In this article, regular contributor, Dannie Watkinson, a UK based British road racer shares her experiences of velocipede fitting
You may be wondering what a velocipede fit is, chances are you’ve come wideness the term and aren’t sure if it’s worth it.
From my opinion a bike-fit is a godsend. Hands down, the weightier visualization I have overly made, although, it takes some getting right.
I’ve now had bike-fits with three variegated people. The first one did not work for me, and it took me some time surpassing I wonted that.
My first one was with a bike-fitter/physio, in my mind, if I could have a fit with someone skilled in both areas, then they can work with my ailments and wonky soul to enhance performance. Yes, in theory that’s great. Plane though, every bike-fitter must be qualified, the majority work to a varied range of angles and saddle heights etc.
My first bike-fitter worked to what I would say is the extremes of the ‘ideal’ angles for a cyclist – I seem when in training, they get given the ‘perfect’ model cyclist angles for peak performance gains. Unfortunately, they don’t work for everyone for various reasons. Without a year of persevering, I gave into my partner telling me my saddle was too upper and causing my saddle sores, and visited flipside bike-fitter, someone I went to university with.
To tell you it was a game changer would be the biggest understatement of the year. He lowered my saddle 15mm, yes 15!! He moved my hoods remoter up the bar so I could ‘lock’ my wrists into place for wastefulness – I have a winged scapular and dropped shoulder, so I was stretching so far to my hoods that it was making me roll over my saddle, rather than sit in it and thus causing sores.
Now, I’m not saying my first bike-fitter was wrong, his decisions were perfectly fit for many people, and I know so many people who get on well with his velocipede fits. Unfortunately, for me I just couldn’t and it’s all well-nigh trial and error, which is why, without a velocipede fit you often have a 6-week check-up – I didn’t go to mine considering I was convinced, I’d ride into it.
However, when I received a new team bike, my second bike-fitter and I couldn’t make it work. We were trying to get the same fit i.e., same computerised angles of my knees, wrists and hips etc onto the new velocipede considering the geometry was the total opposite, to my slammed (Slamming is )Trek Madone – I have scoliosis so for me, the slammed position is the only one well-appointed for my lower back.
So, off I go to flipside bike-fitter who we knew, for a second opinion and a squint outside of the current box. He literally measured every wile on the velocipede with a measuring tape, to perfection, and made it the same as the Madone, as in, the only way it was going to be well-appointed was a -17 stem with a spacer underneath and dropping my saddle to correct the reach.
It was a traumatic time, but honestly, I wouldn’t be anywhere without a bike-fit and I veritably will not be riding any velocipede without one in the future – plane if all they do is put my current fit onto the bike.
Sadly, I’m prone to injury due to my wonky biomechanics, so to be in the most well-appointed position is imperative and I totally winnow its trial and error and it’s not a ‘one size fits all’ job.
I often finger well-appointed on the fitting rig, but it’s not until I’m moving virtually the velocipede while on the road and spending hours in the saddle – getting aero, getting out of the saddle, hunching over during ‘interval’ pain that I get a real finger for my fit.
So, would I suggest a bike-fit? YES.
Here’s some bike-fit knowledge.
What is a velocipede fit?
Bike fitting is the process in which a qualified velocipede fitter will fit the rider to their bike. They’ll optimise the rider’s position by moving equipment on the velocipede i.e., saddle, bars, stem and maybe transpiration the zombie length.
Although, cycling is a low impact sport, it’s a repetitive sport, which can moreover rationalization injuries.
Bike fits can optimise the position for your requirements. If you want to get increasingly aero it can be achieved through a bike-fit or if you want to be in an endurance position for an ultra-endurance event or sportive, the fitter can squint at this and help you get comfortable.
There is truly nothing worse than stuff uncomfortable on your speed machine.
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What’s considered during a fit
There isn’t a way of defining a perfect fit, if it was that easy, we wouldn’t need a professional to help us get set-up.
Some people are increasingly flexible, some have previous injuries or asymmetry. Therefore, fitting is very individual and, that’s why it requires a professional to squint at you on a velocipede and help get you fitted.
Bikes come in lots of sizes, and, sometimes ownership the size lanugo (if you’re on the line between a 52cm and 54cm for example) is much increasingly beneficial, considering it allows you to fit a stem which can lengthen the position and put you in a increasingly well-appointed position. It moreover ways that if for whatever reason you can’t get well-appointed with a longer reach, you can shorten the stem length.
Determining factors to shape you to your bike
Flexibility
The flexibility required, comes from your hamstrings, hip flexors and thoracic flexibility – some people are increasingly flexible than others.
Symmetry
Most people have some asymmetry, whether that be from injuries or how they were born, having a velocipede fitted to your soul will provide maximum repletion for whatever type of cycling you do. Fitters can investigate shims for your shoes if you have one leg longer than the other, they can raise the hoods if you have a dropped shoulder from a clavicle unravel for example and add insoles for those with unappetizing feet.
Saddles
Having the correct saddle for you improves repletion and your worthiness to perform. Most people require a saddle they can sit into rather than sit on top of. If you’re sitting on top of the saddle, you’ll likely be rolling over the top of it – which can lead to saddle sores, knee problems and when problems, withal with spare hip tightness.
Bike fitters will often use a saddle sensor pad when doing a fit, which will indulge them to see how much you move virtually on the saddle and where the key pressure points are. There are hundreds of variegated saddles out there, your velocipede fitter can recommend one to work for you.
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Feet
Some people’s feet turn in, some people’s feet turn out and others are completely straight. So, why don’t we take this into consideration…? Well, I guess it’s an overlooked issue by the standard human, but velocipede fitters will squint at your feet and put your cleats at an wile that will ensure you are aligned to your personal structuring – not the perceived perfect position. If you put your cleats straight but it’s not the natural position for your limbs, it could rationalization knee injuries and lack of power.
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Levels of velocipede fit and Outcome
Bike fits come in a few variegated levels, permitting you to segregate one to suit your budget. All of them will help, it just depends how much depth you want to go into, what your upkeep is and what your cycling goals are.
They tend to be basic, comprehensive, and professional and can last from 30 minutes to 3-4 hours.
• You’ll achieve:
• Balance
• Comfort
• Efficiency
• Power
• Enjoyment
In my opinion everyone can goody from a velocipede fit, in particular; anyone returning from injury, those who are in the saddle for many hours, those who have niggles, people racing or wanting to get increasingly aero and those just starting out – why not make the initial journey into cycling as well-appointed as possible for spare enjoyment.
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It can moreover goody people who have had a transpiration in weight, this will transpiration how you’re sitting on the velocipede and how flexible you can be.
Ask yourself, are you truly well-appointed on your bike. Can you do a four plus hour ride without getting sore in places other than your muscles.
If not, this is your sign to get a velocipede fit. Stuff uncomfortable on the velocipede is not normal or enjoyable. They’re worth the money, it’s a long-term investment in your health – imagine having creaky knees at 50 considering you didn’t invest.
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