Wow - can of worms opened ?!
. Didn’t realise it would be such a devisive subject.
Great reading though. Appreciate the different perspectives. It’s what makes forums interesting.
I’m trying a new saddle (fitted yesterday after measuring sitbones a bunch of times, short ride, already adjusted again today), measured a bunch of stuff, raised the saddle by about 10mm, done the KOPs thing, got the missus to take pics of me on the bike (she thinks I’m bonkers) and measured angles, adjusted my cleats (think they were too far back causing me to be a little toe down). Will have another short ride to see how all that is working out before a much longer ride tomorrow.
After that, I’m maybe considering a higher stem, although I’m not an ‘upright’ cyclist at all (I guess I‘d put myself in the ‘performance’ position category.... 80% on the hoods, 15% on the drops and 5% on the tops), it might stop me putting too much weight through my arms if I’m reaching forwards too much. We’ll see.
I think i’ll stick with adjusting things like that for the rest of the season and see how I get on. Doubt I’ll cycle that much more than 100km in one go this year (about my pain tolerance limit for now), and if I do further maybe I just need to stop for a good stretching and rest for bit part way around. My rides in the winter tend to be much shorter so the lower back pain isn’t an issue then.
I am considering either a new bike, or rebuilding my current one for next year, so if I don’t manage to sort my lower back by then (I plan to work on a few core excercises too that might help) I think i’ll consider chatting to the guys at the local club (that I’m not a member of, being a solo cyclist) to see who they’d recommend (if anyone) for a fit.
Thanks for all your input. Despite the polar opposite opinions it’s all been a big help - love this forum!
Edit// thought it interesting (due to some of the comments and opinions in this thread ) that as I’ve got fitter and naturally faster etc my position is slowly getting lower on its own. Not because i’m forcing it too, but just because it just feels comfier / more natural / more efficient / powerful for certain stages in a ride, and shifting my weight over different parts of the bike for certain conditions is the natural thing to do. Strangely enough usually the last part of a long ride is the more head down part for me... maybe fatigue, or just a final push to get home.. admittedly I don’t have the belly I used to a couple of years ago, so I now ‘fold’ over much easier and more naturally. My position does change a lot thoughout a ride, not ‘cos i’m copying any style, but just what feels or works best at any given point. It’d feel plain weird (and probably be dangerous) to sit bolt upright cruising at 30kph, or flying downhill at 45 - 50kph!
I also don’t have piles of cash just waiting to be spent - hence why i posted on here. It’d definitely be a considered purchase and i’d probably deem a fit worth it only if I could be reasonably sure it would solve a specific problem (lower back pain) that I couldn’t fix on my own. I’d rather not need to spend the £££ on something not so tangible or material - i’m a tight northerner after all.!
At the bike fit minimal changes were made, slight adjustment to cleat position, & saddle & bars raised slightly. I suffer with my back, but my lower back actually improves the more I cycle (my chiropracter has always said that cycling will help my back & improve my core) however on long rides (6hr+)or rides involving a lot of riding into the wind often result in tight shoulders & neck. The bike fit did help reduce this.
