Originally Posted by SpikedLemon

(n.b. just started road biking this year w/ Synapse)

I lowered the stem on my bike from the height from the shop as I found myself most often in the drops once I got accustomed to the bike and figured that I should be able to drop it. So I flipped the stem and dropped from 5 spacers to 1 under the stem (trying to roughly position the hoods at the height of the drops).

The first couple rides were pretty awkward and I spent 99% of the time in the hoods but by the fourth, or so, I was starting to get back into the drops comfortably.

Now that I've got a half dozen rides (>2h) with the lowered front end: I've noticed that my mid/lower back muscles are rather sore when I sit up straight at my desk (at work) or, worse, slouching. It was very noticeable while on an airplane last week for work and driving. It doesn't feel painful just a little stiff & sore.


Back to the point of the post, am I working back muscles here in a good way or am I just feeling old and should take it easier?