Bike fit?

samsbike
samsbike Posts: 942
edited January 2012 in Road beginners
I have been reading the thread L2P and reading about bike fit - but what does that mean?

I really can't tell how well I like a bike till I have spent around a couple of hours riding it and even then am never quite sure.

Also from a mtb background its seems less important as I generally go by standover height.

So how do I define the right fit?

thanks

sam

Comments

  • velvetytoast
    velvetytoast Posts: 161
    Bike fit is adjusting the stem lenght, saddle height and saddle fore/aft postion once you have a frame that is a suitable size for you. Top tube length is as important as stand over height but you can read all about it on sheldon browns site

    http://sheldonbrown.com/frame-sizing.html

    Most people go to the LBS for a bike fit or you can measure and play around until you get it right - I thought I had it right on my own - and then had a bike fit - absolute revelation - getting someone to do it for you is well worthwhile.
  • Wirral_paul
    Wirral_paul Posts: 2,476
    To be honest - standover height is completely and utterly pointless on a road bike really. Ignore it as such. A proper professional bike fit will go so much further than saddle position and bar height / reach. My bike fit session started with my shoes, and meant tweaking the cleat position and fitting a varus wedge to suit my own particular anatomy.

    Having had it done properly, i'd suggest most bike shops could not do a proper bike fit. They'll get the basics right but not go to the lengths that a full pro fit gets you. Try a search - most who have it done would recommend it as the best £100-£150 you could spend (similarly with pro coaching)

    Probably the most well known is the Specialized Body Fit - to give you an idea (video linked on this page)....
    http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bc/SBCWideGlobalPages.jsp?pageName=BGFIT&menuItemId=11504&menuItemId=16367

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