Discussion: Stiff back

A stiff back is pretty normal if you've been cycling with a pack (not uncommon, even without the pack). Stretching the hamstrings helps, but don't try to stretch your back - that will just aggrevate it.

About 3 times in my life, I've injured my back on a bike bad enough that I could only get out of bed by rolling to the floor on my hands and knees---I couldn't bend or twist at the waist at all. The third time I figured out (sort of figured out) how I did it: When I'd jump up out of the saddle for just a second or two, like to power up a little hill, or accelerate past someone, my pelvis would be positioned wrong (I can feel it, but not describe it). When I pedal with my pelvis in that weird position, *boom*, three days on my back.

I use front panniers. They catch a bit of wind but have spared my back. I could have jarred it in a jump out of the saddle but can't place the moment. I feel sooo slow on bicycle these days that it hardly seems like I jumped on the pedals for anything. It's been a while since having back trouble so I guess I was due. My way of coping out of training is to do situps instead but that didn't prevent it this time. I remember one time years ago just while eating cereal that my back started hurting. Within 5 minutes, I couldn't sit any more and I had to lay on the floor. This time I didn't get it too bad and maybe my easing off on they way home gave it time to heal. Today it's much better.