I finally got to give my Heckler a thrash around Dalby at the weekend, But further on intowards the last 6 or so miles i had terrible backache.
I'm riding it on Pikes which have the wrong spring in at the mo and i end up around 40% sag with my gear on! Ive also got fitted a specialised stem off my old stumpy which is around 100mm, Would me fitting a shorter stem cure my back problem? Cos it ****ing hurt the day after the ride
The steering feels very snappy too 😯 is this related to the forks sagging too much and affecting geometry of the bike?
I know my problem lies with one of the above, More than likely the stem I nearly went over the bars 3 times 😆
My setup is a large Heckler pikes at full travel, Specialised 100mm stem and EA70 Mid risers. Pike firm springs around £40? any tips for tha change too 
Ta Rich
Did you get any reach dimensions from your previous bike? Where is the back ache? I've been told a few things can cause that. One might be the difference in height between saddle and stem. A sudden change there will upset your back. If the ache is up near the shoulders, it could be that the set up is too long and if it's lower down, it could be too short. Or, perhaps your hamstrings are too tight.
Tricky to answer without seeing things so I'm just throwing possibilities in the pot.
40% sag does sound a bit much but it isn't going to make that much difference to the head angle compared to say 30% With a 150mm fork that would only be half an inch difference so about half a degree.
I didnt get any measurements off my last bike 🙁 The pains were in my lower back and no doubt will be back next weekend when i get out again.
Ive got my saddle set so at full pedal stroke i have a slight bend in my knee and after riding 10 miles or so i get the feeling I'm too far over the front and low down (not sure if the low downs due to the amount of sag), Adjusting the saddles rails so the seats further back didnt seem to make a difference either.
I'l see if i can get the missus to take a pic of me on the bike to show my positioning thought i'd ask for folks opinions before i go "wasting" (as i'm told) money on more bits 😆
back achne?
try Oxy
i find that a seat set back on its rails gives me back ache. i would try:
1) put the right spring in the fork. you really want that anyway regardless of the back problem.
2) shorter/higher rise stem. higher rise bars.
3) slide your seat forward, get an inline post if necessary.
4) adjust the saddle angle, probably nose down a little.
100mm stem on a heckler sounds on the large size.
it could just be the change of position; neither wrong just different. how flexable are you (ooh err) try stretching if your not.
could be bars too high or too low.
snappy steering will be a short fork i expect.
I've always suffered low back pain and I'd say that backache is a very personal thing. For example, on my bikes I find I have to have the front low to take the weight off my back and on to my arms more unlike, as some would suggest, to get a higher rise stem/bars. Also the reach is very important in that I have to be stretched out: short stem and inline seatpost are a no-no. Saddle height: +/- 5mm from my perfect setting and I'll get backache.
Its taken me ages to figure all this out but means I can now ride the SDW on a hardtail without backache whereas before I'd only manage 2 to 3 hours on my hardtail before being in agony. Trail and error...I've got inline posts, carbon posts, layback posts, 80/90/100mm stems, low rise bars/wide bars etc etc
As nuke proof says its a very personal thing. For me high bars and seat with a long reach prevents backaches. I also have a collection of cheap stems to try out different positions
[i]1) put the right spring in the fork. you really want that anyway regardless of the back problem.
2) shorter/higher rise stem. higher rise bars.
3) slide your seat forward, get an inline post if necessary.
4) adjust the saddle angle, probably nose down a little.[/i]
hehe I'l get the pike spring ordered tomorrow from TFT as ive been meaning to do that for a month now 😳 I'l also raise the stem as it can get more rise by adjusting a shim 🙂 I'l also tweak the seat a bit more too and give it a run to see how it feels 8)
If all else fails a few cheap stems in different lengths and rises will be ordered
Thanks for all the suggestions so far fellow STWs, Rich