convert to flat bars or swap bike?

robbie7

hi there looking for some advise. i have been having back problems and i finally thought it was sorted until today when riding my back suddenly locked up again leaving having to ride 12 miles home on top of the bars. i was recommened when i bought the bike a trek 1.7 to buy a flat bar road bike like a sirrus but as my back was getting better i decided to go against this advise. i was wondering how much do you think it would cost to convert? can you use a 10 speed set up flat barred or do you think i should swap for something like a sirrus

any help would be great

rob

Juju_uk_68

Whats actually wrong with your back to start with?

And will road cycling along with physio excercises actually strengthen it?

If you've been protecting it for a while, then as soon as you do ride a bikem you'll be putting tension intomuscle groups that are weak and under excercised to start with. Theres virtually no back condition that isnt benefitted from building a stronger core muscle group for support, even if you have early degenrative changes to the discs themselves, perhaps through lesions and bulging.

I'd be inclined to speak to a sports physio about it before making the change - it might just be a missed opportunity.

Steve I

You'll need: flat bar and grips, flat bar 10 speed shifters, flat bar brake levers (non v type). If your existing stem and bars are oversize, I think an oversize mtb bar should fit. If your bars are not oversize you'll need a new stem as well. You may also need a new front mech depending on whether your bike is double or triple. There'll also be some dicking around with cables to do (that's the worst part IMO).

To be honest the riding position will still be quite sporty and stretched, and not a lot different from holding the tops of the drop bars. Some cross style interrupter levers might be a good idea, enabling you to brake from the tops.

alfablue

I reckon a change of stem will likely emulate any flat bar position if you ride on the hoods (which is fine), you could get a shorter one and / or one with a higher rise, or flip the one you have. The Trek 1.7 has fairly relaxed geometry, I should think you could get it to fit (assuming its not to large i.e. long for you in the first place). You could even get an adjustable stem, or if none of that is enough, get a new fork to allow you to use more spacers. Also, is your seat height and position correct (for-aft, tilt, if any)? I would suggest you make these adjustments with the benefits of a proper bike fit, these guys should be able to sort you out: http://www.kinetic-one.co.uk/ (or similar). They can take account of particular problems.

NorwegianBlue

I think there's a strong possibility you have the wrong sized bike. Rather than spending a lot of money either converting to flats or buying a new bike I think you may be better off spending some cash on a fitting session which may well save you wasting money.

Take your bike along to the fitting session and you may find that fitting a different stem (shorter or higher) and/or adjusting your seat position (height wise and fore and aft) could sort your back problem. Or you could find that you have the wrong size bike. Even if you want to buy a new flat barred bike a fitting session would be a good idea just to make sure you're buying the right sized bike.

I have back problems (broke a couple of lumbar vertibrae years back) and have disc problems further up due to a fall, so I find I'm very sensitive to sizing. Often a few milimetres of adjustment, like moving the saddle foreward by 5mm, can make all the difference.

ForumNewbie

alfablue wrote:

You could even get an adjustable stem

Yep, that's what I did and it really improved my reach to the drops as it raised the bars about 3inches. The adjustable stem only cost £15.