CyclinFool is right. You do sound like a candidate for a "Professional Fit." I hurt my back when I was doing martial arts at 42 to the point where I could no longer continue doing it. I have not done any type of physical exercise since then because of the back issues. I can't run because my knees start hurting after a day or so and they hurt for several days afterward. My wife got me a comfort bike for my 63rd birthday and everything changed.

I have posted about professional fittings on other threads, so I may as well do it here. You have to be very careful what you call "Professional Fitting." Some shops have fittings that are merely sit on the bike and lets get the seat height correct. Others have a myriad of tools to do all sorts of measurements and make adjustments accordingly. Those are not really "Professional Fittings", although they may claim to be. If you want a true "Professional Fit" then you need to check out this web site. It doesn't get any more professional than this. If there is a bike shop in your area (even if you have to drive a little to get to one) that provides this service, do yourself and your body a favor and get it fit right the first time.

All of the fitters are certified by the company and must have their certifications hanging on the wall of the fitting area. The fitting is not a one time thing. It takes several one to one-and-a-half hour sittings and you ride for a few weeks in-between. Your fitting is done in your riding clothes and shoes (if you are clipping in). The cost is pretty much set by the company at $250.00, but if you are going to spend that much money on a road bike, the cost of the fitting shouldn't burn a bigger hole in your pocket then the cost of the bike.

I don't work for the company or any bike shop that provides the service, but I have had the fitting. I purchased my first road bike at 64 and it has a compact geometry (angled down tube) and medium frame. When I bought it, I took it out riding and had aches and pains all over because of the posture and the fact that the bike was not fitted correctly. I was very disappointed and was about to sell the bike and stick with my hybrid. I happen to be browsing the internet one day for different bike shops in my area just to see what they carried incase I needed to know where to find something that my bike shop didn't have. I saw this ad for this Retul fitting and checked it out further. I again saw it in Bicycling Magazine and found that this is the fitting method used for the pro cyclist in the Tour de France and at Lance Armstrong's camp. I am by no means that caliper of rider but I thought, "these guys have to have a perfect fit or they couldn't be riding as much as they do and not be in constant pain."

I went and talked to the fitter for around an hour to find out more and then went for the fitting. The fitter, in my case is a semi-pro road racer and has several podium trophies for state competitions so he was not just a sales guy at the bike shop. It took me four visits and three months to get myself and my bike to as perfect a fit as I was ever going to get. I am now doing at at least one distance (100K and century rides) charity ride a month and have already signed up for 5 more at the end of summer. I can ride the same bike that gave me aches and pains through out my body and not feel a thing when I get done with a ride. Occasionally, I tend to straighten my arms and put a bit too much pressure on my hands and they start going numb, but that is me and not the bike's fault.