Bicycling with a bad back

Having had back surgery in November of 2007 to compensate for spondylolisthesis*, I have complete empathy for people who deal with back pain in their lives, and not only pain, but also the physical issues which limit many of life’s activities. Years ago I had to eliminate many sports from my life because of my back condition, and as time went on the condition gradually became worse, further limiting my ability to enjoy many aspects of a normal life. However, the one constant that remained in my life for activity was bicycling. When even walking caused back pain, swelling, and nerve pinching, bicycling caused minimal issues, so it was not only enjoyable, relatively pain-free, but mentally rewarding.

One change I made a few years ago after riding Goba (Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure) was I bought a recumbent bicycle. The motivation factor here was as much my neck and my hands as it was my back. No matter how much I stretched, and worked the muscles in my neck I never, after twenty years, could eliminate the discomfort while riding an upright bicycle. I think that much of the discomfort was caused by my scoliosis which resulted from having spondylolisthesis. Anyway, I always had neck pain. In addition, each year it seemed to take longer to get my wrists and hands ‘conditioned’ for supporting some of my upper body weight on the handlebars of my upright bicycle.

So after struggling with pain issues on GOBA 2000, I stopped in Columbus on my way home where my wife and I purchased recumbent bicycles. I have never looked back.  The comfort is unsurpassed. No neck pain, no hand/wrist pain, and no breaking in the butt on the saddle each spring!  And if you have visited my ‘bent vs. upright’ pages, my motto is; the more comfortable you are, the longer you will ride, which improves one’s fitness.

With an upright bicycle, some people have issues with the rough rides, and how most bikes can jolt the back when riding over cracked asphalt, curbs, and small potholes. Some suspensions improve this issue, but for many people with nerve compression problems, suspensions are not enough. Recumbents change the angle of your back while bicycling which may or may not improve the issue depending upon your specific back condition. Also, ‘bents usually have softer seats, or web type seats which dampen the jolt effect.

So what is the downside of a recumbent bicycle, and how is the back pain on a recumbent?  The only downsides I have found after 8 years of riding a ‘bent are:

1.) it takes 10-15% more effort on real hills or mountains than a wedgie (upright) bicycle.

2.) Most recumbents weigh more than an upright, so you are pushing a little more weight.  The seat and back support system on a 'bent accounts for much of this added weight. There are a few other minor differences and if you want to read more about those differences you can go to the ‘bent vs. upright pages.

Is the switch to a recumbent worth it?  It depends on what you want out of cycling. If your into triathlons, dabble in racing, or don’t have an issue with neck/hand/wrist/butt pain, obviously the answer is no. However, if you enjoy casual touring, extended touring, or even fast club rides, yes it is! If you have had back issues on an upright, check out a ‘bent, try it out for a while and see how the back reacts. Most likely you will be surprised how good you can feel on a recumbent.

-Mark