Bike setup

GAZAMAN77

Hi all,
I've just got back into biking after about a year out of the saddle and i'm struggling with my bike setup. I've put a few pounds on recently and want to get back into the swing of things to try and get fit again.
I'm 6'2" and ride a Giant Talon 2.5 and 80% of the time use the bike to commute with the remaining 20% on the trails at the weekend. Nothing any more extreme than the red at sherwood (although I rode the never to be rode again Ladybower classic :twisted: ).
What i find is,if I set my seat to the correct height to avoid to much thigh burn, I then get lower back pain due to the lean over.
I'm wondereing if a shorter stem would help? I'm not 100% but I think my current stem is 70mm!?
Any suggestions folks?

Cheers
Gaz

rockmonkeysc

You might need a shorter one or a longer one or it could be bar height or bar rotation or saddle position.
Unfortunately there's no easy answer, you're just going to have to experiment. Start with adding or removing stem spacers. Then bar rotation. Then moving the saddle forwards and back. Change one thing at a time and try things which cost nothing first.

kajjal

How much is the drop from the saddle to the bars when the saddle is at the right height ?

Is it the drop or the horizontal reach which is the problem ?

warpcow

First things first: core excercises are most peoples best bet for overcoming lower back pain. That goes double if you've only just taken up cycling [again] recently.

felix.london

Casall ab-roller, John Lewis, £9.99

benpinnick

Try doing hamstring and glutes stretches before you ride. Alot of lower back problems on bikes are caused from tension in the upper legs (apparently). Works for me.