 Bad Backs Anyone?
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Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
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I searched the forums on this topic, but none of the threads seemed to reach a consensus. I'm 55 and my lower back sometimes gets out of whack. I twist or bend the wrong way, a muscle snaps, and I can hardly move for a few days after that. I'm wondering if anyone else experiences this, and if you ride an America. I haven't had the chance to do more than briefly sit on one of these at my local dealer (they have only one in the showroom - not the color I want - and no demo). Nevertheless, I'm traveling to complete a purchase on a new America tomorrow at a dealer about 200 miles away. There won't be much time to mull this over when I get there, and even though the remote dealer has a demo, I'm not sure I can tell much in five or ten minutes of riding. Should I be concerned about the relaxed riding position of this model? My previous bikes have all been more traditional (Honda 750 types and a Harley dresser). Any comments on this from others who have found themselves in a similar situation will be appreciated. Jack 
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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I RIDE A 2005 SPEEDMASTER - I have had a bad back for 45 years and I'm on my second back operation(now have pins and pedical screws in L4,L5 and S1). I have put 23,500 miles commuting 41 miles a day and have taken 500 mile per day trips. I ride a minimal pad custom seat you can purchase through Brent at New Bonneville.com and have never hurt my back while riding. I do hurt my back as you describe at least a few times or more per year.
I think The America and Speedmaster sit and ride pretty much the same.
I don't think the bike will be to blame if your back hurts. It is very useful to keep your stomach muscles in shape which I think is essential in protecting your back.
Best of luck and tell the dealer you will need at least a 30 minute ride to make a decision.
Gary
If your ship doesn't come in - swim out to it !
Nothing but Triumph -'05 Speedmaster - Ride with the NorCal Presidents
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
Best of luck and tell the dealer you will need at least a 30 minute ride to make a decision.
I absolutley agree and if you can ride both the Speedmaster and America. Because of the bars, the ergonomics are different. If you like the ride of the Speedmaster better, but like the America better overall, have the dealer swap the bars for you.
I have a Speedmaster, close to 22,000. My back feels better after a long day of riding than a half day in the car or even how my back usually feels when I get up in the morning. My bike is almost like my personal chiropractor.
Soren
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 Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440
Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
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Thanks guys, that's exactly what I needed. I'll let you know how it works out when I get back. Can't wait to start riding again! Jack 
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 135
Adjunct
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You can also add a driver backrest like a pro-tac or Utopia to give you some back support. I've got the Utopia which is huge, but gives excellent support and is easily adjustable and removable, I guarantee you won't have back pain with this. Didn't have much choice as the pro-tac wasn't available in the UK at the time. Here's a pic of mine. good luck mate. John 
the trouble with the world today is apathy.
but I don't care
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643 |
Having had the America and now own the speedmaster I would say for me the riding position of the america is better, my back and shoulder hurt like crazy on the speedy after an hour or so. Swopping the bars and cables over is an option if you like the twin discs up front though 
Ray(UK)
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2006
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Quote:
My back feels better after a long day of riding than a half day in the car or even how my back usually feels when I get up in the morning. My bike is almost like my personal chiropractor.
Soren
Ditto.
Personally, I've learned that doing stretching exercises first thing in the morning can really reduce the chances of pulling a muscle in my back.
That, and a hundred sit-ups a day to strengthen your abs really helps.
Good luck & ride safe. 
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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 Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 807
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 807 |
Welcome, Jack. For the last year, I've been riding with a prolapsed (slipped) disc. (Surgery soon. Yay!!) I don't have a problem with pain (Speedie, stock seat) but I can't go into corners with as much confidence as I should as I feel as tho I wouldn't have the strength to react should something happen mid-corner. That would apply on any bike.
Incidentally, press-ups are better for the abs than crunches/sit-ups, especially if you stagger your arms. (One hand over your head, one by your ribs). Easier on the back, too.
PS What's with the Guzzi?
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,152
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Quote:
I'm 55 and my lower back sometimes gets out of whack. I twist or bend the wrong way, a muscle snaps, and I can hardly move for a few days after that. ... Any comments on this from others who have found themselves in a similar situation will be appreciated.
Jack: As I got into my 50's I had more and more back events, I could count on a some brutal pain and few days off my feet several times a year. My doctor always said it was muscle cramps rather than discs and that stretching and exercise would help.
I found a set of home exercises about a year ago that seem to target the exact muscles that act up and I joined the "Y" and do simple strength routines with machines there. The result is pretty much amazing. Not the slightest back twinge since I got well into the routine and most of the general creakiness stays at bay as long as i do some simple stretches daily. I'm almost 60 now and my back is better than it was 10 years ago.
I also recommend a few changes for the america: short handlebar risers, floorboards, and a corbin seat or similar backrest. All of these helped me.
Good luck with the new bike, you'll love it.
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Jul 2007
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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Also had a bad back for 20 plus years. I can only work about 7 hours a day on average, which is one reason why I work for myself in construction. Strangely enough, even when my back hurts, it doesn't when I ride the America. It's the one thing that I can feel comfortable doing when it acts up.
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Adjunct
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chronic neck and low back pain for 20years now. Replaced the drag bars with apes, no more neck pain. Get me in a car for an hour and my back is screaming.
pain is temporary, pride is forever.
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,690
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Guess I've been real lucky, will be 47 Wednesday, no back problems yet...
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Feb 2008
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Quote:
Guess I've been real lucky, will be 47 Wednesday, no back problems yet...
Give it time Doc, you're just a lad.
Happy birthday for Wednesday. 
the trouble with the world today is apathy.
but I don't care
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 948
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 948 |
Quote:
Quote:
I have a Speedmaster, close to 22,000. My back feels better after a long day of riding than a half day in the car or even how my back usually feels when I get up in the morning. My bike is almost like my personal chiropractor.
Soren
Who over 50 doesn't have a bad back? I've been to doctors and physical therapists and riding my America for a couple of hours seems to do more than anything. I do admit, however, after 500 miles on a really hot day of sitting in perspiration, my butt gets a little tender.
Redbike7
2006 America
No amount of skill can overcome gross stupidity. Ask me how I know...never mind, I forgot...
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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67 and a bad back. Just came off an HD Dresser. Bought an '07 Sreedmaster, changed out the bars and cables to the America set-up. Added floorboards...no stretched out legs....room to move around. Added a Corbin Solo saddle with back rest...lowered me down an inch and cradled my butt. Just installed Jim's 1'' spacers which brought the handle bars back an inch allowing me to relax my arms and lean against the backrest. A Clearview screen and I'm good to go for long rides.
"You're a long time underground!"
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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Quote:
Who over 50 doesn't have a bad back? I've been to doctors and physical therapists and riding my America for a couple of hours seems to do more than anything. I do admit, however, after 500 miles on a really hot day of sitting in perspiration, my butt gets a little tender.
I'm 53. back is in great shape.
Get checked by a doctor, if there are no reasons not to; start exercising. A strong core will do wonders toward preventing tired, achy muscles.
Wear wicking underwear (no cotton chonis) for the monkey butt, and use powder or cream if needed.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,525
Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
You could try this:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/back-a-line/back-a-line.htm
Great suggestion Matt!!
I e"F"t up my back pretty bad last year. Just picked up something wrong. I was using a walker for about a month. Chiropractor helped alot but for long rides I where my Back o line.
Erwin
05 America
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23
Complete Newb
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Complete Newb
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I've had back trouble my entire adult life from a career in construction. Bigbill's got the right suggestion: strength the core. I bougtht a Bowflex a year ago and have used it somewhat regularly to keep my drinking arm is shape. Althought I still have a middle spread worse than melted butter, I feel much better. I can spend an entire day on and off my stock SM seat without pain in my back (which is a differnet place than the butt!). I also find if I lean my shoulders a bit forward and hold my stomach in periodically as I ride, there is no stress on my back. I also suffer from shoulder joint pain. The SM bars are perfect for me because of that. A day before I know I'm going for a ride (avg 325 miles/trip since I got my 07 SM) I start taking 800 mg of Advil every 12 hours and put Icey-Hot on the shoulders before I go.(And for those that don't know, Icey-Hot will NOT work for a sore rear end  ) It keeps the ride enjoyable. I guess the bottom line is that it sucks to get old, but the passion for the roads becomes the mother of adaptation. Maybe a little of that Guinness Bread would help. 
All good things come to those who ride.
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Oct 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Hmm....I'm younger than Echoance, and I had a prolapsed disc before Xmas - and still not properly back at work, but that's due to retraining.....
And riding around means that I forget all about my back and I'm happy. I have the stock America seat on them both and n backrest. Ok I sometimes put my feet on the rear pegs for a diferent position, but that's all.
I've had no real pain (I mean the type where it takes over an hour to get out the sofa) since February, was allowed to ride again in March and no painkillers since April.
I've always found my America ot be comfy, and great therapy.
Gina
03 America - Pretty stock - except the TBS wheel... 
06 America - missing, presumed in bits. With it's TBS wheel... 
09 America - It's very blue....
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Mar 2008
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Adjunct
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Had a lot of back trouble in the past, including partial disc removal. I suffered a bit on my America for the first month or two. The more I relaxed, the better it got and no problems now. Buy one, you'll love it 
The path of excess leads to the Palace of Wisdom
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Adjunct
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Hi, I've had lower back pain since my 20's. It's not too bad when I'm riding though. Usually use over the counter pain meds if it is uncomfortable. Like GinaS, I move my feet into a different position,though its the case saver that I put my feet on. I have a Pro-Tac backrest, which is great. You can get one from Fasteddy. Though, the ride is therapy enough. Ride safe. AmyLee 
AmyLee
'02 America, Cardinal Red,
2018 Speedmaster
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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I am 51 have been having back problems for over 20 years. With degenerative disk problems I have had 3 surgeries over that time. My last surgery was almost 4 years ago. I agree with doing the exercises to stregthen the back. To be honest I don't do them as often as I use too. When I over do it my back will give me some pain but nothing like I had before the operations with the constant pain in my butt shooting down to my foot. When I first got my America I could only do 100 to 150 miles a day without my back aching for a day or two. Getting the corbin with the back rest has sure made a big difference for me. At first I thought it would be too hard and didn't like the way it scooted me up a few inches toward the tank. It is a whole alott better than the stock seat. Now on long rides I rarely have a sore back and think that the investment in the corin was money well spent. Another thing that I do is vary my riding positions on long trips. Sometimes I put my feet on the passanger pegs or strecth them out over the ends of my floorboards. I have ever leaned over almost putting my chest on the tank, this helps to strecth out my back some while changing the postion for a short time. My advice would be not to over do and gradually work your way up to riding distances and see how it goes. Maybe changing the risers to pull the handlebar closer to you may be an option. I adjusted my handlebars slightly back from their original positon and it works for me. Hope this helps.
You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one
John Lennon
Imagine
Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty, anyone who keeps learning stays young, the greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.
Henry Ford
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Jul 2008
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Learned Hand
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OP
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I gotta say, this thread produced a *lot* more info than I expected. We went to see the bike yesterday, but it was hard to tell much from the test ride. In the end, I decided to just buy this beautiful machine and sort it all out later. What else was I gonna do? Buy a Harley and pretend to be a lawyer?  Anyway, I'm glad to report that after five or six hours of riding today, I'm none the worse for it. (Well, maybe a little worse - I plowed through thick swarms of bugs for an hour on the way home this evening.) My occasional back problems appear to be muscular in nature, as evidenced by a few clean x-rays over the last ten years. More daily exercise and one or more of the add-ons you guys are using will probably take care of this for me. Many thanks for the terrific info! Jack
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440
Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
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Quote:
I found a set of home exercises about a year ago that seem to target the exact muscles that act up
Bill, can you tell me more about those exercises?
Jack
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Jul 2008
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Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
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Quote:
PS What's with the Guzzi?
It just was a handy motorcycle pic (and I admit to a fondness for the roadrunner). I shoot about 5-10,000 photos a year. Hope no one minds if I occasionally use one here. 
Jack
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Re: Bad Backs Anyone?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Old Hand
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Old Hand
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I have a crushed verti.... virta.... one of those boxy little bones in the back, and have no problems riding all day on my America.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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