Back pain
#1
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Back pain
When ever I incorporate cycling into my lifestyle, I notice my back hurts. However I never have any pain or discomfort when during bike riding or even directly after.
it is usually few hours later like when I’m getting up out of chairs or in general.
It will exist off and on as such that as long as biking is part of my lifestyle .
Do you think it’s because of biking even though I never have pain during cycling ?
it is usually few hours later like when I’m getting up out of chairs or in general.
It will exist off and on as such that as long as biking is part of my lifestyle .
Do you think it’s because of biking even though I never have pain during cycling ?
Last edited by Awesomeguy; 04-16-24 at 03:36 PM.
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is it back pain or sit bone discomfort?
riding does just the opposite for me. In the beginning of the season I'll have some general sit bone discomfort, that tends to go away after I get a few good rides in.
riding does just the opposite for me. In the beginning of the season I'll have some general sit bone discomfort, that tends to go away after I get a few good rides in.
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I think this is common. I get back pain off the bike also. I've tried different things. I find that stretching every morning helps, as does back work at the gym, as does vigorous walking. Of those three, I've found vigorous walking to be the most effective.
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I am the OP, and have a 2021 trek fx sport carbon, it’s a more sporty hybrid , but that’s only bike I own to know if I’d be better say if I owned a verve ?
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Not in my experience. I find if the handlebar is too low, or too far away, I get low back pain, generally the next day. But if the bike is set up right, then it's not a problem.
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I've been riding with a group of friends for a couple decades or so. My observation is that the greater the forward lean and the longer the reach, the less back pain is experienced. I ride a carbon bike with a -17° slammed stem and I'm 78. The best thing for back pain is exercise. Just got back from the gym, among many things I did a set of 40 reps with 175 on the back machine and most of the men I ride with are stronger than I am.
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I had the issue. The cause was a slightly too high seat height. Once I got it down to where it should be, the back pain went away, as did the hip pain I was having.
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There are too many possible causes to list, so I'll just relate my personal experience.
I find that I get more lower back pain if I don't use proper form while riding. If I get lazy and lock my elbows, let my hips rotate forward (i.e. arched back instead of bowed back), and fail to pedal circles then my back feels it more the next day. The negative consequences of poor form are increasing with every passing year for me (I'm soon to be 60), so I've got that going for me.
There are other factors - if I'm doing core exercises that helps with lower back pain; sleeping on a firm mattress also helps; not sitting too much (office, watching TV) helps - but proper form is the biggest factor during a ride. This is assuming a properly fitting bike, of course.
I find that I get more lower back pain if I don't use proper form while riding. If I get lazy and lock my elbows, let my hips rotate forward (i.e. arched back instead of bowed back), and fail to pedal circles then my back feels it more the next day. The negative consequences of poor form are increasing with every passing year for me (I'm soon to be 60), so I've got that going for me.
There are other factors - if I'm doing core exercises that helps with lower back pain; sleeping on a firm mattress also helps; not sitting too much (office, watching TV) helps - but proper form is the biggest factor during a ride. This is assuming a properly fitting bike, of course.
#11
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Chronic back pain here, eventually needing surgery in 2019. Now minor discomfort on the bike, it's real like that makes it worse.
For me, what has helped is daily exercises and stretching and especially paying attention to posture, how I sit (no slumping!) and to keep moving. Matching a movie at home, for example, I get up and stretch every 10-15 minutes. Limiting gardening activity--you're never done, so just do more tomorrow.
Actually, it just feels best when I am on my bike.
For me, what has helped is daily exercises and stretching and especially paying attention to posture, how I sit (no slumping!) and to keep moving. Matching a movie at home, for example, I get up and stretch every 10-15 minutes. Limiting gardening activity--you're never done, so just do more tomorrow.
Actually, it just feels best when I am on my bike.
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I used to bike only upright commuter style with the largest heaviest elastomer springs seat possible AND a suspension post.
Covid hit, everyone dared using public transportation, so I cycled whenever I would commute.
The route I take to go into town is always windy, often cycling against and into the wind.
Upright means I was a giant air brake.
As a bike reseller, I had a myriad of bikes and saddles at my disposal, and regardless of type of bike, I got the best performance from any bike where the bars were a couple inches below a hard slippery saddle.
This was an abrupt change, but allowed me to cut thru the wind.
My back hurt like hell during cycling and after cycling. I put up with it because it allowed me to do some decent top speeds.
About a month in, I got used to the pain and didn't bother me as much because I was feeling great from my endurance gain.
Sleeping on the floor with just a yoga mat really helped correct my back posture, as my sore back would be gone the next day.
As the weeks went by, my back muscles got stronger, and all pain disappeared.
See, my back muscles were weak and never developed from a lifetime of upright cycling.
I think it boils down to how much back pain there is for the individual. If they constantly end up screaming in pain to need morphine, I would seek professional advice from a gp and not BF.
But if it's just a sore back that appears to subside over a day or two, you're surely not breaking anything, and I would just cycle more.
Covid hit, everyone dared using public transportation, so I cycled whenever I would commute.
The route I take to go into town is always windy, often cycling against and into the wind.
Upright means I was a giant air brake.
As a bike reseller, I had a myriad of bikes and saddles at my disposal, and regardless of type of bike, I got the best performance from any bike where the bars were a couple inches below a hard slippery saddle.
This was an abrupt change, but allowed me to cut thru the wind.
My back hurt like hell during cycling and after cycling. I put up with it because it allowed me to do some decent top speeds.
About a month in, I got used to the pain and didn't bother me as much because I was feeling great from my endurance gain.
Sleeping on the floor with just a yoga mat really helped correct my back posture, as my sore back would be gone the next day.
As the weeks went by, my back muscles got stronger, and all pain disappeared.
See, my back muscles were weak and never developed from a lifetime of upright cycling.
I think it boils down to how much back pain there is for the individual. If they constantly end up screaming in pain to need morphine, I would seek professional advice from a gp and not BF.
But if it's just a sore back that appears to subside over a day or two, you're surely not breaking anything, and I would just cycle more.
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Walking backwards, and quartered to and fro, on a treadmill (or running hillsides) has proven to be one of my more effective back injury prevention practices. As well, keeping the hip flexors stretched helps. I once saw them using a similar harness supported treadmill therapy on people at a spine specialist, during their recovery. Tried it, and along with strengthening the low back and glutes-alleviating back pain, I also stopped having troubles with damaged menisci, and it strengthened my feet's arches, resolving some fasciitis
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When ever I incorporate cycling into my lifestyle, I notice my back hurts. However I never have any pain or discomfort when during bike riding or even directly after.
it is usually few hours later like when I’m getting up out of chairs or in general.
It will exist off and on as such that as long as biking is part of my lifestyle .
Do you think it’s because of biking even though I never have pain during cycling ?
it is usually few hours later like when I’m getting up out of chairs or in general.
It will exist off and on as such that as long as biking is part of my lifestyle .
Do you think it’s because of biking even though I never have pain during cycling ?
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Upright means I was a giant air brake. [Hunched over as well, don't kid yourself]
This was an abrupt change, but allowed me to cut thru the wind.
My back hurt like hell during cycling and after cycling. I put up with it because it allowed me to do some decent top speeds.
About a month in, I got used to the pain and didn't bother me as much because I was feeling great from my endurance gain.
Sleeping on the floor with just a yoga mat really helped correct my back posture, as my sore back would be gone the next day.
As the weeks went by, my back muscles got stronger, and all pain disappeared.
See, my back muscles were weak and never developed from a lifetime of upright cycling.
I think it boils down to how much back pain there is for the individual. If they constantly end up screaming in pain to need morphine, I would seek professional advice from a gp and not BF.
But if it's just a sore back that appears to subside over a day or two, you're surely not breaking anything, and I would just cycle more.
This was an abrupt change, but allowed me to cut thru the wind.
My back hurt like hell during cycling and after cycling. I put up with it because it allowed me to do some decent top speeds.
About a month in, I got used to the pain and didn't bother me as much because I was feeling great from my endurance gain.
Sleeping on the floor with just a yoga mat really helped correct my back posture, as my sore back would be gone the next day.
As the weeks went by, my back muscles got stronger, and all pain disappeared.
See, my back muscles were weak and never developed from a lifetime of upright cycling.
I think it boils down to how much back pain there is for the individual. If they constantly end up screaming in pain to need morphine, I would seek professional advice from a gp and not BF.
But if it's just a sore back that appears to subside over a day or two, you're surely not breaking anything, and I would just cycle more.
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As to the OP: Back pain is a bugger. First thing I would try in experiencing Low Back Pain after rides is to raise my Bars about 2cm...
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#17
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[QUOTE=soyabean;23216908]...My back hurt like hell during cycling and after cycling. I put up with it because it allowed me to do some decent top speeds... But if it's just a sore back that appears to subside over a day or two, you're surely not breaking anything, and I would just cycle more.
Attached Images [QUOTE]
Yep... Most of us just power on. Wonder what he will have to say 30 years from now... Ha
Still, Nice young healthy looking guy with a nice bike... OK!
Attached Images [QUOTE]
Yep... Most of us just power on. Wonder what he will have to say 30 years from now... Ha
Still, Nice young healthy looking guy with a nice bike... OK!
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Interesting note: Its pretty common ta see defunct exercise bicycles, treadmills, even elipticals in garage Sales and out by the Dumpster. But I have never seen an Inversion Table thrown away.
As to the OP: Back pain is a bugger. First thing I would try in experiencing Low Back Pain after rides is to raise my Bars about 2cm...
As to the OP: Back pain is a bugger. First thing I would try in experiencing Low Back Pain after rides is to raise my Bars about 2cm...
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For me, onset of pain was 24 to 48 hours later. Delayed feedback is not very effective at driving behavior modification. But that's another story.
I recall reading somewhere along the back pain journey that every spine is different, so personal testimony is of limited experience. Cadaver studies of people who did and did not experience back pain found little correlation between reported pain and common physical spinal conditions.
So take everything with a grain of salt.
Lowering my saddle near the limits of conventional wisdom regarding knee angle helped my spine immensely. Occasional mid ride stretching helps my spine. Indeed I've found a too upright position is bad, but also too low. My saddle to bar drop is zero, and I can ride literally hundreds of miles moving between flats and drops. That's my spine.
I recall reading somewhere along the back pain journey that every spine is different, so personal testimony is of limited experience. Cadaver studies of people who did and did not experience back pain found little correlation between reported pain and common physical spinal conditions.
So take everything with a grain of salt.
Lowering my saddle near the limits of conventional wisdom regarding knee angle helped my spine immensely. Occasional mid ride stretching helps my spine. Indeed I've found a too upright position is bad, but also too low. My saddle to bar drop is zero, and I can ride literally hundreds of miles moving between flats and drops. That's my spine.
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In my, "Ole Geezer, More Beat Up Than I look", condition, changing my bikes set up even just a few millimeters causes a noticeable change...
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Unless you're talking about the small percentage of high end bikes with integrated stem and bars, threadless is significantly more easily adjusted than threaded.
Threadless stems can be flipped, possibly achieving 2cm alone. Ain't happening with a threaded "7" stem. Even if the thread less fork has been cut to have no room for spacers, virtually infinite combinations of stem angle and length are available. Heck, if you have a threaded stem needing adjustment, the easiest route may be to toss the threaded stem and replace it with a threaded to threadless adapter. From there you can put the bars almost anywhere you want.
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Interesting note: Its pretty common ta see defunct exercise bicycles, treadmills, even elipticals in garage Sales and out by the Dumpster. But I have never seen an Inversion Table thrown away.
As to the OP: Back pain is a bugger. First thing I would try in experiencing Low Back Pain after rides is to raise my Bars about 2cm...
As to the OP: Back pain is a bugger. First thing I would try in experiencing Low Back Pain after rides is to raise my Bars about 2cm...
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Uh, what?
Unless you're talking about the small percentage of high end bikes with integrated stem and bars, threadless is significantly more easily adjusted than threaded.
Threadless stems can be flipped, possibly achieving 2cm alone. Ain't happening with a threaded "7" stem. Even if the thread less fork has been cut to have no room for spacers, virtually infinite combinations of stem angle and length are available. Heck, if you have a threaded stem needing adjustment, the easiest route may be to toss the threaded stem and replace it with a threaded to threadless adapter. From there you can put the bars almost anywhere you want.
Unless you're talking about the small percentage of high end bikes with integrated stem and bars, threadless is significantly more easily adjusted than threaded.
Threadless stems can be flipped, possibly achieving 2cm alone. Ain't happening with a threaded "7" stem. Even if the thread less fork has been cut to have no room for spacers, virtually infinite combinations of stem angle and length are available. Heck, if you have a threaded stem needing adjustment, the easiest route may be to toss the threaded stem and replace it with a threaded to threadless adapter. From there you can put the bars almost anywhere you want.
#24
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I could not live without my Inversion Table. I`ve had it for over 20 years, and I only wish I would have got sooner.
ALSO
I have two bikes
A touring "Road" type bike and a Trek Verve.
My back bothers me much, much less riding the Verve.
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#25
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how much do you walk ?