Commuting Back Pains

Fuzz Monkey Five
Fuzz Monkey Five Posts: 194
edited August 2007 in Commuting chat
I commute about 6 miles each way every day and get the occasional pains across my shoulders and upper back. I have a Nike rucksak (£20 Argos job) which holds lunch, waterproof top, t-shirt etc. I normally leave my towel and jeans in work to lighten the load.

I'm also 6'1" and riding a 21" Specialized so I am a little hunch forwards sometimes.

Any suggestions on the best way to have my backpack setup ?

Comments

  • BentMikey
    BentMikey Posts: 4,895
    Don't carry it on your back? If you have a metal seatpost, you could always fit one of the Carradice saddlebags with an SQR post. In fairness, it might be your bike setup rather than the backpack, it doesn't seem like you're carrying that much weight from what you wrote.
  • Jacomus-rides-Gen
    Jacomus-rides-Gen Posts: 453
    I would suggest the same as Mikey, a brilliant book for set up is Andy Pruitt's - Medical tips for cyclists (or something like that, there is oinly one on amsazon.
    Sweat saves blood.
    Erwin Rommel
  • baudman
    baudman Posts: 757
    Yeah, agreed, sounds like setup. How long have you been commuting? If yr a NooB, then it may just be yr getting used to it? But bad setup will exacerbate the problem.

    Also, try arching your back the other way as you ride - not all the time perhaps, but to give your back a stretch the other way - I tend to do it when I stand up on my pedals coasting in to a red light.
    Commute - MASI Souville3 | Road/CX - MASI Speciale CX | Family - 80s ugly | Utility - Cargobike
  • Fuzz Monkey Five
    Fuzz Monkey Five Posts: 194
    Commuting about a year, but riding MTB for a few years. Panniers aren't really an options, I got off road at lunchtimes and I'm only really hauling my lunch and a change of clothes.

    I was looking at a Camelbak Mule and Mayhem at the weekend, think that could be just the job, a little bit more ergo, and ideal for longer weekend rides. I'm off to the US in a few weeks for a few days, I'll probably pick one up over tehre at half the price they are here.

    I've also spotted another thread of the page now about "rucksacks for commute", looks good info (search - you let me down again !!)
  • RossC
    RossC Posts: 38
    a rack & panniers would be better

    is the bike the right size for you? are the seat post and handlebars at the right height? what's the saddle like? did the shop set it up right for you in the forst place?

    additionally, you can do some stretches every morning. pains may also be as a result of a sedatory office-environment where you're sat in front of a PC all day. sit-ups, shoulder rolls, pelvic-tilts, stuff like that which you cant describe on a forum very well. see a GP/physio or a sports specialist - there is an 'industry' out there just for this eg http://www.cyclefit.co.uk/.

    see http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12534134

    includes:

    "http://www.cobr.co.uk/e-cobr_information/t_and_r_section/sections/cycle_training/stretching/for_cycling.shtml

    Well, I just put the phrase 'stretching for cycling' into google, and got quite a lot of info. The above link is just one of them."

    and other words of advice

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