Road Cycling - back hurts from riding too long?

well i did it for the first time a week or so ago, but i rode to work (25km) and it took me around 1.5hours... :o (hehe)

...hey there were lotsa hills! :p

anyway, towards the end, my lower back started to hurt a bit. but once i hopped off the bike i was fine... then on my trip home it didn't start to bother me until the last 30 mins of riding.

is it my posture? i'm usually used to mtn biking so im thinking my bent-down stance is not gonna work for road biking... suggestions? feels weird to ride upright like in an old-granny-stance... heh.

It took about two weeks (200 miles) for the soreness to reside when I switched from an upright to a road bike. Still trying to find a saddle that either doesn't cause chaffing or numbness after 60-70 miles.

it might just be tight hamstrings. they do go up into the buttock and can get tight and 'pull' down when they tighten..... that is assuming that there is nothing more serious at work.

well i don't think so because i don't feel it on my buttocks or hamstrings (i think i have pretty strong legs cuz i'm play other sports)... so i tihnk it's my posture. i'm around 5'10" would a 18" frame be too small?


Originally posted by RiPHRaPH
it might just be tight hamstrings. they do go up into the buttock and can get tight and 'pull' down when they tighten..... that is assuming that there is nothing more serious at work.

Originally posted by ghett0.fab
i'm around 5'10" would a 18" frame be too small?

I'm no expert but 18" (47 cm) sounds a little small to me, but it also depends on your arm and leg length.
I'm 6' and my bikes are 56cm and 57cm.

Is your stem too long or too low?
Are you "reaching" a lot?
Do you ride in the drops, on the hoods, or do you change positions frequently?

I had a friend of mine that was having that same problem and it was just that they needed a shorter and higer angle stem to get them in a more upright position.

thanks for the tip, i'll try adjusting the height :D


Originally posted by Bike Cop
I had a friend of mine that was having that same problem and it was just that they needed a shorter and higer angle stem to get them in a more upright position.

On your road bike and your MTB, measure the horizontal position from the saddle nose to the hand position (MTB grips, or road brake hoods), and the vertical distance between the saddle top and the bars.
Its quite possible to ride an MTB and a road bike in the same position. Cross country MTBs are not upright, and many touring cyclists set up their drop bars at an intermediate position
between upright granny and low athlete. I use a touring position and finds it very useful.

Most road bikes are sold with riding positions way too low for the kind of riding their owners do. You only need to get very aero for solo time trials.

Your frame size of 18" may be right for a compact style frame, but is too small for a standard design of frame. I am 5'10" and ride a standard design 22" (56cm) frame which usualy have horizontal top tubes of about 55 to 56cm. How long is your frame?