5 reasons why you need a bike fit
Your optimum riding position changes over time according to age, weight and flexibility. Is it high time you had a fresh bike-fit?
WHAT IS A BIKE FIT?
Everyone’s body is different. Some of us have long legs and short torsos; some women struggle to reach their brake levers due to small hands; some people may pedal a little bit differently than others; maybe you have one leg that is slightly longer than the other and you never even knew it! In addition to our bodies being the way they are, injuries or personal goals can affect how your bike should be set up to maximize comfort, efficiency, and power. Luckily, bicycles are machines with many adjustable parts. In fact, every touch point on the bike can be changed out, altered or moved to fit you better. Although there are many different theories to bike fit, the main idea is to make adjustments to the bike’s components with these goals in mind:
Enhancing overall rider comfort
Preventing injuries
Diagnosing saddle discomfort
Reducing or eliminating pain and numbness
Reducing or eliminating discomfort associated with riding
Reducing rider fatigue by enhancing efficiency
Improving overall performance on the bike
5 REASONS WHY YOU NEED A BIKE FIT
1. TO OPTIMISE YOUR CYCLING EXPERIENCE
No matter what type of bike you are riding and how fit you are, a bike fit will put a bigger smile on your face when you’re riding. We believe that getting the optimum comfort, performance and ultimately confidence on a bike is something that every single cyclist should do. Aerodynamics and power output are two areas that define our sport, especially in the pro ranks. Professional riders will undergo a bike fit pretty much every season to try to identify areas where marginal gains can be made. For an amateur, a bike fit could offer up far greater improvements. The simple act of raising the saddle to the optimal height can enable you to get maximum power out of your legs and also improve comfort in the saddle.
2. TO IMPROVE YOUR COMFORT
The main goal of a bike fit is to improve your comfort because this is crucial to riding better, longer and even faster. Most cyclists believe you need to suffer on a bike, while some people stay away from cycling because they also see it as a painful pastime. However cycling is one of the best sports for avoiding traumas if your position matches your flexibility and your other functional considerations, and of course as long as your bike is correctly adjusted.
3. TO IMPROVE YOUR PERFORMANCE
Whether you are a commuter or a racer, all cyclists want to ride with less effort. A bike fit will help you to be more efficient by increasing your power transfer on the pedals and by improving your pedaling stroke so you can save more energy and even beat your friends or the rush hour traffic.
4. INJURY PREVENTION
A poorly fitted bike can lead to soreness in the hands, feet, knees, shoulders and lower back, all things which can dramatically affect your desire to keep riding. The good news is that these are all ailments which can be addressed with a professional bike fit. During a bike fit you will learn a lot about your body such as whether you have imbalances or you’re perfectly symmetrical. Or which part of your body is flexible and which part isn’t. All these answers help us find the perfect position for you.
5. YOUR FLEXIBILITY, CORE STRENGTH OR WEIGHT HAS CHANGED
A rider’s flexibility and body composition make a big difference to their riding position. If yours have changed, for whatever reason, you might find your old measurements don’t work any more.If you end up stopping your ride because your belly is forcing your hip out and you get hip pain, then yes, it’s better to relax that position. A common symptom is the distinctive ‘Kermit’ pedalling style, riders whose legs kick out to the side — it can be because their belly is larger than it used to be, or because they don’t have full hip range of motion.
Expert advice will help you identify which parameters to manipulate — float, crank length, stance width, height or layback. Saddle height is affected by flexibility, too: more flexible riders can extend more fully, whereas those with tight hamstrings require a lower saddle and shorter reach. Similarly, stronger riders are able to stabilise themselves in a long and low position without pain.
