recumbent bikes and bad backs
 

My wife has a bulging disk in her lower back and can no longer ride a regular bike. My question is would she be able to ride a recumbent?

mostly likely. But there are a lot of seat options and many riders customize those further by cutting forming and layering different padding to fit them.
Some are lucky, like me and can ride different seats in different positions with different padding and not really have any issues.

the further the recline, the easier the ride seems to be on your back and butt.

T

Well, there's only one way to find out...

Fairfield Cyclery, Bicycles, Tricycles and Recumbents, Fairfield Ohio
Peddlers Trikes! Recumbent Trike SuperStore!

Everybody's back is different, and there are many types of recumbents. There's no way of telling without test rides.

Tumatan, there's no way of knowing until she rides a few. Personally, I've had great luck riding my LWB EZ Sport. I've had lower back and neck problems for years. I finally had to give up riding my DFs. I initially had problems with my back when riding the bent until I added lumbar support to the seat. I rode 48 miles last Saturday with zero back or neck pain. I tried riding my Trek Dohmane 2 weeks ago and couldn't think of anything but getting off the bike after ten miles.

You'll find that there are as many seating positions and types of seats available for bents as there are people to ride them. If the first one doesn't feel right or causes pain, don't give up and try as many as it takes to find the one that works for your wife.

Bob

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I have an EZ Sport also and am very comfortable riding it. I solved my DF problems by raising the handlebars enough so I could be upright. You might need to add longer cables.

Yes, an Easy Sport helped with my back problems, too. I found that by keeping the mounting straps on the seat back tight, the seat had fairly good lumbar support without extra padding. bk

I have been on recumbent bike forums ever since I got my first bent in 2005. I have read any number of reports about people with bad backs and necks that have found riding a bent worked for them.

But--------------the number one best advice of course is to ride several and find out for your self.

I think LWB are easier on the back than SWB, but that's just me.

some offer suspension but they cost more .

HP Velotechnik - Main page (recumbent)

I ride both and see no difference. Depends on the bikes and the person.

I would consult a neurosurgeon before making any decisions. I road a LWB because I always had a bad back. After rupturing a disc L4 I had to have surgery. When I asked the surgeon about the seating position, he said it was actually a worse than a standard bike. I was shocked. He said it is better to be bent over forward than backward. Puts less pressure on the lower back. Long story short. Consult a doctor. I road a bent for 5 years and who knows what kind of damage I had been doing.

Second Opinion
 

Before I would decide, I would get more than one Drs. opinion. Preferably a Dr. that bikes now and then, and has ridden a recumbent. I had L4 fixed in 1994, If it weren't for my recumbent, I wouldn't be riding at all, at least not regularly. A DF beats up your neck and shoulders, and curves your back uncomfortably (at least for me) if you are in a decent aerodynamic position, not so with a properly adjusted 'bent. For sure, you need the correct fit of seat to your back. It would do anyone well to explore all the options, and opinions before deciding. If I am doing damage, my body certainly doesn't tell me about it, except for weary legs at the end of a long ride.

-fab

That is the reason I quit riding diamond frames is back pain and wrist and elbow pains my bent has salvaged me from getting ready to quit riding to riding daily and wanting more and longer rides I use a sling seat and I got a built in lumbar support on my seat the avatar is what I ride

the back problems created from riding a df is the reason I switched to a recumbent It has a sling seat with built in lumbar support
here is what I ride.