Road Cycling - Bad Neck & Back and Need Bike Help....

Hey all,

Suffice it to say that I have a congenital bone disease that serverely limits my range of motion in my neck. I cannot sit on a traditional road frame like a Trek 2300 and look ahead of me. I would like to get back into riding a bike, but I am finding it hard to find a bike that will work for me. The latest thing I have been thinking about is something like the Trek 1800C. It looks like it might work if I take the stem and move it up higher, that would seem to give me the ability to safely see ahead of me.
Other than Trek, I have not looked at other bike brands to see what they offer. Do you all have any recommendations as to other bike brands for me to check out that offer road frames that give a really upright riding position?
I would appreciate any ideas and advice you all might have for me.

Nala

Sound like you ought to check out recumbents.

I have a very similar problem and currently ride a Trek 520. The first thing I did was replace the stem with a really long one to bring the bars up to/just above the saddle height.

Hey all,

Suffice it to say that I have a congenital bone disease that serverely limits my range of motion in my neck. I cannot sit on a traditional road frame like a Trek 2300 and look ahead of me. I would like to get back into riding a bike, but I am finding it hard to find a bike that will work for me. The latest thing I have been thinking about is something like the Trek 1800C. It looks like it might work if I take the stem and move it up higher, that would seem to give me the ability to safely see ahead of me.
Other than Trek, I have not looked at other bike brands to see what they offer. Do you all have any recommendations as to other bike brands for me to check out that offer road frames that give a really upright riding position?
I would appreciate any ideas and advice you all might have for me.

Nala
I too have issues with my neck. Arthritis and a recent injury sidelined me for approx. 6 weeks. My Specialized already has a significant rise on the stem and I went to a shorter one to get the bar higher and closer to the seat post allowing a slightly more upright position. Because you have limited range of motion I suggest you actually try a few bikes that might seem to suite you. (Perhaps experiment with an adjustable stem) Something to keep in mind though, I thought I might use my MTB while I was recovering as it allows me to be almost completely upright. What I found is that the upright position transmitted any bump or shock directly up my back vs. my road bike where I more parallel to the ground and bumps and vibration are not as noticeable. Let us know how you make out. Good luck.
Joe H

might want to try this:

http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1&subcat=79&cat=Cruiser+%2824%2Dinch%29

might want to try this:

http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1&subcat=79&cat=Cruiser+%2824%2Dinch%29
Wise guy! :D

you might want to try what they now call bull horn handle bars
the old fashion kind
they allow you to sit up strighter

I have a very similar problem and currently ride a Trek 520. The first thing I did was replace the stem with a really long one to bring the bars up to/just above the saddle height.

I'm new to all of this...
Is there an advantage to doing what Sparrow did (modifying the handlebar position of a traditional road bike), rather than buying a road bike with a MB style riding position like the Specialized Sirrus or Cannondale Road Warrior?

Kevin.

Electra makes bikes with an upright sitting position, but they are recreational city bikes, not for racing or anything.

http://www.electrabike.com/



Hey all,

Suffice it to say that I have a congenital bone disease that serverely limits my range of motion in my neck. I cannot sit on a traditional road frame like a Trek 2300 and look ahead of me. I would like to get back into riding a bike, but I am finding it hard to find a bike that will work for me. The latest thing I have been thinking about is something like the Trek 1800C. It looks like it might work if I take the stem and move it up higher, that would seem to give me the ability to safely see ahead of me.
Other than Trek, I have not looked at other bike brands to see what they offer. Do you all have any recommendations as to other bike brands for me to check out that offer road frames that give a really upright riding position?
I would appreciate any ideas and advice you all might have for me.

Nala

Hey all,

Suffice it to say that I have a congenital bone disease that serverely limits my range of motion in my neck. I cannot sit on a traditional road frame like a Trek 2300 and look ahead of me. I would like to get back into riding a bike, but I am finding it hard to find a bike that will work for me. The latest thing I have been thinking about is something like the Trek 1800C. It looks like it might work if I take the stem and move it up higher, that would seem to give me the ability to safely see ahead of me.
Other than Trek, I have not looked at other bike brands to see what they offer. Do you all have any recommendations as to other bike brands for me to check out that offer road frames that give a really upright riding position?
I would appreciate any ideas and advice you all might have for me.

Nala

The Giant OCR's come with an adjustable stem. You could set that sucker pretty high.

Just bought an Electra Townie 21 for the same reason - lower back surgery, ruptured discs in neck that sometimes cause problems. I love this bike and it doesn't put any strain on your back or neck, rides upright and looks cool... :)



Hey all,

Suffice it to say that I have a congenital bone disease that serverely limits my range of motion in my neck. I cannot sit on a traditional road frame like a Trek 2300 and look ahead of me. I would like to get back into riding a bike, but I am finding it hard to find a bike that will work for me. The latest thing I have been thinking about is something like the Trek 1800C. It looks like it might work if I take the stem and move it up higher, that would seem to give me the ability to safely see ahead of me.
Other than Trek, I have not looked at other bike brands to see what they offer. Do you all have any recommendations as to other bike brands for me to check out that offer road frames that give a really upright riding position?
I would appreciate any ideas and advice you all might have for me.

Nala

First step would be to try raising the bars until they're AT LEAST as high as the saddle. That can be done pretty easily with an aftermarket stem, assuming you buy the bike to fit (a surprising number of people are on frames that are too small, at least by traditional standards). There's a good section on bike fit on the Rivendell site (www.rivbike.com) that will explain some of that.
Otherwise, why not a recumbent, or some kinda-intermediate step like a Bike E or Electra Townie (Towny?). I've ridden a Bike E quite a bit, and I think I could live with it. Don't know much about the Towny, but a friend has one and likes it.