What To Expect At A Fitting?

[Bethany1]

I have a fitting for my Madone on Friday and wondered what to expect. The last thing I want is it to turn into a selling gimmick.

The place I'm going is more of a "pro" shop and I feel really intimidated as I'm so new to cycling and I hate to be laughed at.

My biggest concern after riding my 29er MTB today is that my entire left side went numb from my neck down to my feet making it harder to pedal and control the bike. I wonder if I spent more time putting my weight on the left side and sitting on those nerves. I'll have to bring that up as well.

Any questions I should ask or other information the guy should know about?

[indysteel]

Here's an answer I gave to that question earlier this year.

[KnottedYet]

My biggest concern after riding my 29er MTB today is that my entire left side went numb from my neck down to my feet making it harder to pedal and control the bike.

Cord compression is something to bring up to a doctor. This is not a bike fit issue, this is a neck injury from your past rearing up its ugly head.

Bikes do not make one go numb from the c-spine to the feet. Something about the positioning you were in allowed an old injury to appear, but it wasn't the BIKE that made the injury.

I strongly urge you to check in with a doctor.

[Bethany1]

Knotted,

Yeah, the bike wouldn't do that which is why I was a little lost. I don't remember having a neck injury but the only thing that would make sense is when I had my first gran mal seizure. I fell backwards into the bathroom and landed between the sink and the toilet. Maybe that injury is catching up to me after 14 years.

Most neurologists are a joke as I've been seeing them since being diagnosed with epilepsy after that incident. I haven't seen one in several years so it might be time to get it checked out if I plan to ride for longer trips.

I did see a back specialist for my back problems which turned out to be a waste of time as well. Basically, here's a drug, lose weight and unless you have a life threating back injury don't come back.

A chiropractor has been helpful. He doesn't touch my neck as the first time he did, I spent two days with my left side completely numb. His only thought was that I'd injured my neck during my first gran mal seizure as well. I've had two others in the 14 years I've known I had epilepsy. Both were while I was in bed.

I just need to find a position that lets me ride w/o aggravating my neck and make a call to a neurologist and get seen in about two months time. LOL.


The previous posts were great. I don't feel so worried now.

[TrekTheKaty]

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=43972

I agree with Knotted's concerns. However, I'll answer the bike fit question. A link to my recent post is above. It was my first visit to a REAL roadie shop (although, I saw an employee giving a very gentle/thorough lesson to a female customer with a mountain bike about how to air up her tires).

My fitter was very attentive. He was a great listener being paid to focus on me for an hour. He didn't laugh at any of my "silly" questions--in fact he took me quite seriously--answering "I don't think you should have to worry about that" if it really was a silly question I have the impression they intend to make minor adjustments like stems and saddle adjustments (a follow up--those minor tweaks made a big difference--no lower back ache after my long ride and I'm spending more than 5 min in my drops). My shop does more "intense" fits where they work with shims in your shoes and setting up more aggressive riding positions, if you are interested in such things.

[Bethany1]

The fitting went great! The guy was super nice and explained a lot. My saddle needed the most work. He straightened it out/leveled it and adjusted the height. He took some measurements/angles and fiddled some more with the saddle.

He was surprised I had a 56cm men's Madone as most women fit into the WSD bikes. However; at 5'9" or 5'10 (not sure which one I am) I can go either way depending on comfort level of the bike.

He fixed my clippless pedals and showed how to get in/out of them w/o falling over or knocking the bike out from under me.

He said my form looked great and talked about to relax while riding so my neck and arms wouldn't hurt and stiffen up. He gave me some different positions for when I get tired which will really help.

He was so sweet and did my MTB as well. He raised my saddle by 3 inches, maybe 4 and it made a HUGE difference. It's funny how you think your saddle is high enough and have someone else raise it even higher. My MTB is a WSD 29er and he said it was a great fit.

It's nice to know that my LBS did fit me with the right size bikes as nothing needed changed out. (I used a different LBS for the fitting).

I highly reccomend a fitting after this. I can't believe some minor and major tweaking made such a difference!

I'm also borrowing a trainer for a couple of days since it's SO hot outside. If I like it, my LBS will order me one.

Oh..BTW the celexa is amazing. It finally kicked in about Wednesday and I'm not such a bear to be around.

You all have been SO helpful. I appreciate everyone's support.

[indysteel]

I'm glad it went well! I bet you won't get as fatigued now that your saddles are at the proper height. Let us know if that's indeed the case.