Fifty Plus (50+) - Season to Season change in riding position?

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Wildwood
05-15-12, 05:11 PM
So the backstory goes like this --
Last summer and Fall was a great time for getting more mileage and enjoying the bike. Winter ski season = just fine. In March I strained a back muscle while working in the yard; gave it the ice and easy treatment for a few days and cycled gently with fewer miles for several weeks into April. But the back still had that nagging ache which I attributed to the earlier strain. I tried lowering the saddle (about 1 cm, maybe more) on 2 favorite riders. Pain diminished to near zero.

With the great weather of late here in the PNW, I pulled other bikes to ride and suddenly the back ache starts again. So I've now lowered all my saddles and the ache is mostly gone.

My question is: Has anyone had a change of position from one riding season to the next? At 60+ I'm not getting any taller but maybe my legs shrunk over the winter?

Can't say is pain is 100% gone, but lower saddle height results in a major improvement.

10 Wheels
05-15-12, 05:16 PM
You," I strained a back muscle while working in the yard".

Now you are adjusting your saddle to adjust for the injury.
George
05-15-12, 05:37 PM
Yes, I had to raise my handlebars.

dendawg
05-15-12, 06:22 PM
I was feeling some knee and back pain on long rides (80 miles). Took the bike in to get the fit checked and the shop raised the saddle and bars almost 2cm. In the 5 years since getting the bike I've lost 35 lbs. Doing a century Sunday so I'll find out how 9 hours of riding feels.
Bikey Mikey
05-15-12, 07:57 PM
Physical Therapy can do wonders to speed up healing and help prevent further injury.
stapfam
05-16-12, 01:11 AM
I ride with my bars 4" below the saddle and is a position I have evolved into as my fitness improved and I adjusted to road bikes. However I have not done a great deal of riding over the winter so set one bike up to raise the bars by 2". My back has been giving a bit of a problem due to lack of exercise and that has got worse since I retired. Never realised how much mobility working gave me. But I am now ready for those bars to lower again. Still have the back ache but on the bike it is not apparent while riding. Being stretched out over the lower bars will hopefully improve it more as I am running into problems towards the end of a long ride.