Bikes for bad backs

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Author Message   buhinc Citizen Username: Buhinc Post Number: 25 Registered: 8-2002 Posted on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 4:53 pm:        Anybody have a bad back (I have 2 herniated disks) and rides a bicycle? I want a bike to go for long rides, a road bike, but need to be upright and comfortable. Can't afford (or want) a recumbant bike. Any suggestions? Also - any good bike shops other than Millburn around? Thanks!   James Citizen Username: Mcgregorj Post Number: 33 Registered: 7-2003 Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 8:18 am:        You could check out Marty's Reliable in Morristown. If you're ever in the city, you should check out Bicycle Habitat. If you have a bad back, and you want to go for long rides (how long? 50, 100, 1000 miles?), a recumbent is really the best way to go. They can be had for not too too much more than a good quality road bicycle (ie, $1000 or so). You might want to try to talk to a doctor who specializes in sports medicine to see what he/she recommends as far as positioning goes for your specific problem. You could try posting to rec.bicycles.tech on usenet - someone there might be able to help.   paddy Citizen Username: Paddy Post Number: 121 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 9:52 am:        Most major bike manufactuers carry bikes with a more upright geometry. You can look at the ergo line at www.specialized.com or the bike/city path line at www.trekbikes.com. Both are reputable. To narrow the search I'd suggest you go to either High Gear Cyclery in Stirling or Cyclecraft in Parsippany (Cyclecraft however, does not carry Specialized). Both are about 20 minutes away and extremely good -- if you tell them what you need they'll be able to fit you well. Recumbents are good for the back, but there are some large hills around here, and they are much tougher to climb than a regular bike.   buhinc Citizen Username: Buhinc Post Number: 26 Registered: 8-2002 Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 2:14 pm:        Thanks for the advice people! I was looking at Treks and that seemed like a good way to go. You'll see me, painlessly, riding around the hood. Thanks again!