Why Professional bikefitting
Bike fit is the process of determining and implementing an ideal position on a bicycle. An ideal position varies from cyclist to cyclist. For the purposed of this post we will only focus on a preventative fit and a fit for an injured/recovering cyclist. Performance fits are similar, in that both fits should make your position more efficient and safe. My focus is on either preventing excessive forces to be placed on certain body areas, or purposefully reducing those pressures to support healing tissue. Aerodynamic and power improvements are often achieved at the same time (It is hard to produce a bunch of power when you are in pain), however they are not the primary focus for the injured cyclist.
Bike fitting is like getting a suit tailored (not sized). You buy your suit that is the closest size but the tailoring fits it specifically to your body. Bike fitting takes your equipment and positions it in as close to an ideal position as possible. There are times when fit will benefit from a new bike part (usually stems and saddles) but I try use what you already have as much as possible.
The process is very similar to gait and running evaluations. After a physical examination and discussion of current symptoms on the bike, you ride on a trainer and are observed. I look at overall posture and scan for asymmetric motions in different planes of motion. I use some measurements looking at joint angles and set up lasers to help identify deviations. There is consistent feedback throughout the process.
One area of the bike fit that I particularly enjoy working on is the cleat/pedal interface. This is where we can help you gain control in the frontal and transverse planes of motion of your legs. In English, this means that we can help decrease your knees hitting your top tube or reduce the wide “flying V” position of your knees. This is done through cleat placement, wedging or canting the cleat and occasionally wedging inside of the shoe or using an insert.
Cycling is one of the most recommended activities for patients after knee and hip surgeries. It is low impact and can provide a great form of cardiovascular activity. However, if the form, posture or equipment is less than ideal the potential exists for an overuse injury. A bike fit can support the work that your surgeon did, the therapy that you have gone through or (hopefully) prevent injury in the first place.
To prevent cycling injuries I recommend that you get a fit prior to beginning increased training/commuting etc. Winter is really the best time. One it gets nice out you are going to want to ride and probably will not get a fit until you are injured.
I also recommend a slow/steady increase in your training load and using indoor training centers and coaches in the off season to work on your pedaling efficiency.
Professional bikefitting
Can't get comfortable on your saddle
Pain on your feet or knees when you riding with cleats?
Pain on your feet or knees when you riding with cleats?
Find out what saddle suits your needs best
Our Saddle Selector accurately measures your sit bone width and combines this with your flexibility and preferred riding position to advise the most appropriate saddle. Using the correct saddle for you, will reduce the chance of saddle sores, pain or injuries, whilst also allowing you to pedal more efficiently.
Pain on your feet or knees when you riding with cleats?
Pain on your feet or knees when you riding with cleats?
Pain on your feet or knees when you riding with cleats?
A good cycling position starts with the correct positioning of the feet on the pedals and it is therefore extremely important that the cleats are properly adjusted so that the feet can move around the pedals in the most natural, efficient and comfortable way.
When purchasing new shoes or replacing your cleats, it is therefore very important that the cleats are properly adjusted so that your foot is not too far forward or backward on the pedal and your foot is not forced into an unnatural position while cycling.
Getting the set up of your bike right for your needs?
Optimize your position for both comfort and performance?
Optimize your position for both comfort and performance?
A Complete Fit will measure 8 key body dimensions. Based on those metrics, our unique algorithm, your preferences and our experience of having completed more than 1,5 million of those measurements, we then provide you with a full bike diagram of your suggested bike set up no matter if it’s a mountain bike, commute or road bike. It will take all the guess work out of your bike set up and can be used to optimize your position on a current bike or guide the purchase of a new one to ensure you get the right model, size and set up for your requirements.
Optimize your position for both comfort and performance?
Optimize your position for both comfort and performance?
Optimize your position for both comfort and performance?
A Dynamic Fit and Pedaling analysis operated by a trained fitter, can provide you with all the detail you need from your pedaling positions to allow you to make additional adjustments to your cycling position or get some pointers on how you can focus your training to improve your pedaling dynamics. With our Pedaling Analysis report, you will receive a full analysis of your pedaling stroke, balance between left and right, and pedaling efficiency with additional tips on how you can optimize these metrics further through training or additional finetuning of your position.
How it Works :
Interview
To best understand where you’ve been, where you are and where you want to be. The interview is the “meet and greet” of the session. Have a coffee or a soft drink on us and we’ll get you settled in. We will discuss your injury history, any discomforts that you are currently experiencing, assess your physical limitations and what your expected outcome of the session is.
Physical Assessment
In order to understand a rider’s limitations on the bike one needs a reasonable understanding of their physiology. We carry out a standing evaluation, assessing the way you stand, your foot posture/stability, spinal posture, differences in muscle bulk and any asymmetries present in the body. Next, a “range of motion” examination is carried out assessing hamstring, quads, glutes and hips. We check for a leg length discrepancy as well as assessing your feet.
Foot and saddle
The single most overlooked and misunderstood part of bike fitting is the foot/shoe/pedal interface. Unfortunately it is also the most important part of your fit. The foot is the foundation of the fit - it’s where all the power goes! Or doesn’t as the case so often is! Your shoes will be checked for correct fit, we will assess cleat location, arch support and wedging both inside and outside of the shoe where needed. We have found using the latest saddle pressure mapping technology that saddle pressure can be reduced by up to 50% by simply administering arch support, getting saddle issues? Go figure!
Positional Interventions
Once your feet have been stabilised we can begin making changes to your position. Saddle height and setback are optimised as well as reach and handlebar drop. We will assess optimum handlebar width, crank length and saddle choice. All of these changes are made using the latest saddle pressure mapping and video analysis software, drawing footage from four cameras - front, back, left and right in order to achieve a true 360 degree understanding of your position.
Bike Set Up
The final part of the session is to transfer the findings from the jig on to your bike. If you are considering a new bike then we can make recommendations based on the findings. Rest assured, we remain brand agnostic and happily fit any brand or style of bike. If you are still having issues following a bike fit with us, we will treat you for free until those problems are corrected - This is only available provided that the optimum position can be replicated and all necessary changes are made.
Do you adjust my existing bike during the session?
Yes.
Typically enough time is allocated at the end of the session to make minor adjustments to your bike.
If your bike requires proprietary/3rd party parts that we do not stock and that need to be purchased directly from the manufacturer, or on more complex bikes a suitable workshop booking may need to be made where the bike will need to be left with us.
Only 1 bike can be adjusted during the session. For additional bikes a bike set to fit data service is required.
lets make it !
What do I need to bring with me to the session?
Cycling kit (this must include lycra shorts and a close fitting base layer or summer road jersey)
Existing shoes (if you do not already have cycling shoes please wait until your bike fit, as we will assess your feet and recommend you the most suitable pair of cycling shoes).
Your existing bicycle (if the fit is for a new bike not yet purchased we still recommend bringing your existing bike)
