MTB Riding Position

I have been suffering from severe low back pain for some time now and am
seeing an Osteo and Physio to help me manage it. Up to now I am convinced
that riding is not the cause of it, but that it's triggered more by my
posture whilst at work.

However, when it flares up my riding position on my road bike definitely
doesn't help and I've been advised to ride (for a while) in an upright a
position as possible. I've looked at hybrids/flat bars and whilst they are
slightly more upright than my road bike it's not significantly better so as
to make the difference. When I was in my LBS the other day I spotted a Giant
MTB on offer for 150 quid that looked to have a more upright position than
any road bike.

As I have never ridden a MTB before I just wondered what people's view was?
I know the gearing is different and I'd be using it for winter training on
the road really so that may be a bit of an issue, and I would have to stick
some slicker tyres on it. Predominantly though I am interested as to whether
a MTB does indeed have a less stretched out, more upright position than the
various types of bikes associacted with road use. Can anyone offer me pearls
of wisdom and how MTB's tend to go on the road?

Right now I need it!!

Cheers

Paul

PS: 2005 Ridgeback Genesis Day 00 anyone? ;-)

Paul wrote:
I have been suffering from severe low back pain for some time now and
am seeing an Osteo and Physio to help me manage it. Up to now I am
convinced that riding is not the cause of it, but that it's triggered
more by my posture whilst at work.

However, when it flares up my riding position on my road bike
definitely doesn't help and I've been advised to ride (for a while)
in an upright a position as possible.

Get a Brommie, you know you want one. ;-) As upright a riding position as
you'll get on any bike (barring perhaps a Pedersen). See the "Comfort" page
on http://www.pedersenbicycle.dk/ or
http://www.dursley-pedersen.co.uk/pe...560015_jpg.htm
to see what I mean.

Can't help you with the MTB question though. Sorry.

Tim

Paul wrote:

some slicker tyres on it. Predominantly though I am interested as to whether
a MTB does indeed have a less stretched out, more upright position than the
various types of bikes associacted with road use.

Depends on the bike setup. My MTB is just as stretched out as a lot of
road bikes, others have riser bars and shorter tubes and are far more
sit up and beg. If you specify different handlebars with risers you'll
be able to get more upright.

But a roadster/Dutch-style urban bike is considerably more upright, and
a Pedersen even more so. Or bend your back the other way into a nice,
supportive comfy chair, and take the recumbent route. Not all back
problems respond to recumbent seating, but a lot do.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

in message , Paul
') wrote:

I have been suffering from severe low back pain for some time now and
am seeing an Osteo and Physio to help me manage it. Up to now I am
convinced that riding is not the cause of it, but that it's triggered
more by my posture whilst at work.

However, when it flares up my riding position on my road bike
definitely doesn't help and I've been advised to ride (for a while) in
an upright a position as possible. I've looked at hybrids/flat bars and
whilst they are slightly more upright than my road bike it's not
significantly better so as to make the difference. When I was in my LBS
the other day I spotted a Giant MTB on offer for 150 quid that looked
to have a more upright position than any road bike.

If it has a more upright position than a road bike, and it's a mountain
bike, then it's a specialist downhiller that weighs a ton. However, such
a bike also costs more than £150. I suspect what you're looking at is
either a jump bike - which isn't really ridable at all for more than
short distances, but is designed for BMX style stunts, or a 'comfort'
hybrid. 'Comfort' hybrids (e.g. Specialized Expedition
URL:http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9348) have a
noticeably upright riding position. While they have some features in
common with mountain bikes, they're designed for roads and level tracks.
You'd find it a slow and probably boring ride, but it would certainly be
a different riding position.

Alternatively, have you considered a recumbent?

Predominantly though I am
interested as to whether a MTB does indeed have a less stretched out,
more upright position than the various types of bikes associacted with
road use.

No. A properly adjusted (cross country) mountain bike has pretty much the
same riding position as the same rider's road bike.

Can anyone offer me pearls of wisdom and how MTB's tend to go
on the road?

With slicks, not dreadful. Most mountain bike suspension is not designed
for road use, and unless you can lock it out you will get a great deal
of unhelpful suspension movement which will actually take energy out of
the bike. On the road, too, you'll probably spin out of gears on the
flat let alone on downhills, although you may be able to fit a bigger
chainset.

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; Let's have a moment of silence for all those Americans who are stuck
;; in traffic on their way to the gym to ride the stationary bicycle.
;; Rep. Earl Blumenauer (Dem, OR)

Paul wrote:
I have been suffering from severe low back pain for some time now and am
seeing an Osteo and Physio to help me manage it. Up to now I am convinced
that riding is not the cause of it, but that it's triggered more by my
posture whilst at work.

However, when it flares up my riding position on my road bike definitely
doesn't help and I've been advised to ride (for a while) in an upright a
position as possible. I've looked at hybrids/flat bars and whilst they are
slightly more upright than my road bike it's not significantly better so as
to make the difference. When I was in my LBS the other day I spotted a Giant
MTB on offer for 150 quid that looked to have a more upright position than
any road bike.

As I have never ridden a MTB before I just wondered what people's view was?
I know the gearing is different and I'd be using it for winter training on
the road really so that may be a bit of an issue, and I would have to stick
some slicker tyres on it. Predominantly though I am interested as to whether
a MTB does indeed have a less stretched out, more upright position than the
various types of bikes associacted with road use. Can anyone offer me pearls
of wisdom and how MTB's tend to go on the road?

Right now I need it!!

Cheers

Paul

PS: 2005 Ridgeback Genesis Day 00 anyone? ;-)


Of my various bikes, my hybrid (with an adjustable stem) is capable of
achieving the most upright setup. While I generally ride with my hands
well below my backside, I sometimes adjust the setup on the hybrid and
ride "penny-farthing style" just for a change for a day or two. It will
give a much more upright position than my MTB could manage.

--
Brian G

In article , Brian G
wrote:
While I generally ride with my hands well below my backside, I
sometimes adjust the setup on the hybrid and ride "penny-farthing
style" just for a change for a day or two. It will give a much
more upright position than my MTB could manage.

If you have a large stomach and a bad back the upright position is
the only way to go.

--
A T (Sandy) Morton
on the Bicycle Island
In the Global Village
http://www.millport.net

Peter Clinch ) wrote:
: Paul wrote:

: some slicker tyres on it. Predominantly though I am interested as to whether
: a MTB does indeed have a less stretched out, more upright position than the
: various types of bikes associacted with road use.

[snip]

: But a roadster/Dutch-style urban bike is considerably more upright, and
: a Pedersen even more so.

I am from Germany, where the bike market is also full of _very_ upright
urban bikes, which I like for city riding. I haven't bought a new one in
quite some time, but I recently saw that this London store has some:

http://www.bikefix.co.uk/b-fahrrad.html

One problem is that the most upright ones seem to be "ladies'" versions,
which you may not want. But the very bottom model seems to be more
sporty. Probably a tradeoff between back and other things. Another issue
with these particular bikes is that they usually come fully equipped for
city riding (which I appreciate), but that may be too much stuff you don't
want.

Good luck with the back in any case!

m.

Sandy Morton wrote:

If you have a large stomach and a bad back the upright position is
the only way to go.

An aerobelly is not a problem if you're lying down on the job, though! ;-)

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Marianne Promberger ) wrote:
: urban bikes, which I like for city riding. I haven't bought a new one in
: quite some time, but I recently saw that this London store has some:

: http://www.bikefix.co.uk/b-fahrrad.html

: One problem is that the most upright ones seem to be "ladies'" versions,
: which you may not want. But the very bottom model seems to be more
: sporty.

Ugh, also costs just 1,500 GBP. Huh. The website of the manufacturer is
www.fahrradmanufaktur.de. Alas, annoying flash or something website, and
in German. In case you care, "Stadtraeder" would be the upright city
stuff. Many more models.

m.

Tim Downie wrote:

Get a Brommie, you know you want one. ;-) As upright a riding position as
you'll get on any bike (barring perhaps a Pedersen).

Though a Brom's riding position /is/ upright, at least if the standard
seatpost is fully extended (it is for me, and I'm hardly a giant at
5'8"/1.73m) you can certainly get more so without resorting to a
Pedersen. A roadster with moustache bars will typically have you sat
more upright IME.

Though having said that, IIRC Myra Van I went to her Brom as the main
bike as her pregnancy wore on and her wrists got more painful as it was
the most upright bike she had available. It may well be upright
/enough/, and they *are* fantastically useful machines that very few
regret buying.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/