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| Lower back pain - causes? |
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Question:
I'm having real problems on my cyclo-cross bike, with back ache after
about 20-30 mins of a one hour race.
I had put it down to a too long top tube, so I got a new frame last year
which was 2 inch shorter, and the riding position was set exactly the
same as my road bike, on which I can ride all day without a problem.
Yet I still get back ache, which, if anything, is now slightly worse.
Obviously I put a bit more effort into the race than a usual road ride,
but during 25 miles TT's, which are over a similar time, I never get any
bad aches.
I spoke to a coach, who thought the same as me, that lower back aches
are caused by stretching too far for the bars,or the bars being too
low.I think I have discounted this now, by putting on a short high stem,
so when I am on the tops, I am almost sat upright.
I am now thinking that there is another cause, as I have tried a 4 inch
range in the top tube, and the ache never goes away completely.
Would anyone with similar experience please give me a few pointers as to
what to look for.
Answer:
I don't think this is a great move. You need to let your arms take some of
your bodyweight, which is easier to do with lowish bars. Raise the bars and
you're asking your back to do a lot more work holding you up.
Most people don't have a problem with the ultra-low position of a TT bike
and this is because a lot of weight is put on tri-bar armrests thus limiting
the strain the back is put under.
See your doc.
My wife endured back pain for years, thinking it was a
result of having children.
An Xray showed a fused vertebra at L5/S1(waist level)
which she had had from birth. Now she follows physio
advice.
You say your road bike is OK: but is your offroad problem caused by
the rough going: ie have you tried your cyclo-cross bike ON the road ?
Probably YES but just a thought.
Also I have a dodgy back and dodgy knee and because of the knee I want
to keep my saddle as high as possible to reduce the risk of knee strain,
but if I raise it too high I get lower back ache, presumably due to
hip rocking, although I do not notice this. Lower the saddle 1cm removes
the back pain.
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