Slipped disc in lumbar spine, Iron Horse 7point, and a Yeti AS-X

TheInedibleHulk · Apr 20, 2005

Your DJ isnt as nice as you think it is, dont be afraid to get a new fork. With a little over 2000 bucks and some parts to work with the sky is basically the limit. You're on the right track with the 7 point. A 7 point with a boxxer ride sounds good to me. If you want to go used you could get almost anything. Between the ASX and the IH I would say go for the IH.

preppie · Apr 20, 2005

slang said:
Also, could people with slipped disc experiences speak up about how to heal from them and what they were like?

I have a slipped 4th and 5th disc, a.k.a. lower back hernia.
It took a long time to heal completely and I have visited the physio around 50 times.
It will heal, but take it easy the first 2-3 months and ask the physio for exercises you can do at home or in the gym.
You need to strengthen your (lower) back muscles and abdominal muscles and you're as good as new.

I had to sell my HT because it was too painful and it 'would' make things worse.
So I bought a 5" Stinky and my back pain was 'almost' gone, after a year it was completely gone.
Right now I have an 8" Bighit and I can hit almost anything without any
back problems. I switched my DJ2 130mm for a Super-T and the difference between the SSV and the HSCV was a blessing for my wrists and arms.

I can't help you decide on what bike you should get, but my 'theoretical favorite" is the 7point series....I believe the E-hype.
It may hurt to sell your HT, but once you are used to a 7" FS you WILL love it....and still be able to walk and party in the evening.

wannabeabonedoc · Apr 20, 2005

I have to agree with the others. A 7point7 would be a better ride, and just slap like an 04 z.1 FR on it, or a 66rc.

Eurotrash · Apr 20, 2005

I've got a herniated disc as well, it has given me a lot of pain but it is getting better now! be patient and do the exercises your physio gives you and you'll be able to ride again.
I'd got for the seven point but I haven't even seen one in the flesh so it is PURE e-Hype!

good luck

mcA896 · Apr 20, 2005

hot dayum! grab that nicolai!

NCBigHit · Apr 20, 2005

I also have a misbehaving disk in my low back as well...not herniated, but bulging. It put me out of commission for a while but I think I've found what works.

1) as others have said, abs and lower back exercise...do the stuff your physio tells you to do religiously
2) stretch! my problem was that exercising my low back would tighten up the muscles there as well as those in my hamstrings which aggravated my back. i've started stretching a few times a day and that has helped A LOT I stretch hammies, quads, calfs, and low back.
3) know when to chill out...I used to feel my back getting angry and just keep riding through it. bad idea, every time I reaggravate my back, it takes weeks for it to get back to normal...now when it tells me to stop, I listen.

Just stick with it and you'll be good as new before long. Just be prepared for a 2 steps forward, 1 step back course of recovery as that is common with this injury. Good luck man.

Brian HCM#1 · Apr 20, 2005

I have a lower spondy, where the lower vertiba has slipped forward. I've had it now for 20 years and deal with the pain, however sometimes it becomes too much. I have a hard time standing on the pedals of my DH bike for a long period of time because of it.

SuspectDevice · Apr 20, 2005

I was diagnosed with a "severely herniated l5-s1 disc" in early March. I went to a Neuro surgeon who was a real jackass and wanted to start cutting into me the next day.
I can't get my physician to refer me to a PT so I am just treating the problem myself(not a wise idea, even though I am a pretty knowledgeable physical traininer w/a degree in that kind of stuff, you need to be objective...). I have quite a few friends who are PT's (including my mom) and the biggest thing they have warned me against is surgeons and General Practitioners, they are all scalpel happy...

The single most important thing for me is keeping my activites varied. Both at work, and in my cycling. I make sure that I vary my position when working as much as possible and I avoid sitting, as that most aggravates my back. In terms of riding and training the only real change I've made is cutting out squats at the gym. I still race bmx, dig and ride at the trails and do a hard 1.5-2 hour ride almost every morning on my XC hardtail. I try to avoid road riding as much as possible because of the static load it imposes on my back, so I limit my road rides to less than 2 hours and do all of my endurance training on the trail, where I'm forced to get out of the saddle much more.

The single most effective thing for me was getting away from sitting down all day in front of a computer and moving to a more active work environment. Now the only time my back EVER bothers me is if I spend too much time on the computer. I have a sneaking suspicion i injured my back with my horrible posture the 9 months I spent writing my thesis.

So yeah, it took me NO time to heal my back, as there was no tissue injury, I just had to modify my lifestyle. Recovery from surgery would have taken upwards of 6 months, with no clear, gauranteed outcome. F-that!

binary visions · Apr 20, 2005

The Nicolai is not going to be a "do everything" bike. Sure, you could do everything on it if you wanted, but a 7point is going to be a far more versitile rig.

Your DJ isn't a great fork. Don't get too attached - it doesn't even have a cartridge damper in it. If it were me? A 7point frame, a new fork (your wrists and back will thank you), and slap the rest of your parts on it. That'll get you in under the $2000 mark and you can upgrade as you have more cash.

If you're fixed on buying a fully built bike, maybe go for one of the lesser 7points? You'll still get the same frame, and again, you can upgrade as you have the cash.

NCBigHit · Apr 20, 2005

SuspectDevice said:
warned me against is surgeons and General Practitioners, they are all scalpel happy...

You are dead right there. The dude I saw was all about steroid injections and/or surgery and my disk was only bulging. I read up in the literature about both approaches and to say that there is little hard scientific support for steriod injections or surgery is putting it mildly...neither method has a control trial demonstrated beneficial effect. People end up getting invasive procedures because that is what the doc wants to do and because most people are too lazy to do all the PT and such (and keep it up) that it takes to get better.

Sitting is the only thing that consistently bothers my back also.

I wish I could help more with the ASX vs. 7point debate--here's what I got. I have a good buddy with each bike...they use them for pretty damn near everything and they both love them. Both guys ride them with single crown forks as well. I've pedaled the 7point around a fair bit, but not ridden it hard since it's not mine...seems like a very efficient pedalling design. I think that with the 5th element it will certainly give you that stuck to the ground feeling you are looking for. The ASX I've ridden had a DHX in the back and struck me as more lively and vanilla-ish, but that is likely due to how the dhx was set up.

OGRipper · Apr 20, 2005

I think the angry leprechaun had ridden both, maybe he'll chime in.

Personally I agree with the others, don't be married to that fork. The couple of times I've ridden one, the yeti has always felt a little heavy to me for what it is, and although it pedals pretty well for a single pivot, the one quick spin I got on a 7 point convinced me that at least some of the hype is real, thing felt great.

I'm also a fan of just starting with a fresh bike, not using old parts, except maybe disc brakes. At the very least I'd want fresh drivetrain parts and a new handlebar and stem.

Maybe you can sell some of your old stuff to give you a little more cash, then get a lower end 7point like BV suggested?

dexter · Apr 20, 2005

there is a vpfree with a fox 30 for sale in the buy and sell id jump on that

SirChomps-a-Lot · Apr 20, 2005

me and stoney98 both popped discs a while ago and we are both back in action now. Just do the physical therapy. Buy yourself a swiss ball and do that **** like 3x a week. You can still send gaps just fine. What will get you is long periods like sitting at work or driving a long way. If the back starts hurting get your ass up and do the stretches. Try not to just drown the pain in ibuprofen, but don't be afraid to take it... it won't heal right if it hurts all the time.

Also, NEVER bend over to pick up something from the floor. Not even something light. Bend at the knees. Always and for the rest of your life. No more bending over.

PS. I'm rocking the asx and loving every minute of it.

lovebunny · Apr 20, 2005

well you could allways pm dw as he designed the suspension for the 7 point and hell give you all the details as to how it pedals and why

Pau11y · Apr 20, 2005

Slang, I've got a bud w/ an '03 ASX and Breakout he's trying to get rid of ASAP. He's ridden it 10 times and is in "new" condition. I can get you some pics and his e-mail if you need 'em. He's talking something stoopid for the full bike as he's trying to get a road bike (from me

)

Edit: found one. He's talking like $1500.00 + shipping.

thesacrifice · Apr 21, 2005

ASX's rear suspension is adjustable... 6.5 to 7.3 or something, tried, proven.

Can't go wrong with either bike.

My black beauty http://www.lovelostrecords.com/kevin/asx6.jpg

Tashi · Apr 21, 2005

Since you said this is to be your only bike: less is more. I've found that 5x5 or 6x6 is almost perfect for Victoria, unless you're shuttling (Or huckin' the serious shiz on Broom Hill etc) a DH bike is too much for all the pedalin' required around here. Anyone I know that makes a really big bike their only one either regrets it or spends all his time on the gnarliest stuff there is to offer in the area. So i guess I'd go with the Yeti, but probably something even shorter (a burly Heckler perhaps?)

On the back injury: 'can't help 'ya much, I've never slipped a disk. Test the waters first though, before you buy a new bike you can't use all that well. I've put myself through all kinds of hell thinking that I'd be able to do things at a certian point, then not being able to (2 broken vertebrae). I'm getting back on the XC one year from injury and couldn't be happier to be doing just that, pedalin' up The Executive is hardcore enough when your back hurts.

Heal well!

Slipped disc in lumbar spine, Iron Horse 7point, and a Yeti AS-X

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