Road Cycling - lower back pain

I just got back from an 18 mile ride. I know 18 miles isnt very long but it is only my second ride. I started to get some lowerback pain around the 15th mile. As i said this is only my second ride, the first was only 6 miles last night. I did have a good fitting done and the bike felt good up until the very end. Could this just be a "breaking in period" for my body? Did any one else experience this in the beginning? Should I be really concerned bout the fit right now or give it a few more rides? Thanks for the help

What kind of bike are you riding?Maybe a change to a raised stem could help.Its rough on new cyclist being on a bike your real bent over.

The pain you are having is NORMAL when you are just starting, you'll have more pains in other places. Just stretch after you're done. Do some sit-ups and/or crunches to balance the stress to your body. Find a book about stretches and strength exercises at the library, you may even get lucky and find something for cycling.
Usually there is a chapter or two about stretches and strength building in books about bicycle race training,

Ride Strong
Pat

When you say the bike was well fitted, was it fitted for a new rider, or for a guy who has been riding all his life. Many new riders try and adopt the horizontal back of an experienced racer, but like any new activity, you need to grow into this.
If you feel you are stretching down to reach the bars, maybe they are too low. What is the vertical distance between your saddle and the bars?

See this discussion: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8207&highlight=lower+back

Originally posted by Sterling
I just got back from an 18 mile ride. I know 18 miles isnt very long but it is only my second ride.

For a 2nd ride, 18 miles IS a lot for most folks. You are asking your body to do new things in new ways, and using muscles that you haven't used before. Just relax a little and most likely your body will get used to what you are doing. Don't expect too much too soon.

And. have fun!!:D

Stretch BEFORE you ride.
Get some good BACK and Quad stretches.
Loosening up your joints helps a lot.

Take two Ibprofin (or other anti inflammatory) when you start. It helps prevent the the pain.

Raise the stem. I raised mine two years ago and never went back. While riding aero position is "cool" the benefits under 20 mph are not worth suffering for.

Ride on the tops of the bars when you can.

Stand up and stretch when you ride every 15 minutes, for about 30 seconds.

Change positions regularly.

I have had back pain most of my life. Frankly, stretching it out several times a week (takes about 5 minutes) and raising the stem remove most of the issues.