Well they [Road bikes] are certainly different!

[Seigi]

So, it looks like no cycling for me for a few days, I've somehow pulled a muscle in my lower back and it really hurts, I'm not sure if it's happened from cycling in a new position, or that I was bending over the bike for about 3 hours yesterday, or a mixture of both but my lower back really hurts when bending down and is irritable when walking......*sigh*. I keep thinking maybe the bike is too big for me, I'm 6'2"/3 (depends what time you measure me ), and the guy at the LBS recommended an XL size (Which I believe is for 6'3 - 6'8), when I'm on it I sometimes feel like I'm stretching too far....Do you reckon if this was the issue the LBS would change it for a lower size? Is it common to allow a "test period"? Or do other people that ride road bikes feel as though they're stretching? (Is this normal?)

Thanks.

 

[Twigman]

I find swapping between my motorbike and my pushbike makes them each feel odd.
When i get on the motorbike after the pushbike, I notice most the suspension, the stability and the weight.
When i get on the pushbike after the motorbike, I notice the lack of suspension, the short wheelbase(instabilty) and the lack of physical effort required to corner, oh and the relative lack of grip too...oh and the fact that my motorbike doesn't strain my lungs is a difference too.

 

[Ian 74]

Ha ha !

They are if you ride a bike with 2300 to work all week then jump on the nice bike with sram at the weekend and keep trying to press the non existent shift button ...

So it not just me who does this. That pesky invisible non existent button....

 

[Ian 74]

So, it looks like no cycling for me for a few days, I've somehow pulled a muscle in my lower back and it really hurts, I'm not sure if it's happened from cycling in a new position, or that I was bending over the bike for about 3 hours yesterday, or a mixture of both but my lower back really hurts when bending down and is irritable when walking......*sigh*. I keep thinking maybe the bike is too big for me, I'm 6'2"/3 (depends what time you measure me ), and the guy at the LBS recommended an XL size (Which I believe is for 6'3 - 6'8), when I'm on it I sometimes feel like I'm stretching too far....Do you reckon if this was the issue the LBS would change it for a lower size? Is it common to allow a "test period"? Or do other people that ride road bikes feel as though they're stretching? (Is this normal?)

Thanks.

I am 6'2" or so and I have Large bikes, I gave on to my wife (a bike) and she modified it by putting a shorter front stem on this made it less of a stretch to reach the handle bars, I road her bike when we went to Mull and I found this set up really comfortable.

It is really important to have your bike set up correctly, some aches and pains are to be expected when riding a new type of bike. However if it is incorrectly set up you put strain on places that will lead to injury and a miserable riding experience. If you bought the bike from a local shop take it to them and get them to fit the bike to you.

Hope your back gets better soon.