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How long does it take to adjust to a new fit?

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How long does it take to adjust to a new fit?

Old 07-01-13, 12:22 PM
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tigat
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How long does it take to adjust to a new fit?

Bought my current bike, a Bianchi 928 b4p, 2 1/2 years ago, my first new road bike since 1978. Road away with an eyeball fit from a very competent LBS. 7000 miles later, with no particular complaints, just some nags, annoyances, and a more agressive riding style, I have an opportunity to get a new bike with a professional fit. Since I had been riding very little before the Bianchi, my guess is that my muscles have developed/adapted around the current fit, whether it is perfect or not. Ultimately, I am confident that the better the fit, the better the ride will be, but short term, I have a 120 mile event coming up with a ton of vertical. Pretty sure I can survive it on the current bike. Not sure I'll have much more than a few hours of saddle time on the new bike beforehand. Hence my question, how long should I expect it to take for the new fit to kick in and be comfortable for the long haul?
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Old 07-01-13, 02:30 PM
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Hi,

Get them to measure your current fit on your current bike.
A number of one off measurements.

Then let them go through the rigmarole of whatever they
do to come up with their recommended bike fit for you.

Compare measurements, I'd say split any significant
differences in half if you have a major ride, and reset
back to to the professional fit afterwards, if you can.
(Somethings, like stem length are not easy to change.)

rgds, sreten.
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Old 07-01-13, 09:59 PM
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You'll get a pro fitting with the new bike? MAKE time in your schedule for riding before the event. Get the new bike.
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Old 07-02-13, 01:56 AM
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Originally Posted by sreten
Hi,

Get them to measure your current fit on your current bike.
A number of one off measurements.

Then let them go through the rigmarole of whatever they
do to come up with their recommended bike fit for you.

Compare measurements, I'd say split any significant
differences in half if you have a major ride, and reset
back to to the professional fit afterwards, if you can.
(Somethings, like stem length are not easy to change.)

rgds, sreten.
Sorry, but this is terrible advice. All it would do is put him in a position which is both unfamiliar and wrong.

OP, the point of a fit is to adapt the bike to your needs, not your needs to the bike. So a good professional fit should be right, and feel right, straight away. It may, of course, feel slightly unfamilar, but if it has been done properly you should get used to it, and feel good about it, pretty fast. I'd suggest that a few hours of saddle time ought to be enough for that. If for some reason it isn't working for you, you can always revert to the existing bike, if you still have it.
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Old 07-02-13, 04:32 AM
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Originally Posted by chasm54
Sorry, but this is terrible advice.
Hi, yeah right ... your the expert ... , rgds, sreten.

I'd also consider swapping saddles until your used to the new one.
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Old 07-02-13, 05:34 AM
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Originally Posted by tigat
Bought my current bike, a Bianchi 928 b4p, 2 1/2 years ago, my first new road bike since 1978. Road away with an eyeball fit from a very competent LBS. 7000 miles later, with no particular complaints, just some nags, annoyances, and a more agressive riding style, I have an opportunity to get a new bike with a professional fit. Since I had been riding very little before the Bianchi, my guess is that my muscles have developed/adapted around the current fit, whether it is perfect or not. Ultimately, I am confident that the better the fit, the better the ride will be, but short term, I have a 120 mile event coming up with a ton of vertical. Pretty sure I can survive it on the current bike. Not sure I'll have much more than a few hours of saddle time on the new bike beforehand. Hence my question, how long should I expect it to take for the new fit to kick in and be comfortable for the long haul?
I'd agree, the better the bike's contact points suit your current needs, the better the ride will be. I don't think the "quality" of the fitting process figures in, unless the results are better. Your bike was fitted, and apparently quite well. But in two years your needs change, which is normal. It can take as little as a month or a week to discover that a fit isn't right in some way.

You could work on the nags and annoyances with the help of your previous fitter, if that assistance is available at a reasonable price. There should be nothing wrong with your 928 that requires replacement. Your new riding sounds likes it's within the spectrum of the old machine, which just means you might need some reconfiguration and contact adjustment.

If you get a new fit, you should feel some improvement pretty quick. If it enables your physique to develop in new and better ways, that will take some time, but it's more like learning to climb a new, bigger hill 30 s quicker than finding your body freed.

I'd also not do anything arbitrarily, like splitting the difference between new and old settings. It does make sense to adjust up to a new target value incrementally and allow your body to acclimate to the new position gradually, done consciously. It also makes sense to make changes one at a time, one step at a time. If you do too much too suddenly, it might just feel bad and prevent you from getting back to the last good state.

You're ready for an improvement, not just a major change. Consider what overall method will guarantee you an improvement without any steps backward.
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Old 07-03-13, 03:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Road Fan
I'd also not do anything arbitrarily, like splitting the difference between new and old settings.
Hi, It is not arbitrary in the slightest, quite the opposite, rgds, sreten.

Last edited by sreten; 07-03-13 at 11:15 AM.
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