike, with less time on the '52 chainring .
Chiropractic AND PT was at my disposal (ala HMO), but the PT was quick to respond so I started there. I was given a regimen of stretch exercizes to do daily, and in two weeks, I felt better, overall. More importantly, however, might have been the changes that I made to my upright road bike: Before the incidents, I added a stem adapter to give me a more 'upright' back position on the bike. Man, the road bars were up higher than the seat (the top bar, anyway). Additionally, the seat stem was about three inches out of the seat post. While it gave a great view, in retrospect it might have been jarring my lower back at every bump. NOW, after two sources confirmed that my seat needed to be higher (one source gave a formula, the other a general idea (6 inches above the seat post hole)), I raised it. Further, I junked the handle bar 'extender' (you know, the 'Aheadset' extender), and lowered the road bar on its OWN post about half way down.
Granted, My UPPER back felt what is best described as 'discomfort' for a few days or so, but I figured that 'discomfort' was a far cry better than excrutiating pain shooting straight down to my TOES! Also, I have adopted the practice of stretching my upper back while riding the upright. The first few days seemed like constant 'cracking' in my upper back, NOW I hardly notice it!
The question NOW is, should I DITCH the recumbents (Haluzak Horizon, Lightning Thunderbolt, Rotator Pursuit) all together? I tried the Thunderbolt today and, even after shortening the tube a bit, I still 'got that feeling' a little AFTER I rode it. Even though I attribute the 'back' problem to a poor set-up on the ROAD bike, the question still remains in MY mind: Could this be the 'Dirty little secret' of recumbency, or do I need adjustments THERE as well? Or do I need to pick either (road OR recumbent), and CHUCK the other, to be relegated to one FOR EVER?
I would appreciate any comments, experiences similar to this (namely the sciatica/piriformis syndrome), and how others came through this ordeal. As for me, it presently looks like the road bike, with less time on the '52 chainring .