The Fit is It

[RickB]

Just wanted to pass along the very surprising results of a recent "retro-fit" I had done on my MTB. I had been steadily increasing mileage/hours on the bike (Intense Spyder 29er) and had completed a few endurance races, and my knees were really bothering me, notably my iliotibial band. Usually, stretching and small tweaks to riding position can address these things. But when I went in for a comprehensive analysis and fit, much to my surprise, the recommendation came back to lower my saddle a full inch (2.5 cm), plus shims on one of my cleats (and flipping the stem to compensate for the overall cockpit lowering). First ride felt a bit awkward at first, then surprisingly good. More stable in turns, just as good climbing, way more fluid through technical sections (more saddle-butt float room, I suppose), but most of all, no pain in the ITB!

The whole point of this discussion is that while conventional wisdom encourages minor changes (1/8" at a time) when trying to tweak bike fit, sometimes that's not the right answer. Actual measurements, in this case, led to the realization that my knee angle was way off.

So, learning a few basic bike fit techniques will help you (or if you're in a shop, your customers) dramatically!

[tryandgetme]

hooo...I've always wanted to go in for a bike fitting, now I think I really should. The bikes have been getting painful.

[Hand/of/Midas]

quite a few people have knee problems that can be helped by the proper shoe fit,like the cleat shims in your case, read the tech info on specialized shoes sometime, and your eyes will be opened to glory.

[RickB]

quite a few people have knee problems that can be helped by the proper shoe fit,like the cleat shims in your case, read the tech info on specialized shoes sometime, and your eyes will be opened to glory.

The big thing for me was my knee angle, which was about 10 degrees too steep (I was way overextending).

The cleat shims helped too, 'cuz I have mild scoliosis and it makes one leg "effectively" shorter by a small bit.

[FishMan]

Wow, I've never heard of anyone having their saddle a full inch too high on an MTB. Usually it's the opposite, an inch, two or three too low.

A few months back I spent $200 on a fitting after getting my new road bike. I actually had worked myself into just about the right position, he just tweaked the angle of my bars, adjusted the hood position and moved one cleat outboard a few mm, and that was it. Still with the discussion and advice involved, not to mention knowing that that bike is set up just right for me (and now I've tweaked my other bikes to match) it is the best $200 I have ever spent on cycling.

[plume_mtb]

The whole point of this discussion is that while conventional wisdom encourages minor changes (1/8" at a time) when trying to tweak bike fit, sometimes that's not the right answer. Actual measurements, in this case, led to the realization that my knee angle was way off.

So, learning a few basic bike fit techniques will help you (or if you're in a shop, your customers) dramatically!

I really want to get fitted soon too. I think the minor changes advice is good if you don't really know what you're doing, but if you get a pro-fit you should just go with what the experts say.

[davkatreb]

I came home from a little road loop today and mentioned to my beloved wife, The Beautiful Miss Kathy, that I might need to have a fit. Her eyebrow shot up. "No, not that kind of fit. Fitted to my bike, my cleats adjusted an'at."

I splained to her that it might even keep me out of the hospital further down the line. She's working the idea through the one-woman comittee she chairs as Her Exchequership. Maybe for Christmas...

[MrTits]

if i told my 'ole lady i wanted to spend $200 bucks to get my bike 'fitted'...she would promply kick me in the niz-oles (nuts for all you old guys who aren't 'down' with 'the street'), steal my wallet and cut up my debit card.

then she would cut me off from the sweet lovin'....and thats if i told her this while im here in baghdad...

[davkatreb]

JFC on a pogo stick! And they call ME "whipped".

[MrTits]

JFC on a pogo stick! And they call ME "whipped".


Hahaha!!! sweet, i have a classic quote from the ol' man himself!

nah, my wife doesn't get my love of ridin'. she tolerates it, but doesnt get it.

well, that and she is knocked up....

[tryandgetme]

my girlfriend "gets it", rides well, and is thinking of buying a third bike. Is that kickass or what!?

[FishMan]

Not as kickass as marrying a woman who will join you on a 11 week cross-country bike tour as the honeymoon.

I am a lucky man.

And my bike fits me perfectly.

[tryandgetme]

she's trying to convince me to quit my job so we can ride across the country. it's close...

[squirrl_poker]

The book Bicycling Medicine by Arnie Baker can be a good reference for potential causes and solutions to bicycle related medical conditions. It has a section on Crotchitis.

It recommends setting saddle height so at the farthest end of your pedal stroke your knees bend to about 25 degrees from full extension.

It also says that pain in the front of the knee might indicate a saddle that is too low, while pain in the back of the knee might indicate a saddle that is too high.