Mountain Biking - SS Guys, I need help...

I'm riding my SS a lot on trails right now getting ready for the 24 hours of Pisgah. My problem is on climbs over 2 miles I get really bad cramps/pain in my lower back from standing and mashing while pulling on the bars. Staying seated on most climbs around here on the SS is not an option. Any tips from you racer guys on lower back pain????:eek:

24 hours of pisgah? is that a 24 hour race? hardcore. pisgah is beautifull

Try a lower gear combo, keeping seated is essential with climbing a SS. You might also want to try and mess around with stem lengths and seat height.

24 hours of pisgah? is that a 24 hour race? hardcore. pisgah is beautifull


I've got it. Give the SS to your son's principal and take up golf.

Try a lower gear combo

+1

Some of us rational people accomplish this by getting a freakin' derailleur.

+1 to stem/seat adjustment,
also maybe tire combo? a bigger front tire/smaller rear tire could slacken your angles a little bit and maybe give you that little bit of cush or something...

Seat hight and stem combo are not the problem. Its back pain from standing and mashing the pedals for long periods.I'm running a 32/18 gear.

Might want to go to a 30 tooth up front and see if that helps.

Try a lower gear combo, keeping seated is essential with climbing a SS. ..

How do you stay seated all the time climbing SS? Eventually, you are going to have to stand up and hammer. If you are running a gear that you can climb sitting in all the time in all conditions, then you are running to small a gear.

To the OP, I would say that strength training is the way to go. (deadlifts, squats, stiff legged deadlifts (my fave)).

When I read your post I could feel that ache in my lower back after a long day on the SS. I think you condition your body to get used to it by just doing it. Long distance low cadence climbing is just a brutal thing.

How do you stay seated all the time climbing SS? Eventually, you are going to have to stand up and hammer. If you are running a gear that you can climb sitting in all the time in all conditions, then you are running to small a gear.

To the OP, I would say that strength training is the way to go. (deadlifts, squats, stiff legged deadlifts (my fave)).

When I read your post I could feel that ache in my lower back after a long day on the SS. I think you condition your body to get used to it by just doing it. Long distance low cadence climbing is just a brutal thing.


I'm reffering to the long grinding climbs. Short climbs, off the saddle and sprint.
You do have to get up once in awhile for an occasional burst. I just don't need to get up off the saddle much anymore for climbing, there are the random times when I need to get off the saddle. But those times are on long climbs. Yes muscles do help. I'm suggesting lower gearing so can get up with getting some seat time to recover during the climb.

To answer that, my muscles are used to it on the long climbs, seated takes pressure off of your back when climbing, but doesn't help with pedal accuracy, standing up is great for pedalling up a hill, but puts pressure on the lower back. Just like would you want to stay standing the whole time up a long climb?

drop to a 19 or 20 rear cog. how wide are your bars? when i was doing a lot of ss riding and racing, the wider stuff was better for my back. i'm talking big honkin' 27-28" wide suckers, with some good sweep.

flats or clipless? if clipless, really be sure your cleats are in a good spot. if they are funky, it can cause some pain in the low back over time.

gym work: work your abs and lower back.

+1 to wider bars, too