[mack]

MY back is killing me! and im only 15!!!!! ug, hardtails suck, as a word of advice to any serios xc perosn, get a full suspension and thank me and your back later, ouch! any one know any good chiropractors, i think im only gunna be able to ride like two times a week if i dont get a suspension setpost.

other wise the hardtail will kick your ass. :nuts:

 

[SpeedyObnox]

MY PUSSY HURTS! and im only 15!!!!! ug, hardtails suck, as a word of advice to any serios xc perosn, get a full suspension and thank me and your back later, ouch! any one know any good chiropractors, i think im only gunna be able to ride like two times a week if i dont get a suspension setpost.

other wise the hardtail will kick your ass. :nuts:

hardtails rock dude, wtf are you thinking?!?!

 

[mack]

yeah, for dirt jumps, try telling that to my back! hardtails rock, yeah if you have a medical degree in back surgy.

 

[bomberz1qr20]

yeah, for dirt jumps, try telling that to my back! hardtails rock, yeah if you have a medical degree in back surgy.

One thing 15 year olds need to discover:

STRETCHING

Your legs, back, arms - hell even your fingers.

It really helps to prevent injury, in more ways then you can imagine.

 

[mack]

whats a good back stretch for mountain biking, i usually just stretch my neck.

 

[Slugman]

yeah, for dirt jumps, try telling that to my back! hardtails rock, yeah if you have a medical degree in back surgy.

I ride a hardtail on everything (DH, FR, XCish) and I'm more than twice your age. If I don't stretch out my back and hamstrings... I can barely walk or sit. I stretch everyday, morning and night... and it makes all the difference.

I bet it's because you don't stretch your back out enough. You're too damn young to have any major back problems, unless you've crashed hard or have scoliosis.

Oh yeah - I'm Biomedical engineer who has been working in spine surgery for 5 years...

 

[mack]

thats not fair, u actually have a degree! but how do you stretch it, by touching your toes or by doing sit up type things?

 

[bomberz1qr20]

whats a good back stretch for mountain biking, i usually just stretch my neck.

Toe touching at least.

More:

http://www.cmcrossroads.com/bradapp/docs/rec/stretching/

 

[Wumpus]

I've been riding a HT for 15+ years. The biggest thing that makes my back hurt is trying to use too big a gear to torque up thing. At your age, you should really be trying to spin climbs.

 

[Slugman]

thats not fair, u actually have a degree! but how do you stretch it, by touching your toes or by doing sit up type things?

I just do the ones I have always been doing sinc high school (played Hockey and Lacrosse). Additionally My wife is bigtime into Yoga and showed me a lot of really good stretches. I'm sure if you searched around for a while you'll find some good ones.

 

[MtnbikeMike]

MY back is killing me! and im only 15!!!!! ug, hardtails suck, as a word of advice to any serios xc perosn, get a full suspension and thank me and your back later, ouch! any one know any good chiropractors, i think im only gunna be able to ride like two times a week if i dont get a suspension setpost.

other wise the hardtail will kick your ass. :nuts:

Here's an idea, stand up when riding through rock gardens, studder bumps, and any technical descents.

 

[DßR]

a hardtail won't make your back hurt.

A poor-fitting bike WILL, on the other hand. For me, a slightly longer stem and a riser bar helped my back pain immensely.

 

[chuffer]

a hardtail won't make your back hurt.

A poor-fitting bike WILL, on the other hand. .snip.

As will poor fitness in general.

Try some exercises to build up your abs, back and upper body in general. The biomed engineer can comment here, but I always hear that back pain can in large part be caused by weak azz abs.

btw, I have been riding hardtails much longer than you -mack- have been breathing. 'it's not about the bike.'

 

[jacksonpt]

um... I would question how the bike fits you, not the suspension. I have a 6" travel trail bike, and if I raise the saddle too much (to put me in a better climbing position), my back feels it big time.

Before this bike... I was riding a 3" XC full squish and a hardtail... the HT was infinitely more comfy than the squishy bike was. Fit is super important.

Try adjusting various things (saddle position, stem lengths, riser/flat bars, etc.)... or *gasp* find a shop that will fit you to the bike.


:::EDIT:::

a hardtail won't make your back hurt.

A poor-fitting bike WILL,

um, yea... what he said.

 

[Sir_Crackien]

same with alot of the other people i ride two hardtails for everthing(xc to hucking). most people don't stretch including me(but for some reason i'm naturelly flexable). the biggest thing for me is techneque(how you take the turns and other bumps) proper form will save your back from being pounded. i personnally stay in the saddle alot but i ride "light" alot also, this is when you are in the saddle but most of your weight is supported by your legs. when you do this your butt is a shock.

 

[The Toninator]

STAY AWAY FROM THE SUSPENSION SET POST if your going to do any serious riding/racing (i personally hate those things)

B - Get your bike fit to you.