Is it the trainer or something else?
 

Hey everyone! I am completely new to cycling and looking for some trainer advice.

A little background:
I've had 5 back surgeries. I've been riding my mountain bike here and there over the last year averaging 12-16 miles without any problems with the thought that I would upgrade to a road bike for longer more intense rides, if my back could handle it.

Fast Forward to now:
I bought a Kickr Snap 2 weeks ago, bought a new saddle and had the bike shop adjust it to the proper height. Went home and over the next week managed to ride 4-5 times for 30 minutes each at my normal speed. After this week I have found that I have tremendous back pain and sciatica that weren't a problem before. I had to take back the Kickr because of the return policy while I could figure out 1, if I can recover and 2, if there is a different trainer option.

My question is, do you think it's the trainer? If I can ride on my mountain bike with my seat the way it was and be fine outside, is it possible the rigidness of the stiff trainer was the cause? I've seen trainers like the Rock and Roll out there and wonder if that motion is better at transmitting the forces into the bike instead of up into my back. I'm curious if anyone has had an experience like this because I can't seem to find anything out there.

I really want to get into long distance road cycling but need to figure out if my back can handle it before I invest in a $3k cycle.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

For the record, I LOVED my 5 sessions on the trainer despite the pain. I couldn't wait to get home and get on each night :)

Riding a trainer and riding the stoker position on a tandem are the two most uncomfortable forms of cycling out there. It's because you can/don't move around as much on them as you would on a bicycle outside.

You can get your trainer to be more comfortable by experimenting with saddles on the bicycle you put in the trainer, by raising the height of the front wheel of the bicycle, and by putting aerobars on the handlebars of the bicycle you put in the trainer, and by making a point of shifting your position and standing periodically.

I do "commercial intervals" with mine where I sit relatively upright and watch the show, but then when the commercial comes on, I go onto the aerobars and ride as hard as I can for the duration of the commercial. Then I sit up again when it is over. That provides me with some position variety.

Thanks Machka. I guess I'm wondering if there might be a big difference between a "locked in" trainer vs something like the Rock and Roll Kinetic which seems to be more forgiving than driving the forces back up into my back. Obviously I guess the only way to really know is to buy one and try it out...and hope for a good return policy :)

Before blaming the trainer, I'd suspect addle height.

I'll venture that the combination of body posture and saddle height had your hips rocking as you pedaled, putting twist into your lumbar spine and causing inflammation and pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Possibly the rigidity on the trainer contributed, but I doubt it would have caused an issue if all else were right.

Also, consider that many or even most people ride differently on trainers vs the road. Differences in cadence and pedal pressure, can change your style a bit, and that may have been the issue for you.

Yeah, I'm really hoping that's only the case. If it was the trainer I would imagine there would be a lot more information out there about the rigidness and it's effect on the back and more people going after rollers or the rock and roll trainer :) Looks like a little trial and error ahead of me intermixed with a little discomfort :foo:

"UPgrade to a road bike"?

Heathen.

HAHA! That came out totally wrong :) How about, "Add to my arsenal of bikes"?

:thumb:

I can get with that.

I have had similar issues in the past. I have had extensive back issues as I had a microdiscectomy on my L4-L5 in late 2013 from a severely herniated disc. After a lot of experimentation I have determined what works and doesn't for me both on the bike and on the trainer. I have also found out that what ever happens on the road bike outside, is amplified on the trainer.

In my particular case, I have noted that once set at the correct height, I have to tilt my seat slightly nose down, and when I ride I need to roll my pelvis forward in order to be comfortable in my back on longer rides. I am talking 2-3 degrees forward tilt on the seat. Just last week, I tried leveling my seat up and one 90 minute ride on the trainer and my back was hurting again. Change it to nose down ans instant relief.

The results have been great as I have just ridden the most miles of any year this year (4600 miles) because my back hasn't been hurting. I have also got into the best shape of my life at 57 years old. I have dropped weight and gotten much faster on the bike. I have also done several long rides on both road and on gravel of 4 hours plus.

This has been my solution and I like to share it with others who have back issues.

Jackmen,
Thank you for sharing! It's great to hear a story like yours and 4600 miles is amazing, congratulations!