I've heard this experience from others, and there is a reason why the "standard" drop bar position, with 45* back angle, has been so popular so long; and why saddle/bar equilibrium (relative to the individual rider of course) is the crucial part of bike fit.
Me, at about 57 or 8, a couple of years ago, with my neck getting stiffer, I raised my (drop) bars about an inch to about 1" below saddle nose, and switched to longer-ramp models (Maes Parallels; 42 cm Noodle; 44 cm B 135; the Maes Parallels are the best of the bunch) from the agressively short ramped185. Much better! Though as a frisky 40-something a bar 3" below saddle was fine. Another instance: long ago I complained to Grant that I felt I was "losing" power TDC of the pedal stroke. I had my saddles way forward with long stems in a stupid pursuit of KOPS. Grant said, "Get the saddle back and the bar up and back" and I did both, moving the bar from a long extension and 6" below saddle to 8 cm and 3" below saddle. *Much* better for my back as well as my power and my arms/shoulders! Butt-back works for me. On Sun, Feb 15, 2015 at 12:56 PM, alan lavine <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello All...Thought I would share this, as I'm sure I'm not the only > "mature" cyclist with intermittent low back pain. I have a small disc > herniation at L4-L5 level that protrudes posteriorly and compresses the > nerve root as it exits the vertebral column. My first response was, well > Grant was right, now I have to be more upright on the bike. Not a problem > for a chronic cockpit changer like me, anyway...is there a bar I haven't > tried? Doubt it. > > So I put Albatross bars on the Ram, also tried porter bars on another > bike, experimenting with various bar heights as well. THIS MADE THINGS > WORSE! I went to moustache and albastache bars, with a shorter stem, bars > level with the seat, and did much better. The neurologist explained it: > with your back bent forward at a gentle angle, 45 degree angle of trunk to > horizontal, the vertebral column is bent in a way that opens up the > posterior (back) aspect of the column and helps to relieve the compression > of the nerve root. An upright posture is more like a series of blocks one > on top of another and all the force is directed straight down, compressing > things further. > > I realize this scenario is specific to my particular anatomy but I'm > curious to hear about others' experiences with this issue. How has your > riding changed as Father Time marches on? > > Alan > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- Resumes, LinkedIn profiles, bios, and letters that get interviews. By-the-hour resume and LinkedIn coaching. Other professional writing services. http://www.resumespecialties.com/ www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmooreresumespec/ Patrick Moore Alburquerque, Nouvelle Mexique, Vereinigte Staaten ************************************* *The point which is the pivot of the norm is the motionless center of a circumference on the rim of which all conditions, distinctions, and individualities revolve. *Chuang Tzu *Kinei hos eromenon. It moves as the being-loved. *Aristotle *The Love that moves the Sun and all the other stars. *Dante -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
