Bike Fitting

pete600

Hi
I am thinking of investing in getting a bike fitting. I have found this place that look quite professional. But not knowing anything about the process could you have a look.
It works out to be £200 for the full fit Positioning procedure and riding stance and Knee Alignment Procedure.

Thanks
http://www.thebikebutler.com/Writeups/Professional%20Bike%20Fitting/DetailsPricing_Oct08.pdf

ForumNewbie

It seems to me like a lot of money to get fitted for a bike - unless you are a really serious cyclist, planning to spend a lot of money on a custom built bike.

pete600

I wouldn't say i was a really serious cyclist. Just for weight loss and fitness. But i do get out on the bike 5/6 days a week. My mate had it done and said it made a big difference. Just wanted to know if this shop looks like it knows what it is doing.
How dose the price compere to the UK.

Longwaydown

One LBS I spoke to wanted £50 for a bike fitting if they haven't supplied it - most will do it for free if you are buying the bike from them.

£200 sounds like a lot - my fitting this week took about 30 mins and it was very thorough and has made such a difference to my comfort.

liversedge

a bit pricey. got mine at cyclefit in covent garden and had moulded inserts in my shoes for less than that. the insoles are wicked btw.

jimmcdonnell

I had a fitting at www.thebikewhisperer.co.uk in Ealing (try to see past the rather clunky website) - £85 flat rate, which includes any necessary folow-up visits.

Scherrit spent about 2 1/2 hours with me, measuring the bike, me, cleats, talking about what sort of cycling I do etc. I spent a chunk of the session on a turbo so he could see how I was biomechanically and then various adjustments were made. Everything's documented for future reference.

The reason I went was that I typically get dreadful pain right in between my shoulder blades after about 20 miles of riding. Scherrit actually pointed out that I'd already got my bike 80% right, but he made a few subtle adjustments - seat height, angle, cleat position, no more than a few mm each time.

The proof of the pudding was the Isle of Wight randonnee I rode 2 days later; did a 95 miles in total, and apart from some wriggling around as I got used to the changed position affecting which muscles I used, back pain all magically vanished.

I'd recommend them 100%.

Kneesaway

I spent £130 at BikeDynamics.co.uk. It took about three hours. I was on and off the bike about 12 times, videoed each time and then analysed with some very smart software to track movement, measure angles etc. Price includes a report and a DVD comes in the post a few days later.

I went becuse my knee hurt. I saw how much it wobbled compared with the other one. They lifted my saddle slightly and put a wedge in my shoe and it has been fine ever since.

I would have gladly paid £200 if I had known it was going to work.

Go for it.

pete600

Thanks for all the advice think i will give it ago

heavymental

jimmcdonnell wrote:

The reason I went was that I typically get dreadful pain right in between my shoulder blades after about 20 miles of riding.

Jim, although I don't get 'dreadful pain' i get an ache between my shoulder blades on long rides as you describe. I'm now thinking that I should do something about it and was considering getting a shorter stem to sort out the problem as I feel that maybe I'm too stretched out. I'm aware that getting a bike fit done myself is probably a good idea but have you got any general tips I could try to get rid of that pain?

jimmcdonnell

My shoulder pain was most definitely 'dreadful' - like a hot wire between the shoulder blades. My 2 bikes are a 54 and a 56 - it was the 54, my Litespeed Tuscany, that I had the fitting for. The adjustments Scherrit made after the hours of measuring etc. were very subtle (to my eyes anyway) - eg the seat went up by 8mm, the angle of the saddle went down (at the front) by 6 degrees, and my cleats moved backwards by 8mm and 10mm left and right foot respectively. And believe me, the difference to ride the bike is dramatic. I can see why 'primitive' cultures could believe in magic, voodoo, witchcraft etc!

Scherrit said that I'd already got my bike 90% right; I know the basic ins and outs of correct adjustment, BUT there's no way I would have known how to diagnose the need for those sub-centimetre adjustments. You can see where I'm going with this can't you... You need to grit your teeth and your wallet and get fitted. Having seen it done once, and having the Litespeed sorted out for me now, I'm confident that with a large spirit level, metre rule and plumb bob I'll be able to sort out my 56cm Focus when I get the chance, just by comparing measurements.

The one thing I might be able to recommend without a bike fitting; Scherrit asked how flexible I am - I'm not! - and recommended hamstring stretches. Reason being, part of my neck pain was caused by riding with an arched back rather than a flat back, so my neck was having to bend at a relatively steep angle relative to my upper spine in order to see ahead. So apart from the fitting, I've been riding consciously rotating my hips forward and down (causing some slight discomfort as my undertackle gets mashed into the saddle nose a bit more!), giving me a straighter back and less exaggerated neck angle. I think I'd have to draw you a picture to make this more clear!). The recommended hamstring stretches will, apparently, help me rotate my hips forwward even more without cramping my pedalling.

Hope this helps. Get a fitting!

- Jim

heavymental

Thanks for that Jim. Sounds like a precise art indeed. I'm going to try the shorter stem first and see if that helps. I'm not having any other problems really so not sure if I need cleat adjustment or anything too small at the moment. If I can't solve the problem I'll look at getting a fit but there's nobody close to me so I'd have to do a trip somewhere which is half the problem.

I don't feel in great form at the moment and don't think I'm feeling great on the bike so I've actually been doing hamstring stretches over the last few days to try and loosen my legs up a bit. I've always neglected stretching and warming up and down so I figured that was a good place to start to get some zing back in the legs. So its useful to hear that was suggested for you. I'll keep at the stretches.