So here's the thing about bike fitting that perplexes me. I am primarily a utilitarian/transportation, urban cyclist who has a high performance, upright bike. (Breezer) The thing is, really excellent fitters don't seem to know how to do a fitting for a person who is using such a bike. Most of them don't seem to think you need a well-fitted upright bike. I think they have this misconception that just because you don't go long distances really fast or ride on unpaved single track, fit isn't important. Maybe they think we will just toodle around the block with it on the weekends, even though we try to assure them otherwise. I spend hours on my bike, but not the corresponding high mileage. It's in stop-and-go traffic, over bridges, potholes, a great variety of roads and streets, on bus racks, light rail trains, and usually hauling everything but the kitchen sink. Eventually, I will pull a trailer. I might be wearing work clothes, which includes skirts or I might be wearing more exercise-type apparel.

Case in point: common advice is to have your arms pretty much straight when your riding. I can see that on a non-upright bike. What I have noticed is that if I don't have a slight bend of my elbows, I will begin to put a lot of pressure on my upper back, shoulders, & neck. One chiropractor's visit and a lot of yoga stretching later, it's getting better, but still a problem for me. Heck, my chiropractor knew how I needed to adjust my upright, but the fantastic LBS fitters who do a fantastic job with road & mountain bikes don't seem to know that or think it's important to pass this along. I bought my bike from a LBS with a fantastic reputation, but I've come to the realization that he really doesn't grok fitting a upright rider - it's all road bikes for him. He sells Breezers because he's impressed with the quality of the bike and he doesn't seem to be "afraid" of internal hub gearing. I can't help but wonder what else I am missing about a good fit for upright bikes. I can't find a single book that even has a proper fit diagram.

I'm beginning to suspect this is because the dominant focus in the US is on racing, touring, & mountain biking. Well, pooh to that! Ok, rant over, thank you for your patience.