Fifty Plus (50+) - Biking & back injuries

This summer I wanted to get serious about biking. I wanted to commute by bike to my job (12 miles on a paved bike trail). I actually did the commute twice. I was trying to do rides of 6 miles or so to get in shape, and I put 'road tires' (700x32) on my Schwinn. Well, installing those tires was probably the last straw for my chronically bad back. Two days later my back went into an agonizing spasm and for the next 2 days I was practically crippled. At least I think that biking must have been the extra stressor on my back. It's a week later, the weather's beautiful, and I'm not on my bike.:( . In fact I'm even afraid to get on it anymore because I can feel the pull when I press the pedal.

Is biking bad for your back, and if so, do I have any hope of ever biking again?:twitchy: ps. I'm generally in good health for being 57 years old.

This summer I wanted to get serious about biking. I wanted to commute by bike to my job (12 miles on a paved bike trail). I actually did the commute twice. I was trying to do rides of 6 miles or so to get in shape, and I put 'road tires' (700x32) on my Schwinn. Well, installing those tires was probably the last straw for my chronically bad back. Two days later my back went into an agonizing spasm and for the next 2 days I was practically crippled. At least I think that biking must have been the extra stressor on my back. It's a week later, the weather's beautiful, and I'm not on my bike.:( . In fact I'm even afraid to get on it anymore because I can feel the pull when I press the pedal.

Is biking bad for your back, and if so, do I have any hope of ever biking again?:twitchy: ps. I'm generally in good health for being 57 years old.

You might want to review this recent 50+ thread on back issues.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=453214

Chiropractic, deep fascia work, lots of core strengthening. That really got me back to road cycling. Now, as others have reported, cycling makes my back feel better rather than worse.

Chiropractic, deep fascia work, lots of core strengthening. That really got me back to road cycling. Now, as others have reported, cycling makes my back feel better rather than worse.

+1. Eliminate serious issues, like broken vertabrae or squished disks. Then get yourself working on your core strength and flexibility. I have found Pilates to be a back (and hip) saver after several years of worsening pain. You might also consider that your bike may not fit you properly. A properly fitted bike will do wonders, too.

I looked at the other back pain thread. I have back pain when reaching too far & bending. I simply can't believe the best position to ride is bent over with drop handlebars. Nope. I'll ride upright where I can see where I'm going or not at all. PS. The drop-handlebar folks don't mention anything about neck pain from that unnatural bent-over position. Or do they have eyes on top of their heads??

6,700 miles on a road bike has strengthened my back. The Two bad disc's have quit hurting.
Riding in the drops is making me stronger. Works my mid section.

I looked at the other back pain thread. I have back pain when reaching too far & bending. I simply can't believe the best position to ride is bent over with drop handlebars. Nope. I'll ride upright where I can see where I'm going or not at all. PS. The drop-handlebar folks don't mention anything about neck pain from that unnatural bent-over position. Or do they have eyes on top of their heads??

I've been going through this same thing for the past month. I haven't ridden more than 5 miles. Physical therapist gave me stretches to do after disc and vertabrae problems had been ruled out. I'm doing much better and even got on the bike for a few miles Saturday. I would get into a more upright position in your case as have I. Longer stem and moustache bars or ride on the tops. I get the neck crick if I try to ride in the drops too much too. Old goats like us don't have anything to prove anymore and if you aren't racing and are in it for the fun and excercise the get thee more upright. Its supposed to be fun not painful:)

I looked at the other back pain thread. I have back pain when reaching too far & bending. I simply can't believe the best position to ride is bent over with drop handlebars. Nope. I'll ride upright where I can see where I'm going or not at all. PS. The drop-handlebar folks don't mention anything about neck pain from that unnatural bent-over position. Or do they have eyes on top of their heads??

You don't need eyes on the top of your head with a properly fitted bike:) You also shouldn't be bending or reaching too far if the bike fits properly. I normally ride in a slightly bent position with my hands on the hoods and only use the drops in headwinds. The slightly bent position prevents jarring of the spine from the road more than the upright position. Your weight should be distributed between your hands, feet and saddle. This will take weight off your back.

I just finished a 350 mile tour on a Trek 520 touring bike with drop handlebars. I'm 65 and have 3 discs in my lower back with different degrees of injury. I simply do some stretching of the back before and after I ride. Sitting at my computer working causes more discomfort than riding the road bike.

Edit: I forgot to add that the neck doesn't cause me any problems either. I've had arthritis in the neck and shoulders for 20+ years. With exercise it's not a problem holding the neck in a slightly upward position while riding.

I looked at the other back pain thread. I have back pain when reaching too far & bending. I simply can't believe the best position to ride is bent over with drop handlebars. Nope. I'll ride upright where I can see where I'm going or not at all. PS. The drop-handlebar folks don't mention anything about neck pain from that unnatural bent-over position. Or do they have eyes on top of their heads??

In and of itself, cycling is not bad for a healthy back. As a casual observation, it may be that the back pain is the result of exceeding your current level of flexibility and core body strength. If this is so, working to increase your flexibility and core strength would be a reasonable approach. If, in fact, you do want to get "serious" about cycling, it is realistic to expect that your body will need to undergo some cycling specific training and that improvements will occur over time.

With all of this said, it sounds as if you've already made up you mind about what you'll do and won't do. I hope your approach works out. Riding in an upright position has its liabilities too. For example, an upright position can be very painful for those with spinal problems such as a slipped disc or pinched nerves. The bumping and jarring that occurs when in that position can be very painful. Finally, as others have said, a proper fit is imperative for the serious cyclist.

Most of us ride in the "drops" less than 10% of the time. Downhill if you want to go faster, and in the wind.

Some folks ride with visors, which can aggravate the neck problem. You don't stretch your neck back, you tuck your chin in.

BUt, whatever works for you to have an enjoyable ride. That's what it is all about, and why there are so many different bicycle styles.

Have fun.

I have a bad back problems, my doctor has suggested an operation but I am not ready for it. Anyway my friend suggested using a mustache bar. It has worked wonders for me.:love: I ordered mine from Nashbar. The bars are a lot more comfortable than the drop bars

I suffer from a bad back and a very sensitive neck. Five years ago I was told by a physiotherapist I would never be able to ride a DF bike again. I switched to recumbents. It took a bit riding different recumbents to find one my body liked. I rode and toured with that used Gold Rush for 2 years. No back or neck problems. My LBS which is owned by a former bike racer said he could fix a DF so I would ride without pain. I have two DF bikes set up by him. Both have extended stems, straight handle bars and suspension seat posts. With this setup I sit straighter. My back and neck love the setup. There is a little back pain for a day when I switch from one bike to the other, however 3 strong muscle and back pain pills look after that. I just finished a 10 day rail to trail ride and never had an uncomfortable moment.
My key to agony free is to have a professional set up the entire bike including seat and stem height

You need to talk to your doctor about biking and your partilcular back problems. Also, consider a LWB recumbent. The upright seating position and lumbar support built into some of the seats may be a big help. These bikes are made for us older folks.

One thing that virtually eliminated my chronic low back problems is a rowing machine. Using it has toned up my core muscles and, wow, what a difference. Discuss this with your doctor before using one. bk