Lower back pain

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

Bigtallfatbloke

New Member
I have started getting some lowerback pain after about 15 miles...well It' been happening for several weeks now. The bike is set up well now I feel and other than this I have no issues with anything else...any ideas on what might be causing it & how to fix it?
 
OP
OP
Bigtallfatbloke

Bigtallfatbloke

New Member
I have started getting some lowerback pain after about 15 miles...well It' been happening for several weeks now. The bike is set up well now I feel and other than this I have no issues with anything else...any ideas on what might be causing it & how to fix it?
 

jashburnham

New Member
I get lower back pain on long rides, ususally kicks in at around 60 miles or so. I have tight hamstrings which can cause this, try incorporating some stretching into your regime, some good ones here: http://www.roadcycling.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/3/40

I was reading round this subject the other day as well and apparently a lack of core strength can result in lower back pain. Not sure how true this is, but given a strong core is good for cyling anyway it maybe worth doing some core work as well, this can be done at home easily.
 

jashburnham

New Member
I get lower back pain on long rides, ususally kicks in at around 60 miles or so. I have tight hamstrings which can cause this, try incorporating some stretching into your regime, some good ones here: http://www.roadcycling.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/3/40

I was reading round this subject the other day as well and apparently a lack of core strength can result in lower back pain. Not sure how true this is, but given a strong core is good for cyling anyway it maybe worth doing some core work as well, this can be done at home easily.
 

ChrisW

Senior Member
With you on this one BTFB.

I finaly started to sort it out this year and went to see a specialist. He did an MRI which showed 3 discs that were slightly dried out misplaced. This was the underlying cause, unfortunately it is to do with aging! So its irreversible and to some extent will always be there..bugger!

I now have some exercises to do for core stability and have set my bike up in a less agressive position. It seems to be working but will never be perfect.

Try pilates and a more sit up and beg position, it may help.
 

ChrisW

Senior Member
With you on this one BTFB.

I finaly started to sort it out this year and went to see a specialist. He did an MRI which showed 3 discs that were slightly dried out misplaced. This was the underlying cause, unfortunately it is to do with aging! So its irreversible and to some extent will always be there..bugger!

I now have some exercises to do for core stability and have set my bike up in a less agressive position. It seems to be working but will never be perfect.

Try pilates and a more sit up and beg position, it may help.
 

ColinJ

Puzzle game procrastinator!
This week I discovered a completely new way of getting a bad back...

I woke up with a stiff neck, as if I'd been sleeping in an uncomfortable position. When I tried to get out of bed I developed painful spasms in my lower back muscles and couldn't stand up straight. I've had this kind of problem before, usually after doing something stupid. For example - the time I picked up my 22" colour TV and carried it half a mile to the local post office to send it back to be repaired under warranty. I don't drive and was too proud to cadge a lift, and too mean to pay for a taxi! The pain from that lasted for nearly a week - not nice I can tell you ;)!

Anyway, with this new unexplained back problem I spent all day hobbling about the house wondering what to do about it, when suddenly there was a clunking noise in my neck as if something had just slipped back into place. My back felt better immediately. It's strange how something in the neck can cause lower back pain. Perhaps it was due to a pinched nerve?

Returning to your back problem BTFB... Are you by any chance using gear ratios that are too high for your current fitness? From some of your other posts it seems that you are keen to make progress as quickly as possible and I wonder whether you are just pushing yourself too hard? 15 miles isn't a huge distance and shouldn't be causing you to develop backache but if you are thrashing yourself in 53/12 (whatever) then I'm sure that wouldn't help. If the ride is hilly, then do you have and use low enough climbing gears? I'm a couple of inches shorter than you and a few stone lighter but I find climbing hard work compared to my smaller cycling pals. I often get a sore back on long hilly rides.
 

ColinJ

Puzzle game procrastinator!
This week I discovered a completely new way of getting a bad back...

I woke up with a stiff neck, as if I'd been sleeping in an uncomfortable position. When I tried to get out of bed I developed painful spasms in my lower back muscles and couldn't stand up straight. I've had this kind of problem before, usually after doing something stupid. For example - the time I picked up my 22" colour TV and carried it half a mile to the local post office to send it back to be repaired under warranty. I don't drive and was too proud to cadge a lift, and too mean to pay for a taxi! The pain from that lasted for nearly a week - not nice I can tell you :blush:!

Anyway, with this new unexplained back problem I spent all day hobbling about the house wondering what to do about it, when suddenly there was a clunking noise in my neck as if something had just slipped back into place. My back felt better immediately. It's strange how something in the neck can cause lower back pain. Perhaps it was due to a pinched nerve?

Returning to your back problem BTFB... Are you by any chance using gear ratios that are too high for your current fitness? From some of your other posts it seems that you are keen to make progress as quickly as possible and I wonder whether you are just pushing yourself too hard? 15 miles isn't a huge distance and shouldn't be causing you to develop backache but if you are thrashing yourself in 53/12 (whatever) then I'm sure that wouldn't help. If the ride is hilly, then do you have and use low enough climbing gears? I'm a couple of inches shorter than you and a few stone lighter but I find climbing hard work compared to my smaller cycling pals. I often get a sore back on long hilly rides.
 

davidwalton

New Member
I am no cycle expert, but I do know that if you ignore a back problem it will get worse, and can take over your life.

For years I pushed myself in a number of sports. Result is a spine in a bad state, and no way I could ever think about riding a standard cycle again. Thank God for Recumbents.
 

davidwalton

New Member
I am no cycle expert, but I do know that if you ignore a back problem it will get worse, and can take over your life.

For years I pushed myself in a number of sports. Result is a spine in a bad state, and no way I could ever think about riding a standard cycle again. Thank God for Recumbents.
 
Top Bottom