I got a professional bike fit today
03-28-24, 05:07 PM
#27
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There are of course much worse ways ta spend your money.
I have always though Short Crank Arms are like taking short steps. And I have seen many people moving along quite quickly taking little bitty steps.
Not me, waking is 30" or more. And my Cycling Crank Arms are at 170-175mm. I have seen females both tall and short prefer 160-170mm.
But do note I am talking about older geometry bikes...
I have always though Short Crank Arms are like taking short steps. And I have seen many people moving along quite quickly taking little bitty steps.
Not me, waking is 30" or more. And my Cycling Crank Arms are at 170-175mm. I have seen females both tall and short prefer 160-170mm.
But do note I am talking about older geometry bikes...
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03-28-24, 05:20 PM
#28
Junior Member
I like learning about bike fitting so when I age more I can knowingly try and adjust fit to get the desired outcome. At least now you have a sheet of information so if you need to setup a new bike or try different setting from that position you have a reference. People are weird since I find the longer the crank the more happy I am, but 175mm is the longest I have used with 165 being the smallest.
It would make sense that being in a TT/aero position shorter cranks could be better. I hate kneeing my stomach.
It would make sense that being in a TT/aero position shorter cranks could be better. I hate kneeing my stomach.
03-28-24, 05:38 PM
#29
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IIRC VegasJen mentioned getting custom made cranks in another thread so presumably < 165 mm?
03-29-24, 03:25 PM
#30
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Not all fitters are created equal, and not all people need one.
The fit I got 14 years ago made a huge difference for me on my road bike and the gravel bikes that followed. It was a very in depth one, took many hours. What I learned was that the fit I needed was nearly the opposite of what conventional wisdom (and many hack fitters) would dictate based on my body proportions. After the fit I was much more comfortable on long rides (after I got a frame that fit me properly), and a nagging issue with the back of my knee was resolved.
I traded the fit for some carpentry work for the shop, it normally would have been a few hundred dollars.... and would have been worth every penny for me.
The fit I got 14 years ago made a huge difference for me on my road bike and the gravel bikes that followed. It was a very in depth one, took many hours. What I learned was that the fit I needed was nearly the opposite of what conventional wisdom (and many hack fitters) would dictate based on my body proportions. After the fit I was much more comfortable on long rides (after I got a frame that fit me properly), and a nagging issue with the back of my knee was resolved.
I traded the fit for some carpentry work for the shop, it normally would have been a few hundred dollars.... and would have been worth every penny for me.
03-29-24, 05:16 PM
#31
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2) Could be a case of premature evaluation.
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03-29-24, 05:20 PM
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03-29-24, 06:40 PM
#33
Senior Member
Once again, YMMV and if you don't feel at all comfortable on your bike, or maybe it's something that's included with a new purchase, then by all means take advantage of the service. As for me, I'm left with this feeling that I could have just spent that money on getting the shorter cranks like I was already planning and then tinkering with it because I was already pretty darn close.
Last edited by asgelle; 03-29-24 at 06:44 PM.
03-29-24, 10:48 PM
#34
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"Scientific" fitting is OK, but I'd rather have the opinion of a veteran coach who has fitted hundreds of riders by eye.
03-29-24, 10:55 PM
#35
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Thread Starter
VegasJen I'd take that as a confirmation that you're intelligent enough and willing to consider enough variations that you've already done everything a pro fitter can do.
Except the cranks, which you'd figured out but hadn't implemented.
Now cut back on the analysis and kibbitzing, get back out there and enjoy riding the bike!
Except the cranks, which you'd figured out but hadn't implemented.
Now cut back on the analysis and kibbitzing, get back out there and enjoy riding the bike!
What it seems nobody has mentioned or asked is what kind of fit you got VegasJen a static fit is generally pretty bad sort of like going to a Subway and saying subs are bad. A static fit could help some but a dynamic fit is going to be the way to go think something like Retül or similar. It also may not be huge tweaks either not everyone needs huge tweaks but having someone point out the tweaks maybe confirm things you had been thinking is not a bad thing. Not everything requires the massive adjustable wrench sometimes a 2.5 hex wrench is all that you need and it may seem more silly to pay money to get that but it can help. Plus most fitters will have a test ride period and then you come back to make additional adjustments as needed or follow up in some way.
I suspect many of us achieved our “fit” by years of riding and then making adjustments as needed. Undoubtedly a much longer way of doing it but I’ve found a fit I wouldn’t alter no matter who gave contrary advice.
Shorter crank arms was my last major change after spending considerable time on aero bars, it felt like I was nearly kneeing myself in the chest every pedal stroke.
Shorter crank arms was my last major change after spending considerable time on aero bars, it felt like I was nearly kneeing myself in the chest every pedal stroke.
I have short legs.
She recommended 145mm.
IIRC VegasJen mentioned getting custom made cranks in another thread so presumably < 165 mm?
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03-29-24, 11:18 PM
#36
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03-30-24, 09:01 AM
#37
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I would have to say this was a dynamic fit. Don't remember the brand but it was on one of those bike replicator mock up things. She took measurements off my bike, transferred them to her replicator and then from there she could adjust seat height, crank arm length, reach, stack, etc, etc. Put those little dots on my ankles, knees and hips, then filmed me through my peddle stroke.
03-30-24, 09:12 AM
#38
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Was this your road or tri bike? I'm also curious what you said to the fitter. What did you say you were trying to accomplish? Did you say you were looking to improve comfort or performance and did you mention any problems with the present position or things you were interested in improving?
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03-30-24, 10:45 AM
#39
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But to answer someone's question above, my focus of this fit was really being comfortable in the saddle. I'm planning on IMAZ this November and my biggest concern with the bike portion is just being able to tolerate ~7 hours on the bike. My experience thus far, with my longest rides only being in the 50 mile range (including one 70.3) is that after about 3 hours, I am absolutely ready to get off the bike.
03-30-24, 01:08 PM
#40
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This was my Shiv, tri bike. Prior to last year, I really didn't have a tri bike. Only road bikes that I made do with. I got fitted for the tri bike because I figured it would be easier to transfer a lot of that to a road bike for a little more relaxed fit than it would be to get fitted for a road bike and transfer that to a tri bike with a more aggressive fit.
But to answer someone's question above, my focus of this fit was really being comfortable in the saddle. I'm planning on IMAZ this November and my biggest concern with the bike portion is just being able to tolerate ~7 hours on the bike. My experience thus far, with my longest rides only being in the 50 mile range (including one 70.3) is that after about 3 hours, I am absolutely ready to get off the bike.
But to answer someone's question above, my focus of this fit was really being comfortable in the saddle. I'm planning on IMAZ this November and my biggest concern with the bike portion is just being able to tolerate ~7 hours on the bike. My experience thus far, with my longest rides only being in the 50 mile range (including one 70.3) is that after about 3 hours, I am absolutely ready to get off the bike.
03-30-24, 02:40 PM
#41
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If you follow all the correct guide lines to fit your bike you should be able to get 95 to 97% there.
If you go see 10 bike fitters you will get 10 different options and a one them will be just like what you had before you saw the bike fitter. So, whose correct?
If you go see 10 bike fitters you will get 10 different options and a one them will be just like what you had before you saw the bike fitter. So, whose correct?
03-30-24, 11:08 PM
#42
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I've never gone to a fitter, but the way that I look at it...with a fitter, I would've saved a bunch of trial and error to arrive at the same point I am now. That is if it was someone who knew what they were doing. That being said, I'm pretty "in tune" to my own fit and can quickly diagnose something being "off."
Another thing to consider is, proper fit isn't a static thing. With age, changes in fitness, etc, what you find comfortable might change. When I took a year off from competitive riding and also gained 20lbs, my agro saddle-bar drop and long reach wasn't so easy to live with. Now that I'm back to riding a lot, the long/low fit feels perfectly normal.
Another thing to consider is, proper fit isn't a static thing. With age, changes in fitness, etc, what you find comfortable might change. When I took a year off from competitive riding and also gained 20lbs, my agro saddle-bar drop and long reach wasn't so easy to live with. Now that I'm back to riding a lot, the long/low fit feels perfectly normal.
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03-31-24, 05:13 AM
#43
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Another thing to consider is, proper fit isn't a static thing. With age, changes in fitness, etc, what you find comfortable might change. When I took a year off from competitive riding and also gained 20lbs, my agro saddle-bar drop and long reach wasn't so easy to live with. Now that I'm back to riding a lot, the long/low fit feels perfectly normal.
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03-31-24, 08:07 AM
#44
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Whenever I get a new pair of eyeglasses, they feel awful. I hate them. wanna throw them in the trash. But I eventually get used to them. But a few years down the line, I need a new set. The old ones "were perfect," and new new set is awful. For a while...
Bike fit is like that.
Bike fit is like that.
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