This is update on the fidgeting and tweaking Ive done to resolve my back problems short of going to the doctor. (God forbid Id ever have to go to one of those )
The problems started last year during the race season when I started being plagued with it even on training and fun rides. I'm 31 and at the time was riding a 2001 Aluminum Stumpjumper Comp hardtail mtb. I had a flat bar and aluminum seat post.
Things that were recommended and things I tried.
Crunches - Lower back pain is often attributed to weakness. Makes sense but to lazy to work out.
Thudbuster - Not ready to cross that line.
Full suspension bike - Actually bought one still had problems.
Steel frame - Bought one. Ummmmm steel but back problems still processed. Ride smoothed out a bit though.
Saddle - Get a new one. Didnt but i did slide it forward just a bit. I'm running specialized body geometry pro and on the little measure slider thing on the rail i pushed it forward about an inch.[
Ti flat bar - Tried it. Ummmm Ti is nice and smoothed out the front but didnt help my back any.
Raise or Lower Seat post height - Although I felt the seat post height felt good for my spin I started by lowering it. Errr wrong had to used a heating pad continuously for the next week. Raised seat post height not bad. I marked where I started, where I went down and now where I went up (up is easy use electricians tape for the up part.) This helped a little and I even noticed a little more control cornering due to the different center of gravity but it didnt clear the problem up.
Riser bar - I bought a cheep aluminum Kore brand 1" riser. I felt and noticed a difference almost immediately. Rides that were bugging my back in a short amount of time were not really bothering me. Ive only raced it twice and although towards then end of the races Ive noticed pain but it hasnt been debilitating like is was with the flat bar. This has by far been the best solution. Im thinking about testing the 1 1/2 riser next but that is about three experiments down the line. Also going to try a Ti or Carbon seat post.
I have recently been reunited with my Aluminum stumpjumper but this time its the new 2003 model. Ive been sold on steel frames and riser bars and had no intention of building up the stumpy but decided to go ahead because shes so damn good looking. Besides its light, fast and responsive. I thought it would make a good short distance TT bike or a backup muddy course bike.
Built it up similar to the first one but I put the Ti flat bar on it because thats what I had lying around. Errrrrr after an hour and a half in rootie MP I felt like an invalid again and had to use ibuprophen, a heating pad and large quantities of beer to dissipate the pain.
So in an effort to Chi-chi up the Dragon I bought a Titec Ti 1 riser for it and switched the Kore Aluminum 1 riser to the Stumpy. Ive only had one other ride on the stumpy and it being the one that crippled me. The ride with the riser on went very well. I rode for about two and one half hours with only an minor amount of back pain during the ride and Im pretty much pain free today. I expect, due to prior conditions, for there to be discomfort at race effort but dont expect it to be a major inhibiting factor.
Now my goal is to test and experiment with the other suggestions that were made and hopefully I can get more than mostly paid free.
The problems started last year during the race season when I started being plagued with it even on training and fun rides. I'm 31 and at the time was riding a 2001 Aluminum Stumpjumper Comp hardtail mtb. I had a flat bar and aluminum seat post.
Things that were recommended and things I tried.
Crunches - Lower back pain is often attributed to weakness. Makes sense but to lazy to work out.
Thudbuster - Not ready to cross that line.
Full suspension bike - Actually bought one still had problems.
Steel frame - Bought one. Ummmmm steel but back problems still processed. Ride smoothed out a bit though.
Saddle - Get a new one. Didnt but i did slide it forward just a bit. I'm running specialized body geometry pro and on the little measure slider thing on the rail i pushed it forward about an inch.[
Ti flat bar - Tried it. Ummmm Ti is nice and smoothed out the front but didnt help my back any.
Raise or Lower Seat post height - Although I felt the seat post height felt good for my spin I started by lowering it. Errr wrong had to used a heating pad continuously for the next week. Raised seat post height not bad. I marked where I started, where I went down and now where I went up (up is easy use electricians tape for the up part.) This helped a little and I even noticed a little more control cornering due to the different center of gravity but it didnt clear the problem up.
Riser bar - I bought a cheep aluminum Kore brand 1" riser. I felt and noticed a difference almost immediately. Rides that were bugging my back in a short amount of time were not really bothering me. Ive only raced it twice and although towards then end of the races Ive noticed pain but it hasnt been debilitating like is was with the flat bar. This has by far been the best solution. Im thinking about testing the 1 1/2 riser next but that is about three experiments down the line. Also going to try a Ti or Carbon seat post.
I have recently been reunited with my Aluminum stumpjumper but this time its the new 2003 model. Ive been sold on steel frames and riser bars and had no intention of building up the stumpy but decided to go ahead because shes so damn good looking. Besides its light, fast and responsive. I thought it would make a good short distance TT bike or a backup muddy course bike.
Built it up similar to the first one but I put the Ti flat bar on it because thats what I had lying around. Errrrrr after an hour and a half in rootie MP I felt like an invalid again and had to use ibuprophen, a heating pad and large quantities of beer to dissipate the pain.
So in an effort to Chi-chi up the Dragon I bought a Titec Ti 1 riser for it and switched the Kore Aluminum 1 riser to the Stumpy. Ive only had one other ride on the stumpy and it being the one that crippled me. The ride with the riser on went very well. I rode for about two and one half hours with only an minor amount of back pain during the ride and Im pretty much pain free today. I expect, due to prior conditions, for there to be discomfort at race effort but dont expect it to be a major inhibiting factor.
Now my goal is to test and experiment with the other suggestions that were made and hopefully I can get more than mostly paid free.