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How Can I Prevent Back Pain on Climbs?
Q: I know you're familiar with riding in southern Arizona, so you probably have heard of our local monster hill, Kitt Peak. Every time I do this climb, my lower back just kills me. What would you recommend to minimize the pain? -- Andy M.
Coach Fred Matheny Replies: Kitt Peak makes my back hurt just thinking about it. Did you know those aren't really telescopes on top? They're pain generators aimed at unsuspecting cyclists trying to get up the hill.
Any steep-and-long climb is likely to cause back stress no matter how strong you are or how well your bike fits. Exerting great pedaling force at a slow cadence requires your low-back muscles to work extra hard. They eventually fatigue and ache.
Check your saddle height. A seat that's a bit too high may not cause back pain in mild terrain when you aren't putting lots of pressure on the pedals. You might even unconsciously toe-down your feet a bit to compensate.
But when you push hard on a climb, your heels drop and shorten your leg/foot combination. Your saddle suddenly becomes too high. Your hips rock and your back hurts.
Also, steep climbs mean that gravity is pulling you to the rear of the saddle. Your bike is tilted up at 10-15%. This has the same effect as riding on the flat with your saddle slid way back on the rails -- something known to cause back pain.
There is no sure-fire solution. But you can do these things to reduce the stress:
---Climb more often so that Kitt Peak isn't such major trauma.
---Make sure your gearing is low enough so that steep climbs aren't like leg-press workouts.
---Alternate standing with sitting to stretch, change your back's position and relieve tension.
---Include crunches and back extensions in your conditioning program. They're key exercises for low-back strength. |