i have determined when i ride my uni i get pretty much severe pain in my extreme lower back and upper hamstrings to the point where i cant really sit down in a chair comfortably. is there something wrong with my form or is this just learning to use unused muscles? however i have been riding for two months everyday.
Sounds like you are staying really tense. Try to relax and most importantly sit straight up, look at the horizon (not the ground), and keep all your weight on your butt (not the pedals).
i think zod’s got most of it
do check your seat height and make sure u’re not sitting too low
that could lead to sitting hunched over and could lead to a sore back
any history of back injury?
how old/fit/generally active are u?
if at all in doubt, please get professional medical attention
rather safe than sorry
to check your pedal height
place your heel on the pedal
using a support of some kind, pull yourself into an upright position with your foot in the 6o’clock position
make sure u’re sitting down properly
the leg should be straight, but not locked
ok thanks for the response guys. i rode by a mirror in my dorm and it looks like i am hunching forward a bit as i am moving forward. i’ll try relaxing and staying super vertical and hopefully i wont be gimping around anymore.
I’ve had back pain all my life.
Well, since I was 6 or 7.
(work injury… yes… I was working that young)
Stretching helps alot.
Lie on your back and bring you knees to your chest, then bring chin to knees. Hold for awhile (as long as you can stand the pain , (if it’s as bad as mine))
Then, bring head and feet to floor, keeping the knees bent.
RELAX. (Controlled breathing!)
Concentrate on relaxing the back muscles, and getting spine flat on the floor.
(I use a folded up towel to cushen vertebrate)
Do this when you wake up, and before bed.
(or whenever you feel the tension buildup)
My problems are usually in my lower back.
so, after doing the above…
(in same position on floor, (knees bent, back and head on floor)
bring one leg up, and try to bring it 90 to the floor
(most likely you wont be able to do this even if you dont have back pain)
… then bring leg down (bent to floor)
… and do the other one.
After awhile I then bring the upright leg to the outter side after going 90 to floor, and then slowly cross it over the leg that’s still bent on the floor.
In all, if you think about where your tension is, you should be able to determine what type of exersise (stretching) you need to loosen things up.
Don’t forget to make a routine.
Half my problem is , once I fix myself up, I dont’ stretch anymore… then all of a sudden I wake up one day with the pain all over again.
from my mt bike background i shoulda taken the time to really check my seat height. i raised it about an inch today and it helps so much with turning and i can relax more. i think my pain started because i learned on a junior beginner uni that was way to small for me…
bah!
what do mtn b*kers know anyway?!?
Hey now…that hurt 