asemargaret

k, im new to mtbing but is lower back pain normal? anything i can do to tweek my bike because i dont want to kill my back by the time im 30. is it just me or am i gonna have to suck it up and ride?-thanks

alanbikehouston

If you have not been riding on a regular basis, your bike may not be as strong or as flexible as it will be after a year of riding every day. As a temporary solution to backpain, get the seat and handlebars closer to each other so you can sit more upright. Your back should be at about at 45 % angle...if your nose is down by the stem, you are too stretched out.

Some handlebars are shaped like an up-side-down U. That brings the grips back closer to your waist, and lets you sit more upright. That also puts more of your weight on your "sit bones" and less on your hands and wrists. Work with your LBS to get a fit that works for you. As time goes on, you may be able to handle being lower, and more stretched out.

Try to ride at least every other day. That will help you get your muscles in shape. Riding just on Saturday is a recipe for being sore.

mtbikerinpa

Also do not forget to stand up periodically and stretch a while after riding. Not like yoga class or anything, just a few minor stretches.

xylx

Few Bike shops set up bikes correctly for women in my experience. And there aren't but a handful of bikes built properly for women (see e.g. Santa Cruz Juliana). Assuming you're riding a fully suspended bike, if not buy one or at least a shock post, it's probably a fit issue. Try getting a different stem that's say a 10-15 degree stem and shorter so you aren't leaning over as far. You can also slide the seat forward a bit past center to shorten up the "cockpit", not much though or you risk hurting your knees. If you're running a flat bar replace it with a riser. Get some fatter tires and don't inflate 'em as much. A 2.4" or 2.25" will slow you down (cept on sand and snow) but can give you up to an inch of "travel." My boss is 48 years old, has a bad back and rides a hardtail. I told him the other day, every day he rides that thing in the mountains is one less day he'll be riding after age 60. Think of it that way and a FS bike is cheap insurance.

phantomcow2

https://www.utahmountainbiking.com/goodies/backache.htm

hebrew_rider

both me, and my old man have lower back pains (im 13, he's 47), and we find streching before a long climb is extremely useful.

asemargaret

yeah! its not just back pain in general but lower back pain and i felt it for a good 24 hours afterwards. and its not just bc im new to the sport, my boyfriend is an avid cyclist and feels it all the time.