HIPCHIP

I posted this in the MTB section also, but since all you folks are MY group, thought I'd post here also.

I'm almost 54 (Now 5'7" as I lost an inch with my back going bad, and a little chubbier than I should be), rode/raced dirt-bikes from age 10-50. Broke the little bones on the right side and center of my low back (L-2 through L-5 transverse processes and a couple of the lumbar spinous processes) in a MX crash in 1980. I was recently diagnosed with a herniation of all 5 lumbar disks and an L-5 vertebrae that is slipping and sliding on L-4 and S-1 (the 1980 crash coming back to bite me). Doc advised no more motorcycles.

Started riding road bicycles last May, and had gotten up to 30-40+ miles on my rides averaging 14-16+ MPH (2-4 rides a week, walking 7-8 miles on the other days as the Doc advised no running). Last Aug I attempted to do my first MTB race. Nice track, mostly smooth roads. My MTB bike is a 18 year old full suspension bike (so about 1"+ of travel). I sucked that day (98 degrees out that day too. I was well hydrated) and it turns out I was coming down with the flu, so a couple of days later I was sick in bed and my lumbar disks blew out.

I asked my doc the other day if I should, or shouldn't, ride MTB anymore and if the flu could have caused the disk to be irritated. He seemed a bit confused on my question but stated that a virus could have irritated my disk and that he was impressed I was riding my mountain bike (I told him I was riding "Road" and wanted to know about MTB, so no definitive answer as to riding the MTB, but not a "NO". He encouraged me to keep exercising).

I know that everybody is different, but was wondering if anybody else has a bad low back, similar to mine, that is able to ride on easy trails? I'm thinking with getting a new Trail MTB with 4"-5" of travel and riding one day a week off road to cross train for my road riding.

The Doc also recommended to continue walking because it helps load the bone and builds calcium, so curious if Doc's of others have recommended MTB for similar reasons?

Just trying to get a consensus before dropping $ on a good 4"-5" Trail suspension MTB as well as advice from others in my predicament.

Thanks for any help.

big john

I have injured my back falling of the motorcycle and the mtb and I ride a cheap 4" mtb with a 5" fork. It's surprisingly plush and I can imagine a better fitting bike would be even better. I would probably stay with a 4" full squish bike. I'm high up as it is and the extra height of a 5" bike adds to it.

The Weak Link

I don't think most docs are terribly knowledgeable about MTB specific stresses and strains.

My physical therapist is an avid MTBer and when my back is acting up he tells me to cool it on the trails.

Then he calls me a wuss.

You can't win for losing.

DX-MAN

I have three herniated lumbar discs, going back to '03.

I don't own a road bike, or a car. My MTB is my transport 10-1/2 months out of the year (nasty surface conditions force me onto the bus).

Last fall, during my vacation, I was only able to get out and ride 2 days, and one of those was the annual MUP circuit (32 miles out and back). I set a new personal best that day, doing the route in 1:49:30. But for the entire next week, I was in so much pain, I believed I'd popped #4. So those days of intensity are behind me. I'll still go hard, just not THAT hard.

I don't do extreme, although I like the movies/DVD's that show it. I take too long to heal. But the capabilities of my bike allow me to push areas I wouldn't otherwise do....

HIPCHIP

My back blew in Aug and it laid me up for about 2.5 months, so I definitely don't want that to happen again. I was hoping that a good 4"-5" suspension bike on easy trails would be good. I hope to do some Masters Road Racing this year and have heard that doing some MTB stuff would be really beneficial, so would really like to try. Just afraid of dropping over a $grand only to find out after the first ride that I can't, so just hoping others are like me and can do nice easy off-road rides. I know I can't do any Downhill stuff or aggressive jumps, just plan on doing easy cow-trailing.

BluesDawg

I rode a hardtail Specialized Rockhopper with a Thudbuster suspension seatpost for a couple of years fairly aggressively on singletrack trails and it was killing my back. I have a herniated L4 disk which responds very well to road riding. I switched to a Stumpjumper FSR with 120mm travel (4.7") at both ends and the difference has been amazing. I rarely have any back pain from riding now and only after really long and really hard rides. I'd go for all the travel you can get. I have a friend who is 62 and a very competitive XC racer with a terrible back. His main bike has over 6" travel at both ends.
MTB suspension is not just longer travel than your old bike. The quality of the travel and control is worlds better now.

rumrunn6

when in doubt, buy a bike

loose weight; walk and massage. take care of yourself cuz your body is just gonna get older

Crank57

I had a spinal fusion at L2, 3 & 4 about 46 years ago when I was 13 years old. I had not broken the little side bones/wings off the vertebrae but they quit growing when I was 2 or 3 years old and were almost nonexistant. I also had herniated disks. I only mention this because the fusion operation completely solved all my back problems and I have done any and every thing I have wanted to do. Back problems are a non-issue for me, so I can say that there are ways to fix a back like yours. My brother , who is 70, just had the same operation done on his hack and is recovering nicely. The proceedure is much different today than it was in 1963. I was in a body cast for 6 months and had to wear a lumbar brace for over a year. My brother was home from the hospital and walking in 3 weeks. Today they have mesh cage they wrap around the fusion site and the bone grows into the mesh over time. Anyway, there are ways to fix these problems that really work. It troubles me to hear people talk about back problems that never go away, but all they do to correct the problem is visit a chiropractor or take pain meds.

big john

Maybe you could borrow one for a day, or rent one. Sometime the manufacturers have demo days or demo bikes at the dealers.

It's fun and a nice change of pace from the road, especially when the weather is less than ideal for road riding.

Wogster

Ask in the local forum for your state if there are any bike shows in your area, then plan on going, the companies usually take their top of the line stuff, and some shows have a "course" you can try, usually just a big pile of dirt. Demo a few bikes and see how you do.

jdon

I rode an Epic up to a couple of months ago and had nasty back problems after every ride. I have tried an Enduro and a Stumpjumper with similar results. It is more the movement on the bike that affects my back pain. I have similar issues with a tough Cross ride. The road presents no pain at all so that is now my riding of choice.

You have a FS bike so use that as a guide but try others to see if you still experience the pain. I have similar back issues to you so I suspect you will.

Let me temper that by saying, it also depends on your riding style. I did all singletrack requiring jumps and bunny hops, lots of rocks and roots etc. If you ride an MTB but on nice prepared trails, you may have no issues on a good FS bike.

HIPCHIP

they actually had the demo day back when my back blew at the end of '09, so nothing set up around my area for now.

HIPCHIP

I have talked with several Docs about doing the fusion surgery, and they advised that to fix my back would be worse than to leave it alone, so as long as I can go out and do things, they don't recommend the surgery yet. I was advised that with the surgery, I would still be in pain and that I wouldn't be able to twist or bend over, so surgery is my very last resort.

Sixty Fiver

I do as much as I can when I can but don't do the hard core single track and off road riding I used to... have nerve damage at my L4 that makes standing and walking painful and debilitating.

There is no surgical fix that wouldn't make this worse than it is so it is all about lifestyle and moderation.

Ride a hardtail and like to mash it (not good for my back) was thinking a big squishy bike I could sit and spin on might be worth checking out.

Physiotherapist is a cyclist and encourages riding with moderation as does my physician (cyclist) and neurologist.