was it something I did wrong?

Ken-the-Troll

I had a psiatica problem simular to yours on my BikeE AT a year and a half ago. My internist sent me to PT for a month. The exercises I learned from PT helped a lot, but when I changed the angle of the seat back to the most layed out position the pain went away.

This August we bought 2 Rans V-Rexes and I love the fact that I can change the seat angle far more than I could on the old BikeEs. However, the PT also taught me that the key to lowering the chances of psiatica pain was to stablize the lower spine and keeping the hip from excessive rotations as I peddled. In my case the bent allows me to plant my butt against the back of the seat and by keeping it there the lower spine doen't move. Keeping my backside against the seat back gives me support to use the full strength of my legs to give me a good rate of speed. You must always remember to keep a comfortable cadance and avoid the temptation to power your way up a hill or to high speed. Doing that can damage the cartillage in your knees and that hurts even more than the psiatica.

__________________
Ken the Troll
I live South of the Mighty Mackinaw Bridge
Riding 2003 Rans V-Rex

blazingpedals

I've been lurking on this thread for quite a while, and I have to say, I'm puzzled as to why any bent would apparently cause back problems. In fact, the opposite is the norm. Here's a list of possibilities I can come up with:
1. pedals too far from seat, causing gap between lower back and seatback?
2. lifting the thing and pulling a muscle?
3. contortions required to get on it?
4. caused by road shock transmitted up the seat?
Of the bikes you listed, none are particularly heavy, but they have fairly upright seats. The Haluzak has a little bit more 'open' pedaling position, which may make a difference one way or the other. Backs are funny things. Sometimes the thing you'd think would help, doesn't, and vice-versa. It would be counter-intuitive (and counter to most experience) to say that bents are bad for backs, but it may well be true that bents are bad for YOUR back. Check the fit of your bents, perhaps test ride other models, but in the end you've got to go with what works for you. If that means giving up bents, so be it. Check in and let us know how it's going.

bentupright

Update from Bentupright:


As of late I 'ressurrected' the Rotator Pursuit LWB recumbent and after a week on it I did not feel PAIN but a certain mild discomfort that started building toward the end of the week. It might also be finnicky frustrations that I had with it: the gear shifting not as cooperative (nor versitile) as the Trek 1000, but after the week I decided to go BACK to the upright road! Looking back on things, the last 4 months or so might have been the only time which, as far as road bikes go, I placed a long stem under the drop bars (no short stem, no stem bolt elevators, no aero bars for my arms), and just used it 'au naturale'. Granted, the first couple of weeks I was cracking my back after the five mile commute (still do, sometimes), it SEEMS to be doing better now.

I myself, however, am NOT! The doctor is experimenting with other medications for my epilepsy problem, and considering the possibility of falling off, I have every reason to go to a recumbent trike. Thing is, as explained in another post, I BELIEVE that one such as the Greenspeed 16/16 or the Catrike Speed, with something to cradle more of my whole back, might prevent that fiasco that I experienced before. Problem is, no shop nearby carries all of them to examine, and other than a rather 'Plain-Jane' stat of how high the seat is above ground, that tells me little about how well I might be cradled by these contraptions (at least, I believe, not as accurately as actually being in one!). Anyway, something like one of those guys (suggestions desired), and my feet bolted to the pedals ala 'SpeedPlay' pedals should offer a respectable degree of safety during a petit/gran mal, no?

bentupright

Hot Mover also looks like a possibility, or greenspeed 16/16, or Catrike Speed. Anyone see any difference between this calibre of trike, and the seat arrangement on my present Haluzak Horizon and Lightning Thunderbolt? The pictures (and my limited experience) would seem to indicate two opposing designs: One that has seats with a fairly wide range of adjustment, but pedals that stay fairly low (my present bikes), the second design that makes a fairly unadjustable sling mesh seat, but pedals up relatively high (relative to the seat, perhaps placing me in more of a 'cradled' position, much like the designs followed by recumbent two-wheelers classified as 'low racers'), and this might be to my benefit.

kevinclimber

when building a delta style trike which axle design is the best to use for the chain management system.this is my first attempt and just curious.checking out different websites but pics not very clear and info. is not for the beginner.

20" is king

BEnt Upright, I HAVE had back trouble caused by riding recumbents. This was caused by forcing my shoulders into the top of a hardshell seat and sprinting and mashing at the pedals. The seat was quite narrow at that point and my shoulders just sat squonky on it.
I only just got back on it after an 18 month break. I wont be riding it like that anymore. But I dont feel like I'm passed 'it' or anything melodramatic like that.
No, I just am older than I was and not able to absorb the physical abuse that I used to inflict on myself for the pleasure of 40mph on the flat.

Another pain I occaisionally experience is similar to your Piriformitis.
It comes on sometimes if I ride along no handed on my upright for a period of a couple of minutes. I know that my lower back is somewhat stiff and always assumed that this was upsetting something in my SI joint. Chiro normally sorts it out, that and not riding no handed.

Have you tried putting flat bars on your road bike? This will allow a fairly upright position without forcing you to bend forwards, helping you to keep a nice straight and stretched back. Also you should be extending the stretch in a nice straight line up your spine, perhaps this is what you meant by sreatching your back?

You say that you are interested in a trike? I have some experience fitting recumbent trikes to folks with disabilities and have these things to offer in advice.

1. Make sure that you use one with a good degree of adjust ment to the mesh seat. Dont use a hard shell.
2. A relatively high pedal position would be better that a lower position for your epilepsy. You should try to get one that sits you snugly 'in' rather than 'on' the trike. This way when you PM you will be be in a more supported position and are less likely to fall out.
3. Get one with an adjustable angle on the seat. Again this is to help prevent you from toppling out in the event of a PM.

If I were to suggest a particular trike it would be the the Hase Kettwiesel,
Adjustable angled seat, adjustable tension mesh seat, fairly high pedals, available with a differential ( as its delta - not tadpole ), better turning circle than any tadpole. I should say I'm a little biased. I ride one. But the above is still true.

I look forward to updates on your progress!

20" is king

And yes, do use a clipless pedal, but not one with completely unsprung realease mechanisms, a la speedplay.

Why not? Well you do want them to release if you DO fall out. The speedplay has such a wide range of movement before it realeases that its possible to get dumped out of a trike recumbent but still have your feet securely held.
You dont want snapped ankles too. ;-)