Hi everyone,

I had surgery in January 2010 (9 months ago) when I was 19yrs old to fix a dislocated/ herniated disc in my lower back. Thankfully I am relatively pain free although I still have watch how I move my body.

I have not done much exercise besides physical therapy at the beginning. The one time I played basketball (7 months after the surgery) my leg was in pain afterward, a symptom I use to get before the surgery. That had me worried because my doctor mention that there will always be a chance that the dislocated/ herniated disc may come back.

My situation is that I am moving away to college very soon and my main mode of transportation will be a bike which I will be riding to and from class as well as around town with a bag full of books and papers on my back. I am worried that biking will bring back the pain or somehow cause another dislocated/ herniated disc.

Is there a particular bike that I should get that won't cause incredible strain on my back and therefore possibly causing another dislocated/ herniated disc? A safe ways to carry my stuff with me when I bike? A riding posture that I should use? Advice about riding to prevent the back pain?

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Thanks