Bike Fit

[bikerchick68]

yes, absolutely get fit. the faster the better... not doing so can lead to physical problems such as IT Band Ligament Syndrome... which makes your knees feel like they're being stabbed! I DID NOT get fit when I was new and am now paying the price! I have been professionally fit since and also have begun a stretching and strength training routine... both are helping tremendously and last Sat I was able to ride 59 miles... 2 weeks prior I made it only 14 before the knee was excrutiating... it's definitely worth it to pay for a fit so you don't end up with a medical problem...

how tall are you? Inseam? and what kind of bike? top tube lengths vary (Lemond runs long)... I am 5'7" but have a 30" inseam (short legs... family curse) and I ride a 49cm bike... I have a friend who is almost the same height and rides a 51 tho... so you may be right on! Good luck with it and keep us posted OK?

[madisongrrl]

Definitely get fitted....and not just by anyone. Find someone reputable. I think the biggest mistake that people make is that they purchase a bike that is too big. The more I understand about bike fit, the more complex it seems....

I find that most bike shops who have you do a test ride will put you on a bike that is too large. The don't care about fit or quality...just sell the bike is the attitude. One bike shop in my area had my brother on 60cm bike....I told my bro that there was no way that he was a 60 and that we should exit the shop immediately. So we went to the best bike shop in all of Madison, WI (Cronometro) and guess what....he was fitted for a 54cm Cervelo Dual.

Here are a few good articles from Tom D's website..

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/store/re-fit.shtml

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/store/testdrive.shtml

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/fea...itingfit.shtml

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/features/shoes.shtml

[SimpleCycle]

Thanks for the advice! I got fitted yesterday and rode today with no problems. We'll see how it holds up on a longer ride tomorrow.

He said I was actually exactly where I should be, but moved my bars down just a little to get me at a better angle. He said it might take a few rides to adjust to the new position, but if it doesn't feel right come back. Since the whole thing took less than 15 minutes, there was no charge, so that was pretty nice. The guy seemed to know what he was doing too.

[madisongrrl]

getting a bike fit in 15 minutes...hmmmm....sounds suspicious, but I hope it works out for you...

[LBTC]

getting a bike fit in 15 minutes...hmmmm....sounds suspicious, but I hope it works out for you...

I agree
we must have been in the shop for 3 hours. that was for 2 bikes. we went back later that day to pick up our bikes....

and holy cow! what a difference!!



Namaste,
~T~

[CorsairMac]

Thanks for the advice! I got fitted yesterday and rode today with no problems. We'll see how it holds up on a longer ride tomorrow.

He said I was actually exactly where I should be, but moved my bars down just a little to get me at a better angle. He said it might take a few rides to adjust to the new position, but if it doesn't feel right come back. Since the whole thing took less than 15 minutes, there was no charge, so that was pretty nice. The guy seemed to know what he was doing too.

It was good to hear you rode with no problems........hopefully it was that simple of a solution. let us know how the longer ride works for you!

[SimpleCycle]

I agree that 15 minutes seemd pretty cursory, but I had been making gradual adjustments toward "ideal" position over the past month and had been "fit" by the non-roadies where I bought the bike.

The longer ride went well. I had some lower back pain the last few miles, but I know at least part of that is inflexibility. The arm pain and saddle pain are gone, and I was able to stay on the bike for 3.5 hours of saddle time without pain. I'm working on stretching my tight hamstrings and lower back, and if I continue to have problems, I'll either go back to this shop or try to figure out who the best guy in town is and go to him. We also have a sports-oriented physical therapy place in town that does fittings, so I may decide to go there.