Originally Posted by
koala logs
It might solve the lower back pain by opening the hip angle
BUT the adjustment could cause increased pressure on the arms and cause shoulder pains, hand numbness. Only riders with slim build like pros can find such adjustment comfortable with their high w/kg and proportionally low torso weight.
You can also rotate the lower back to open the hip angle by reducing reach of the aero bar or both aero bar and drop bar by reducing stem length. It has the advantage of not only easing the lower back pressure but also unloading your arms even more. You need to get used to a shorter reach, it takes a bit of adjustment period. Fortunately, it's not that long. 1 to 2 weeks of getting used to shorter reach will often be enough.
If you read the other posts, she is a student and does not have a lot of money. Yes, there are tradeoffs. Money being one. Lowering a saddle is free. The toes pointed down and knee bend tell me her saddle is too high, which is as likely a contributor is lower back pain as any such as improper pedal technique, lack of conditioning, and excessive reach. I did not go and copy and paste all of what I wrote on her other threads. This is clearly a bandaid approach like any internet inquiry on fit.
Edit: also important to remember that Jen is a triathlete interested in speed. The big gap from her arms to torso is not helping in the aero department. In an ideal world, she would be properly fit and sitting on an aero TT bike with a steeper seat tube angle, slacker head tube angle, and an easily adjustable cockpit. Pushing the saddle forward will also effectively lower the seat, her saddle is too high and she is reaching too much. Exercise will help but a better fit will help increase speed with better comfort, better aero, and probably more power.