i made a fit app't!!

[elk]

I FINALLY have a fit app't...a week from Friday.... with a fitter trained by Michael Sylvester...I realized I didn't really care if it was with a guy or a girl...so I went with the guy in the shop close by.

It's a "standard bike fit" and takes about 1.5 hours...

I have this vision of coming away with a fit that allows me to float on my bike like i can when I'm coasting.... Is that reasonable?

[TxDoc]

CONGRATS!!!
It's the best investment for a cyclist - and it will be fun, you can learn a lot from a pro fitting!

[pardes]

I keep hearing about getting a fitting but have no idea what it involves. Please share the details for the uninformed like me.

Are you getting a custom bike or do that do this involved a fitting for buying a bike off the showroom floor?

[TxDoc]

Well, I don't really know much about it but I've had (and witnessed) many fitting sessions over the last 30 years of riding bikes, so here's the little I can tell you...

A basic fitting involves: 1-making sure that bike frame and components match your body measurements, posture, and any particular condition, 2-finding the optimal position for all components to literally 'fit' your body and riding style.
So first of all they take some measurements of your body, and then place the bike on a stationary trainer so you can test-pedal while they make all the necessary adjustments.

The first time you buy a bicycle the shop should take your measurements and give you a bike that is the correct size for you - i.e. the frame size must be correctly fitted to your body. Likewise, at the time of purchase, the shop makes sure that you have the right base components:
-saddle (sitbone measurements, padding/no padding, materials, etc)
-crankset (i.e. the crankarm length is right for you)
-handlebar (width, reach, drop are correc for your body and posture)
-stem (length, angle)

Once you have the correct equipment, a short fitting session (that should be done anyway at the time of purchase if you buy from a reputable shop) takes care of the following:
1-finding the correct saddle height
2-finding the correct fore/aft position of the saddle
3-figuring out whether you may need some tilt or you can ride a leveled saddle (most people can, some strange people like me cannot...)
4-finding out if you need any stem adjustments
5-finding the optimal position of your handlebar

A more lengthy (but much more useful) fitting process takes care of all of the above plus:
6-finding the optimal tension on your pedals
7-fitting the cleats in the correct position on your shoes. This is done with a powermeter on a stationary trainer, to find the position where there is no strain on the ankle and knee, and at the same time you can exert maximum power while pedaling.
8-finding the optimal position of the brake levers/shifters on the handlebars.
9-moving and readjusting cables depending on your riding style (% of time on the hoods, tops, drops) so that the equipment does not get 'in your way'.
10-finding the optimal (most aero, less disturbing for your posture) position for accessories like waterbotle cages or cyclocomputer.
11-making you pedal for a while going through all your gears and reading the powermeter and finding out if there is any glitch that needs to be taken care of.

A fitting session usually does cost some money, unless you are buying a new bike or the pro fitter works for your team - but it is definitely worth every penny.

[elk]

i think that for those of us over what? 40? 50? it makes sense given that we don't bounce like we used to....

[TxDoc]

i think that for those of us over what? 40? 50? it makes sense given that we don't bounce like we used to....

hee-hee...
that makes me a bit of a whiner I guess - I started getting fitting sessions when I was 12 I think...
Now at 37 I look at everything, including where to place the bottle cage so I can grab my bottle without messing up my 'aero' position and keep the same cadence & power... Unbelievable the things you notice when you get older!!!

[pardes]

Wow, that's impressive.

When I successfully and happily continue to bike commute through December, I am rewarding myself with a custom fitted bike for my Christmas present and will definitely get it fitted to me.

Thanks for the info.

[LainiePants]

Good for you! I've been wanting to do this for so long.

Michael is supposed to be amazing! I read about him on BikePortland a while back and was impressed. A friend went to him and had a great experience. And my BF had a fitting with someone he trained (a woman) and it went so well, got rid of some back pain, and has probably helped with his racing too!

I'd love to hear how it goes.

[KnottedYet]

Good for you! I've been wanting to do this for so long.

Michael is supposed to be amazing! I read about him on BikePortland a while back and was impressed. A friend went to him and had a great experience. And my BF had a fitting with someone he trained (a woman) and it went so well, got rid of some back pain, and has probably helped with his racing too!

I'd love to hear how it goes.

Michael trained me, too. The guy is just amazing! I learned so much from him. I use things I learned from him even when I'm *not* doing a bike fit. He truly understands fitting the bike to the real person who will ride it, and watching him work is like watching a dance. Just beautiful! He is an excellent teacher, too. (I'd be happy to be fit by anyone he has trained.)

Elk, we want a full report! (and pictures...)

[blueskies]

A good friend just had a fitting done at the Bike Gallery & she is so happy. More comfortable & more efficient, a regular pedaling machine so to speak.

[elk]

A good friend just had a fitting done at the Bike Gallery & she is so happy. More comfortable & more efficient, a regular pedaling machine so to speak.

do you know which BG she went to?

[elk]

a little late night report on my fitting today....

1 the adjustments:
raised my seat almost an inch
moved my saddle back
changed my stem to a steep short one

I was "breaking" too high up on my back and hunching my shoulders...(partly because I try to keep my pelvis tilted)...stressing my shoulders, and not using my quadraceps enough...

2 he showed me some cool tricks to help keep the pressure off the ulnar nerve and on the pads of my hands when on the hoods (if you can, tuck your little fingers inside the curve of your bar OR wrap your ring finger under the shifter)

when we were done I felt kind of awkward and heavy on the bike...i was thinking....what???!!!

I got home and went for a spin. I was amazed. i literally spun up a hill i have struggled with and reached the top easily; my hands did NOT hurt; riding suddenly had an extra jolt of thrill , partly due to being higher on the saddle and having my tires pumped up.

felt like i could ride for miles.

I'll get some pictures. And add myself to the long list of TE'ers who say yay to getting a fit done. And report back after a longer ride this weekend.

I AM a little sore from engaging formerly unengaged muscles..but i was told to expect an adjustment period of 4 or 5 rides.



+...when i was paying my bill, a very juicy LBS guy went over to look at my bike, stared at her for quite awhile and then turned and said my bike was beeeyootiful; which she is...and that one thing i did not lack was taste...so i felt all proud and giddy...

[TxDoc]

I'll get some pictures. And add myself to the long list of TE'ers who say yay to getting a fit done.[/I]

Yeah! Glad you did it - see, it is really fun!
But yes - now we WANT new pictures

[elk]

i think it's interesting to look at my bike before and after i was fit...looks so SLACK! before....

Before and then After ( it's like "spot the differences

[alpinerabbit]

So you actually have inspired me to go for a fit myself.

1-finding the correct saddle height - check. no change
2-finding the correct fore/aft position of the saddle check - 4 cm forward(!!)
3-figuring out whether you may need some tilt or you can ride a leveled saddle (most people can, some strange people like me cannot...) sorta check - my SMP undulates in all directions, hard to tell if it has a tilt at all
4-finding out if you need any stem adjustments check - he took out a couple spacers
5-finding the optimal position of your handlebar check- they were turned up a bit to make up for the whole shebang moving down.
A more lengthy (but much more useful) fitting process takes care of all of the above plus:
6-finding the optimal tension on your pedals - no need here
7-fitting the cleats in the correct position on your shoes. This is done with a powermeter . check- no power meter but he moved them so I actually have some float left towards the outside.
8-finding the optimal position of the brake levers/shifters on the handlebars. these were already good.
9-moving and readjusting cables depending on your riding style (% of time on the hoods, tops, drops) so that the equipment does not get 'in your way'. no issue there.
10-finding the optimal (most aero, less disturbing for your posture) position for accessories like waterbotle cages or cyclocomputer. no issue either
11-making you pedal for a while going through all your gears and reading the powermeter. no check on the power meter but he watched.

I described my little aches to him, he said it was most likely from sitting too far back. He actually told me to keep my right knee a bit more knock-kneed than I've been riding. For that reason he angled my cleats more inwards.

He emphasized that I should concentrate on the pull phase. I was also shown how to "pull" on my aerobars just so much to get a continuous arch of power down to my lower back, glutes, hamstrings. This to save my quads and calves for the run.

He said, and he said Cervélo had used data from 50'000 US and UK soldiers, that women and men actually are not that different in proportions than what lots of bike marketers tell you to push WSD...

I just went for a 25k ride and it feels good, I notice the lowered handlebars in my neck - but that will come along. My outer calves were burning, that's not what the doctor told me. Have to check with him.

he also taught me how to relax the feet and let them sink into the footbed (I don't know if I quite got it) and it felt better.