Little Leo

After riding every day during the whole summer break my body is dead. Today has been the worst.

Yesterday I went for a 47 mile road ride (on my MTB) and today for a trail ride of about 16 miles. I can’t walk, my back kills, my hamstrings are tight and of course, my butt hurts. I have had back pain after rough rides but was noy too concerned. I tried different positions on the bike with different measurement fittings and still hasn’t helped.

I talked to a friend who raced HT many years and was very good. She now has compressed discs and other back problems. Her husband who raced also has back problems too. They also do not have kids. They may not want too, I will never ask. But is there the possibility that maybe they can’t? Now they both ride fullys but still don’t ride as much as they want to.

So the question is how a hardtail can affect your body health? If anyone can give me a link to some info that would be great. I am young still but I don’t want to be a crippled old man.

yobtah

I don't have any links to actual studies or anything, but I have noticed that my butt hurts more after a relatively short ride (15 miles or less) on my HT MTB than it does after a longer ride (20 to 30 miles) on my road bike.

This surprised me at first because the MTB has a softer saddle and much larger, softer tires. My road bike is a Trek 1200 with a completely aluminum frame (no impact absorbing carbon seat stays) and much harder tires.

I now try to ride the road bike on longer paved rides as much as possible (imagine that!) and the MTB on unpaved trails.

roccobike

Sorry, I don't know a web site, but my recommendation is see a really good Orthopediast. As someone who put off addressing spinal pain and had to pay for it with two fused discs, don't put it off. Back pain is not something to be evaluated on a web site. If you're young, chances are it can be addressed with minor treatment by a professional. As an example, I now do exercises to keep my neck muscles loose. I learned this in physical therapy.
Oh yeah, I forgot to add, ALL my spinal problems occurred BEFORE I took up any cycling. After my operation I took up mountain biking and road biking. I took up cycling to try and keep my spine in shape.
Ironically, of the two types of cycling, Mountain biking causes me almost no spinal pain. I can't say that about Road biking. When I mountain bike, I don't do jumps and there are some technical obsticles I just pass on.
As for your freinds that have compressed discs, without describing the type of mountain biking they did, its hard to say what caused their problems. Perhaps it is as simple as not riding correctly or at a bad angle or it may be they're taking 6 foot jumps regularly.
I've made changes to my riding posture to help my back and neck. Both my hardtail and my dually have high lift stems that bring the bars up and back toward me providing a less aggressive posture. That puts me in a more upright position. If I do take a shock, its distributed amongst more discs with less impact.

mtnbiker66

It's not so bad. Most people just feel sorry for me.

Little Leo

Thanks for the help. My bike is no way fitted for comfort. It's set up for XC race with the saddle up my hinder and the bars out below the seat hight. I am going to continue to race but may have to change my set up.

My friends are/were WORS champs and I think she was National champ at one time. She is retired but still can pedal a bike pretty fast.

Thats good to know. When Im old I am going to run peoples feet over with my wheel chair and wack 'em with my cane.

Dannihilator

It's forced me to full suspension, which I'm glad that I made the switch.

Flash

I'm no MD, but clearly you've overtrained. No reason to kill yourself, especially if you're experiencing such serious pain. The best way to remedy the situation is to listen to what your body is telling you. If you're dead tired, take time off. If pain remains after time off -- hello orthopedist.

2manybikes

How often do you have recovery days?

C Law

are you implying hardtail riding leads to infertility?

Or are you saying that their back pain is severe enough to preclude coitus?

Maybe you should suggest to them that they try the 'spooning' position. It receives high marks for receiver and giver comfort.

pinkrobe

Little Leo

Sorry I should have elaborated on riding every day.

I am on my bike every day. I like to try get on the bike for a work out Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On those day its ether road or trails. Saturday and Sunday is extra fun because we just ride at a leisurely pace.

I get on my bike on the other days just for 15- 20min. Going to the grocery store or to friends houses and sometimes around the block for no apparent reason.

All I am thinking is if my bike is causing the back pain.

Little Leo

If it can happen to road riders, why not us?

C Law

it happens to road riders? please elaborate

Little Leo

Infertility can't happen? My uncle who rides a lot can't have babies. Is this really just a myth?

But back to the original topic HT riding can cause back problem?

Tra!l !

Uh Oh. Some one tell the Mythbusters!

CarLo

thats maybe because he sits down a lot. I always stand up if i see bumps ahead.

boyvirgil

STRETCH

guys! your muscles are doing a hell of a job pulling you up and down on those pedals!!!

i've only started stretching a week ago under the instruction of my lady with whom i've been jogging..
the change is truly unbelievable!

my flexibility is being realized anew by an enormous factor, my body feels lighter and stronger, and my posture is improved.
bottom line is that, as a really active dude, a faithful stretching routine IS THE SYRUP I'VE BEEN NEEDING ON MY BACON.

seriously!!!!

OH YEAH, ALSO, to reply to the original post, its been heaven on the hamstrings. man, like, getting inside those muscles and breathing into those extensions is a new form of life.
before AND after exercise, this is what your meat is begging for. give them bones some room to shake.

mtnbk3000

somw guy a while back decided men should ride with saddles with cut off tips(don't know how else to decribe them), so that you can still have babies. (i don'r beleive him, as long as i am not sitting on my privates, or they are not smushed in any way i am good.