Bike fit - what can I expect to learn?

[rain]

I think I'm ready to spend the $150 for a bike fit at Proteus (Maryland bike shop). My question is: what can I hope to get from the fit?

I bought my bike (Giant OCR1) 5 or so years ago when I was brand new to regular bike riding. It's taken a few years to switch to clipless pedals and shoes, find a comfortable saddle, etc, etc. and during that process and as I've learned to ride longer distances I find that my position on the bike has changed over and over again. Right now, I'm not in any pain but I'm not entirely comfortable either.

So maybe this is all because I should have had a bike fit in the first place? If so, then I'll be hitting my head! :confused:

thanks

(i'm sure there's a thread out there already that I should read, I've searched but haven't found it.)

[indysteel]

Honestly, the best person to ask this question of is your fitter.

There are different ways to approach bike fit, and the approach will largely depend on what you tell the fitter in terms of your goals for the bike and the fitting. Is speed/power/aerodynamics most important? Comfort? Do you have an injury or biomechanical issue that you need to deal with? How you answer those questions will dictate, at least in part, how the fitter will proceed.

Ideally, your fitter will start with a series of questions to determine how you ride, where you ride, how long, how fast, etc., etc. They'll also hopefully ask if you're experiencing any pain or discomfort on the bike in its current set up. They likely ask about your other physical activties, injuries, and the like.

From there, they'll likely take some measurements. My fitter started with my shoes and cleats (be sure to bring them, along with a pair of shorts and ideally a sleeveless or form fitting jersey as you want your fitter to see your body as you're on the bike) and went up from there in measuring my legs, calves, femurs, arms, shoulders, etc. They might also test for hamstring and low back flexibility, strength imbalances and the like.

Then the set up will begin. Your fitter will have your bike on a trainer and will liekly make some adjustments and then have you pedal for a bit. Then he'll make some other adjustments. If there are any parts that need to be swapped out, e.g., a new stem, he might make some suggestions.

What you can expect from the fitting depends on how honest, detailed and clear you can be from the start. A fitting will hopefully optimize your comfort, efficiency, and power (although you often have to compromise to some degree among those three things). A fitting will not make a bike that is fundamentally too big or two small for you suddenly fit, but it will hopefully iron out any kinks on a bike that is essentially the right one for you.

Be sure to ask what their policy is for follow-up visits. Some include it in the price of the original fitting so you can feel free to go back if something isn't working for you or if your body/style of riding changes.

[Mr. Bloom]

Without being specific (and tediously long), I did a several hour fit at Big Shark in St Louis. In the end, the few millimeters here and there got me comfort, endurance, and speed that had evaded me on my new Madone a couple years ago. I'm a believer!

But, I agree with Indy...you should define expectationson the front end.

[LivetoRide]

Ditto Indysteel and I have to repeat that it's important to see what said shop's policy is for follow-up visits (some places include a follow-up visit or two in the initial fit price, charge a small amount for follow-ups, or even do free follow-up fittings for the life of the bike).

Here's an article about bike fits that I've found to be very informative (the whole blog is really)- http://bikeandbody.blogspot.com/2009/05/retul-bike-fits.html

[divingbiker]

I was so happy to see you are getting it done at Proteus! Jill is great.

Here's (http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=22657&highlight=Science) my writeup of my experience getting a fitting from Jill.

[rain]

Thanks for all the information!! I'm much better prepared to talk to Jill when I go in for my bike fit. I'm excited :)

[rain]

I had to share - I'm just back from my bike fit with Jill. She made a lot of adjustments, and I found out that my bike is too small. It was astonishing how much different her review of my fit on the bike is -- I bought this bike from a reputable bike shop. And I had shopped around too! She's incredible.

I am sooo curious to see how the bike feels when it's warm enough to ride outside.

[Possegal]

She did my fitting too, and my niece's. I love her! :)
She spent a very long time going over medical issues to see what injuries I've had (turns out only my wrists have gone uninjured - I should give some thought to bubble wrapping myself).

I'm thinking of getting a gift certificate for my sister so she can get a fitting done there too.

ETA - yeah she said she'd have put me on a larger bike. Which later the Trek woman's rep for the Northeast said the same thing. The woman from Trek actually looked at my sister and me and our bikes and said that we should each be on the other size bike. :) Jill adapted mine and it's fine, but she made a lot of adjustments. So my next bike, I bought from her.

[rain]

Yep, I'm with you - when I do get my next bike, it'll be from her.

Her time spent talking about medical injuries was incredible - better than some docs I've seen!

[Mr. Bloom]

Time to start calling Dr. Jill...some just have a gift!