I have a screwed disc in my lower back and ride about 100kms a week...the riding engages my core muscles enough to prevent lower back pain. If I don't ride for a few days and do no other significant exercise my back gives me hell. My cardio fitness is the best it's been in years too.

As a non American I just don't get the obsession your veterans have with letting everyone know that they're veterans ... we have veterans too but they don't parade around with fecking stickers and badges like the defence force equivalent of vegans