I did the Lubbock 1/2 IM last Sunday and experienced severe lower back pain starting about 25-30 miles into the bike. The back pain was gone as soon as I got off the bike.
I'm riding a P2k which I've had for about 7 weeks (about 800 miles on it) with peak riding distances of about 60 miles at a time, 100% in the aerobars on this bike in this fit. I'm self-fit using the techniques described on this site. In all of my training I am in the aerobars virtually 100% of the ride and I have never had a minute of back pain.
There were 2 differences between Sunday and my normal training rides
1. This was my primary race for the entire year.
2. The roads were far rougher than anything I would ever train on.
Any ideas on the cause of the back pain? I don't think it is due to the fit since I've been in the aerobars for much longer time periods with no back pain. Could it be simply the tension of the race? Could the rough roads have something to do with it?
I'm riding a P2k which I've had for about 7 weeks (about 800 miles on it) with peak riding distances of about 60 miles at a time, 100% in the aerobars on this bike in this fit. I'm self-fit using the techniques described on this site. In all of my training I am in the aerobars virtually 100% of the ride and I have never had a minute of back pain.
There were 2 differences between Sunday and my normal training rides
1. This was my primary race for the entire year.
2. The roads were far rougher than anything I would ever train on.
Any ideas on the cause of the back pain? I don't think it is due to the fit since I've been in the aerobars for much longer time periods with no back pain. Could it be simply the tension of the race? Could the rough roads have something to do with it?