Back pain related to saddle fore/aft position
04-08-07, 10:25 AM
#1
ride, paint, ride
Thread Starter
Back pain related to saddle fore/aft position
I am so confused. Just read this in an article on Roadcycling.com:
"When climbing or pushing a big gear, moving slightly back on the saddle will decrease strain on back. Back pain while sprinting can be helped by moving slightly forward on the saddle."
https://www.roadcycling.com/cgi-bin/a.../view.cgi/3/67
This seems counter-intuitive to me. Is this true? I've been trying to resolve back pain that I mainly get on rides longer than 50 miles that involve a lot of climbing and big gears. I thought that by moving the saddle FORWARD and opening the hip angle a little, the strain would be reduced. But this article seems to say just the opposite, that moving it BACK would decrease strain. Is that right? I don't get why that would be true.
BTW, yes, I'm doing core strength and stretching exercises religiously.
"When climbing or pushing a big gear, moving slightly back on the saddle will decrease strain on back. Back pain while sprinting can be helped by moving slightly forward on the saddle."
https://www.roadcycling.com/cgi-bin/a.../view.cgi/3/67
This seems counter-intuitive to me. Is this true? I've been trying to resolve back pain that I mainly get on rides longer than 50 miles that involve a lot of climbing and big gears. I thought that by moving the saddle FORWARD and opening the hip angle a little, the strain would be reduced. But this article seems to say just the opposite, that moving it BACK would decrease strain. Is that right? I don't get why that would be true.
BTW, yes, I'm doing core strength and stretching exercises religiously.
04-08-07, 08:08 PM
#2
just another gosling
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I don't know about the central question of your post. I do know that you can generate more pedal force by pushing back on the saddle, because your leg can develop more force with a smaller knee angle. You can develop more power at higher cadence, and higher cadence is facilitated by moving forward on the saddle. That's why you see TT riders "on the rivet."
I would try to resolve the back pain by training myself to spin more and push big gears less. I'm sure you've already checked bike fit. You might try lowering your saddle 1/8" for a couple of weeks and see if that helps any. Also, doing high rep squats over the winter for several years made a big difference for me. It's a little late in the season for starting anything like that.
I would try to resolve the back pain by training myself to spin more and push big gears less. I'm sure you've already checked bike fit. You might try lowering your saddle 1/8" for a couple of weeks and see if that helps any. Also, doing high rep squats over the winter for several years made a big difference for me. It's a little late in the season for starting anything like that.
04-09-07, 10:45 AM
#3
ride, paint, ride
Thread Starter
Thanks so much for the reply. I agree that more pedal force results from moving back on the saddle, I just didn't see how that could reduce strain on the back. By utilizing the glutes more in the pushing, which happens when we move back (and therefore bend a little lower), we sure get more power, but those muscles tie into the lower back--so I wouldn't expect that to ease the strain.
I'm sure trying to spin more, even on the climbs. Just re-geared the bike so I can have a higher cadence while climbing. Did lower the saddle too, gradually over the last 2 months. That has helped, indeed.
I'm sure trying to spin more, even on the climbs. Just re-geared the bike so I can have a higher cadence while climbing. Did lower the saddle too, gradually over the last 2 months. That has helped, indeed.
