Hybrid Bike after back injury
Discussion
Have a chat with your surgeon/physio/consultant. I had a spinal fusion at L4/5 and I ride a Trek Silque - it's a road bike (not a hybrid) but it's more endurance geo rather than racer. I can't ride a "racer" as it's too low and stretched out and kills my back within minutes. My surgery was about 3 years ago now though so things are healed. If yours is recent you really need to check with someone, and try sitting on a few bikes to see what feels good/bad.
dreamer75 said:
Have a chat with your surgeon/physio/consultant. I had a spinal fusion at L4/5 and I ride a Trek Silque - it's a road bike (not a hybrid) but it's more endurance geo rather than racer. I can't ride a "racer" as it's too low and stretched out and kills my back within minutes. My surgery was about 3 years ago now though so things are healed. If yours is recent you really need to check with someone, and try sitting on a few bikes to see what feels good/bad.
Absolutely 100% this. Chipped C3 here with a bit floating off it mean I have trouble riding drops (tilting head back for more than a few minutes hurts), got a PX London Road with a 5deg step pointing up. Means I can ride & still look where I am going 
Had no issues at all, 6ft4 & running thier largest frame
Had no issues at all, 6ft4 & running thier largest frameanonymous said:
[redacted]
I'm the other way around Got into MTB 2 years after the surgery and road bikes this year (3 years post surgery) and they're helping my back. If you think about the muscles at the time, you can make sure you use your core, and I've felt my core get stronger (less pressure on my arms).Back to the OP, speak to a professional who knows what they're talking about and knows what's wrong with your back. I suspect there's no "golden rule" when it comes to backs and bikes. Or backs in general (I can sit happily for hours whereas most people can't, but standing and walking means I'll be in pain - the opposite to most people with lower back issues) - there are no hard and fast rules!!!! For me (as I said) long and low causes me pain within seconds. A more endurance road bike set up (Trek Silque - girls bike but I'm a girl) which is a bit more upright helps. I've tweaked my MTB to be a bit more upright than standard which takes some pressure off my lower back. But people on PH aren't going to be able to help - I suspect often it's a case of try it and see if it hurts. If it hurts, don't do it !!!!!!
Thanks again for the advise but there is a little more to it than getting the right frame/fit etc and the so called medical experts are clueless ( as the back is complex ) -
I’ve been told by one Dr i have spondylitis ( this was before christmas ) , it was a lie and X-rays show my spine/discs are fine , bloods also fine , no markers indicating inflammatory issues., other Dr’s said other stuff again lies and useless.
Self testing and reading pointed to the piriformis being the main trigger as a starting point ( missed by Dr’s ) , this pushes against the sciatic nerves and can lead to false diagnosis of lower back issues ( worth keeping that in mind ) . I’ve sorted this with rest and using a tennis ball , painful but cured!.
Now.. my lower back seems very weak , this causes a chain reaction of different muscles kicking in to support others that then go into spasm that ends with hips twisting and the whole of my upper body ( ribs ) being in enough pain i can’t breathe deeply. The pain points move around on a daily basis which makes it tricky to nail down the issue.
My issue is a mix of 20 kg overweight as can’t train , my legs and upper body are very strong , the core is very weak , the two act on the weak core and cause these issues.
I’m looking at a vertical climber machine , ££ tho .
Regards bike fits , had the best in the UK ( ex tour racer ) when i raced , i need to nail this core issue first i reckon.
Good positive stuff , i ran 7 back to back 10k cross country runs a few weeks back , engine is good … but knees failed as fat ha ha ha.
All fun and games .
I’ve been told by one Dr i have spondylitis ( this was before christmas ) , it was a lie and X-rays show my spine/discs are fine , bloods also fine , no markers indicating inflammatory issues., other Dr’s said other stuff again lies and useless.
Self testing and reading pointed to the piriformis being the main trigger as a starting point ( missed by Dr’s ) , this pushes against the sciatic nerves and can lead to false diagnosis of lower back issues ( worth keeping that in mind ) . I’ve sorted this with rest and using a tennis ball , painful but cured!.
Now.. my lower back seems very weak , this causes a chain reaction of different muscles kicking in to support others that then go into spasm that ends with hips twisting and the whole of my upper body ( ribs ) being in enough pain i can’t breathe deeply. The pain points move around on a daily basis which makes it tricky to nail down the issue.
My issue is a mix of 20 kg overweight as can’t train , my legs and upper body are very strong , the core is very weak , the two act on the weak core and cause these issues.
I’m looking at a vertical climber machine , ££ tho .
Regards bike fits , had the best in the UK ( ex tour racer ) when i raced , i need to nail this core issue first i reckon.
Good positive stuff , i ran 7 back to back 10k cross country runs a few weeks back , engine is good … but knees failed as fat ha ha ha.
All fun and games .
I had similar (and continue) in terms of weak muscles causing other muscles to do the work, which them spasm etc. etc. It's a vicious cycle (pun not intended!)
Have you got a programme of core work? The physio should be able to do something for you, starting with the easy stuff and gradually building up. For me it was/is mostly Pilates based and I confess I'm a bit lazy now and hardly do it. But it made a difference, although took time and it can be discouraging when things continue to hurt, despite you working hard at the exercises !
Have you got a programme of core work? The physio should be able to do something for you, starting with the easy stuff and gradually building up. For me it was/is mostly Pilates based and I confess I'm a bit lazy now and hardly do it. But it made a difference, although took time and it can be discouraging when things continue to hurt, despite you working hard at the exercises !
I was diagnosed with two compressed discs about 18 months ago after a 30 mile ride left me unable to walk the next day.
I had a bit of physio and no bike for at least 3 months. I've only just gone out on my road bike (on the road) again for the first time about 2 weeks ago, and it was OK. I've been using it on the turbo trainer for up to an hour at a time so that I can get off at the first sign of any twinge. And I'm still thinking about getting a riser stem to (hopefully) prevent anything like thta happening in the future.
However, after the intitial 3 months where I physically couldn't cycle (I could hardly walk) I got back on my Brompton. With the shorter frame and high bars (although I've lowered mine) my back's been fine.
I still have aches, and probably also need to strengthen my core too, but the more upright position has definitely been a bonus.
Good luck with recovery.
I had a bit of physio and no bike for at least 3 months. I've only just gone out on my road bike (on the road) again for the first time about 2 weeks ago, and it was OK. I've been using it on the turbo trainer for up to an hour at a time so that I can get off at the first sign of any twinge. And I'm still thinking about getting a riser stem to (hopefully) prevent anything like thta happening in the future.
However, after the intitial 3 months where I physically couldn't cycle (I could hardly walk) I got back on my Brompton. With the shorter frame and high bars (although I've lowered mine) my back's been fine.
I still have aches, and probably also need to strengthen my core too, but the more upright position has definitely been a bonus.
Good luck with recovery.
A lot will depend on your height.
When I test rode the bikes, the S type (flat bars) felt too low for me and the M type (upright bars) felt a little too high.
In the end, I bought a H type (which is the most upright of all of them, then took off the high riser bars, and fitted low-riser bars. This gave a bar height a little higher than the S, and a little lower than the M making the grip height and seat height about level - which works for me.
As with all these things, it's best to go and sit on some to try them out.
If you're London based, then a trip to the Brompton Junction would be worthwhile - that's where I test rode mine. Failing that, you can actually hire Bromptons from various locations around the UK for £2.50 a day. I did that for a month before getting mine to make sure I could live with one.
https://www.bromptonbikehire.com/
There are four types though as outlined below:
When I test rode the bikes, the S type (flat bars) felt too low for me and the M type (upright bars) felt a little too high.
In the end, I bought a H type (which is the most upright of all of them, then took off the high riser bars, and fitted low-riser bars. This gave a bar height a little higher than the S, and a little lower than the M making the grip height and seat height about level - which works for me.
As with all these things, it's best to go and sit on some to try them out.
If you're London based, then a trip to the Brompton Junction would be worthwhile - that's where I test rode mine. Failing that, you can actually hire Bromptons from various locations around the UK for £2.50 a day. I did that for a month before getting mine to make sure I could live with one.
https://www.bromptonbikehire.com/
There are four types though as outlined below:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
No this is not true, bad position or other issues can exacerbate back issues , plus you get confirmation bias in that you more readily notice riders with back issues Im the opposite riding really helps my back, I spend all day sat down @ a desk job and if I take a few weeks off riding my back starts to ache, yet I never get back ache when riding regularly
I would look at Yogo, pilates and stretching every morning and evening to see if that helps
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff