Has anyone had problems with lower back pain=no power on the bike? After 90 minutes or so, I begin to struggle to hold 25mh/hr(15.5 miles/hr) when 30km/hr(18.5 miles/hr) is the norm. Ironman wisconsin is looking very doubtful as this has plagued me in the past.
Any suggestions??
Wounded and deperate.
I struggled with lower back pain all last season and the first part of this season. I had a couple specific problems which I’ve come a long way towards fixing; first, my stem was too long so that I was too stretched out. This is a classic cause of lower back pain.
Second, I was a butterfly swimmer in high school, so I developed a good set of ab muscles, however, I didn’t develop good lower back muscles so there is a significant imbalance. I’ve been doing lower back exercises for a couple months and I think it is helping.
Next, I’ve always been about as flexible as a baseball bat. I’ve been working on flexibility for a while now and it has helped in numerous ways. I’ve especially worked on hip flexibility which really helps the back.
Of course, look at the drop in your handlebars. Also, think about your hip rotation while in the aerobars, this makes a big difference to me. I recently started to deflate my tires a little if the roads were going to be rough. The bouncing caused me to tense my back muscles. Finally, I’m concentrating on keeping relaxed all throughout the workout or race.
Tom is dead on about being too stretched out. Been there, done that. I haven’t seen your position, but that would be where I would start.
Thanks for the tips guy’s…I will be definetley taking 60minutes everyday to stretch and strengthen the lower back and abs. Bike position is pretty dialed in, me local bike shop guy is real good. Well hope all goes well in Wisconsin as I had the dreaded DNF in IMF 2000. Me will finish or die trying.
Thanks
Go and have a talk to a manipulative physiotherapist who specialises in sports injuries. He/she’ll be able to give you a bunch of exercises to do that will help out. I find mine invaluable.
last summer was my first full season and I struggled with low back pain in nearly every race. I’ve been doing yoga once a week and went to a personal trainer who had done IM’s to get a good core strengthening routine, which I try to do at least 3x a week. I have had no problems this year. well, I’ve had no back problems this year. 