My back pain is really becoming a pain.

seanorawe

I have had all the advice in the world. I have had a bike fit. I have been doing a lot of core strength work and I have also tried every way you can possibly sit on my bike.

My back pain is still there. The only thing I have not tried, is changing the saddle to the one on my hybrid. If this does not work I am going to sell the bike and get something with a more suited geo.

This could also be a good excuse to go shopping

If needs be, can anyone recommend a bike costing no more than £600 (hopefully a 2011 or 12 model of a great bike brand) that is known for comfort and less aggression than my Allez?

marylogic

Before you spend the money on a new bike have you tried an osteopath/ chiropractor?

I know it's not for everone, but I find a trip there after a long ride sorts me out and if you've tried bike fit and exercises might be worth a go?

seanorawe

My doctor reffered me to a sports injury clinic. Im a bit concernded that I only get this pain on my road bike.

I might still go shopping for a new bike anyway.

Raffles

seanorawe wrote:

My doctor reffered me to a sports injury clinic. Im a bit concernded that I only get this pain on my road bike.

I might still go shopping for a new bike anyway.

Sean the cannondale caad8 has a higher head tube and id strongly recommend you go and try one.

seanorawe

Raffles wrote:

seanorawe wrote:

My doctor reffered me to a sports injury clinic. Im a bit concernded that I only get this pain on my road bike.

I might still go shopping for a new bike anyway.

Sean the cannondale caad8 has a higher head tube and id strongly recommend you go and try one.

I was looking at that along with te defy 3 and deefy 5 but both im told are heavy and slow uphill.

Buckie2k5

can i just add that im going through the same pain with my back at the moment and im riding a caad8 so you can scrub that idea off if you want comfort look at the synapse i wish i did lol. Next ride out im experimenting with lowering the saddle 20mm see if it helps. My bad back has dogged me for years but only recently have i started cycling so its now becoming a problem.

Raffles

I had looked at the defy`s myself, apart from the defy 1 I found the 3 to be a bit of a tub in terms of weight. On the other hand, the caad 8 is nice and light and lively for going up hills , go and try one as I think you will like it.

Asfor the synapse I found it to be too high at the front , a bit like riding a chopper bike.Best thing is to go and try bikes and see what suits you best

mrbubbaman

also get back pain, but not just from riding (injury at work years ago)
Just go to the doctors again, maybe take your bike with you (or take it to the physio)

I've been to my doc loads about mine and we're finally getting somewhere

declan1

Have you tried lowering the bars? I know it sounds completely the wrong thing to do but it actually solved my back pain.

seanorawe

declan1 wrote:

Have you tried lowering the bars? I know it sounds completely the wrong thing to do but it actually solved my back pain.

My fitter lowered them. I still have 10mm of spacers under it though

declan1

seanorawe wrote:

declan1 wrote:

Have you tried lowering the bars? I know it sounds completely the wrong thing to do but it actually solved my back pain.

My fitter lowered them. I still have 10mm of spacers under it though

The Allez doesn't look like a very aggressive geometry. As other people have said it's all down to the individual, but maybe try taking out all the spacers?

seanorawe

declan1 wrote:

seanorawe wrote:

declan1 wrote:

Have you tried lowering the bars? I know it sounds completely the wrong thing to do but it actually solved my back pain.

My fitter lowered them. I still have 10mm of spacers under it though

The Allez doesn't look like a very aggressive geometry. As other people have said it's all down to the individual, but maybe try taking out all the spacers?

Its worth a try

sunburntknees

Do you stretch?

Where is the pain? Lower back or somewhere else?

slowandsteady

^^^^stretch the man says.

Try stretching your hamstrings. If its that you'll almost feel instant relief.

raymondo60

+1 for a visit to the Osteopath before spending money on other bikes - if its just because of the back pain. The skeleton is forced into an unatural position when riding a road bike. This can cause issues of 'misalignment' that could easily be sorted by an adjustment. I go to my osteo about once every two months - I'm probably considerably older than many on this forum - and always have my lower back/hips 're-adjusted (with a very satisfying ''crack') and feel like new afterwards.

Mikey23

+1 for seeking advice and guidance for suitably qualified health professionals as opposed to a bunch of random strangers like myself...

I think the allez is a fairly relaxed geometry sportive type bike isn't it?

If you want to spend your hard earned on a new bike then feel free to do so, but it may not necessarily deal with your back problem

Speckled

Ive been troubled with back pain for years and years, if im carefull what i do its not too bad, but theres certain excercies and activities i just wont do. I love cycling, but after 20 odd miles i start to get pretty bad lower back ache and it spoils the ride. I too also had a bike fit..

Ive spent lots of money on seeing a chiropractor, and buying a spine inversion/decompression machine which has helped, but not solved my problem.

Luckily, after nearly giving up i think ive solved my problem. I have really long legs and a short torso, and even sitting on the toilet for a few minutes would give me lower back ache. The toilet is pretty low down so i bought a plastic device to raise the seat up so im not crouching as much and voila, 4 weeks on and 4 bike rides and no back ache to be seen.

My advice is try and think if theres something off the bike which might be triggering your problem, work or home...

the playing mantis

have you tried breathing exercises??? seriously.

where do you breath from? your chest or your diaphragm? many mnay people in todays world breathe from there chest, and its completely subconcious. i did and still do on occasion, but i conciously try to 'belly breath' and get the sub concious to do it naturally.

you should aim to do everything with a 'soft belly' ie not tensing it at all and have it completely relaxed, including when exercising.again its not a conscious thing but you must make the body learn to do this if you dont. if you dont have a soft belly the muscles in your back will be tensed and potential pulling you out of shape and causing pain. (when i say soft belly i dont mean flabby as such i just mean relaxed, im fairly toned in that area but that doesnt mean you cannot have a 'soft belly' mantra. so even if your completely ripped in the abs thats not a preclusion to be able to adopt a soft belly.

the former esssex cricket physio treated me for lower back pain in such a way and it really does work, at least for me, and now i hardly suffer at all.

kingofthetailwind

I'd try everything mentioned above before changing bike. But if you're definitely changing you could try the Secteur. McConvey's stock them - £650. Or there was one on Gumtree Belfast five days ago for £500.

seanorawe

I will try all of the above. Im also going to get booked in wityh the physio for an assesment. In the mean time if it flares up, im sure some Ibuprofen and painkillers could help whilst riding (my bike)

mustol

Definitely spend your money on and osteopath or chiropractor before spending any money on a new bike. I have lower back problems, but with a regular stretching/strengthening regime and occasional visits to my osteopath, I rarely get any pain whilst riding and my 'winter' bike is a Specialized Allez, which does not have overly aggressive geometry. If possible, get someone to recommend a local practitioner. Your first session should basically involve him/her asking lots of questions and looking at your posture etc, with maybe a little manipulation and some suggested exercises for you to do. Be patient, it may take while, but it will be money well spent - good luck!

dannyharris

Don't mean to hijack the thread. I get terrible soreness between my shoulder blades. Still sore days after. Would lowering the bars help that to?

slowandsteady

dannyharris wrote:

Don't mean to hijack the thread. I get terrible soreness between my shoulder blades. Still sore days after. Would lowering the bars help that to?

I get this in some form. You need to stretch the muscles affected.

Lie flat on your back with your head on a pillow. Gently roll your head from the side to side starting with your chin on your chest, lift your chin up and point it to the sky whilst rolling it to the other side of your chest.

You should feel the affected muscles being stretched.

Hope this helps.
(And makes sense)