GF gets bad back on MTB - riser bar?

[Tiggsy]

We go for casual MTB'ing spending 2-3hrs on the bikes through pretty easy woodland stuff/bridal ways. GF finds she is leaning to far forward and it (after a while) hurts her wrists/back. She really needs to be 1" higher and 1" closer to her body (with her grip) - so is the solution a shorter stem....or riser bars...or both? FOr casual stuff, would a large sweep on a riser bar be the easiest solution or does it do something wacky to the geometry of the bike?

[PorscheGT4]

Shorter stem

[Justin S]

Could try both. Can you move the saddle forward a bit? Is the bike female specific, which has a shorter top tube. Is the bike right for her ?

[V88Dicky]

I've just adjusted the cockpit of my MTB by going from a 50mm stem with no rise, to a 40mm Renthal Apex with 10 degree rise, complemented by some Renthal Fatbar hi risers to replace the low risers.



The bike is now much comfier to ride

[Tiggsy]

ok - she currently has a 100mm stem so switching to a 40mm Truvativ Hussefelt Stem with some high rise bars

[227bhp]

[lufbramatt]

Changing the bars and stem will probably help but doing some core strength exercises will probably help just as much and is free

[Watchman]

Slightly wacky-looking but these bars have changed my life and I'll never go back to straights:




On-One Og FTW..!!

[P-Jay]

Are you sure it's the bar height?

Is she pretty new to it? Most people who start cycling, especially MTB and especially as adults get a bad back early on - it's usually down to weak core muscles - as the miles and hours pile on they sort of give up and the load switches to the back muscles.

[Tiggsy]

her core is fine - lifts 3 times a week, runs, spins, etc, etc - she is just leaning too far forward.


now bought a 40mm stem (down from her 110mm) and riser bars with a 60mm rise