Riding the bike in the past had always helped with my stiff back as well. But where I am at right now any pushing of any kind triggers the knife being stuck in my right cheek feeling. I have resigned myself to the fact that I will not be doing cross this season and am hoping to at least be able to get back on the bike before end of the year start building up what I have lost. I'm glad to see some have had the herniated disc without surgery and are riding again that is what I am hoping for. My problem is as soon as I see progress with the exercises I push a little more and wake up the next day regretting it, and that is not even on the bike yet.