Originally Posted by
staehpj1
Back problems are not all alike, but...
You just might want to rethink this one. An upright position means any road shocks go right up a spine that is in a poor position to absorb them. A more horizontal spine generally has a much easier time. To pull off the more aggressive position does require that you maintain good core strength and that you ease into the lower position gradually.
I know that I had pretty serious back problems in the past and tried an upright posture for a while. In my case it was a big mistake and I almost gave up cycling until figured out that I needed to slowly worked my way back to a more aggressive posture. I went from thinking I could no longer ride to doing a coast to coast and other longish tours and NOT using an upright posture was one of the key things that allowed it.
Same story here... a few years back I had two VERY painful back surgeries, and now I don't have a disc in L4-L5. The nerves are still pinched, so I will have pain the rest of my life... and it comes and goes, but one effect is it rather abruptly ended my running career. Once I took up cycling again, I rode a walmart bike for a little bit which worked just fine but gave me leg pain after 11ish miles... due to the upright riding position. Luckily I got a road bike shortly thereafter, and ever since I've become addicted to the one strenuous physical activity that I can do that actually makes my back BETTER instead of worse. But only if I keep my aggressive riding position.