Joy of riding a Sportive Road Bike
- Thread starter Arrowfoot
- Start date
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Jef, I am speaking from real life experience. How do you without having a bike fit know there is no room for improvement? Sure your arm problem got better, but what caused it.
I am not saying everybody needs a bike fit, but if comfort is a problem, or you might like to improve speed then one can help.
I am not saying everybody needs a bike fit, but if comfort is a problem, or you might like to improve speed then one can help.
Audax if it fits nicely.
potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
I think I best take mine back then
Firstly, 89.47527% of stats are made on the spot.
Secondly, jokes aside and using your figures only, you don't seem to have grasped how stats work? 5% chance is hardly termed reasonable, when 95% is saying it will work. There's a chance, no question, but you suggest it's likely when the fact is that it's 19 times more likely to work than not. If it's a serious operation we were talking about, you would take those odds!
Quite likely at 30% is a fair term, but you're two and a third as likely not to experience the placebo effect.
The elbow thing is interesting, as any bike fitter would agree that you should not cycle with locked elbows for 100km. There's no surprise that you experienced this. The next ride, you probably cycled for longer with more bend at the elbow. A proper bike fit would resolve this and take the chance out of it.
As far as bike fits go in general, it depends on how switched on you are in setting up your bike up to start with. If you just ride it like set up in the shop without them seeing you or as a rough guide stood next to them, then you are considerably less likely to have the optimum fit than if the fitted you properly.
If you look online at the things that you need to adjust to get close to a good fit, and work at this over time, then you are considerably less likely to see such big gains as the guy in the first example. Stands to reason really?
What I find amusing, is people saying bike fits are pointless, when they have actually done many of the adjustments themselves already! That's irony for you at its best!
If you have adjusted your bike and still riding with pain, and nothing has changed to you physically or the bike, then it's not set up right, or the wrong size, or you're simply not doing enough riding to get used to the desired position.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Indeed, you can do it yourself and trouser the cost of the snake oil sellers...
http://www.bikepro.com.au/diy-bike-fitting
http://www.bikepro.com.au/diy-bike-fitting
Totally spot on. That's the point really. Do it yourself if get it done professionally? No right answer.
It depends on cost, desire either way, time, expertise, whether you have a friend to help, or any of another 20 reasons.
Professional bike fits are not a waste of money, so those who say they are simply don't appreciate the position others are in!
Bike fits can be done yourself, so anyone who says they can't again done appreciate the position others are in!
The definite answer is Bike Fits are an absolute necessity, but who does them is the question.
Great link though @Drago! A bit long for me this very minute, but will make good bedtime reading later. I am currently reading:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bike-Fit-Optimise-performance-avoidance/dp/1408190303
(Other stockists are available.)
I have the Kindle Edition on my iPad, as cheaper than the Apple version.
It's a very good read and about half way through. I am going to read it throughout and then go back over my bikes to see how they compare. I have tested a 100mm stem, instead of 110mm, from my other bike and felt a lot better on main bike, but want to check the theory before ordering a replacement.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Get it done professionally you're no better off. The only reason I had mine done was because the buyer had paid and had to use it by a certain date, then promptly went and broke his pelvis.
The problem with professional "systems" is the contradictory stance they take in many key areas. Which is correct? Are any correct?
Comfort is the paramount factor in every adjustment and measurement. It doesn't matter how mechanically efficient your position is with regards to your leg stroke if you can't fill your lungs or look forward without your neck going click.
Even the most deliberately obtuse among us know when we're uncomfortable and are capable of identifying which bit of our body is uncomfortable, and it.doesn't take a bike fit.specialist to tell us that something.needs a.twiddle to correct it.
The problem with professional "systems" is the contradictory stance they take in many key areas. Which is correct? Are any correct?
Comfort is the paramount factor in every adjustment and measurement. It doesn't matter how mechanically efficient your position is with regards to your leg stroke if you can't fill your lungs or look forward without your neck going click.
Even the most deliberately obtuse among us know when we're uncomfortable and are capable of identifying which bit of our body is uncomfortable, and it.doesn't take a bike fit.specialist to tell us that something.needs a.twiddle to correct it.
Hip Priest
Veteran
That's true of many aspects of cycling. One expert will tell you HR zones are everything, whilst another will tell you that a HR monitor is just an unnecessary distraction on the bike. One expert will tell you to 'carb load' the night before a long ride, whereas another will tell you it does more harm than good.
All you can do is find what works for you, and spend your money accordingly.
I tweaked and worked with coaches, physio etc. For 40 years, I consider the fit I had was well worth the investment.
Can I ask what sort of cycling you do?
You have made the mistake of assuming that comfort is the key motivator for Everyone, when the fact is that this is misguided. It may be the goal as many, but some people want Power, or Aerodynamics, etc. Not everyone wants to do slow comfortable long miles. Some want short and fast rides. Bike fit varies dramatically.
You can still do this yourself, but not everyone wants to and has the ability. That's the point. Doing it yourself can be equally as wrong depending on which "system" you follow, remember.
Thanks. I think over time, they have become or becoming separate genres. The race bike is also becoming more aggressive in design to be more aerodynamic pushing the gap even further. It will be interesting how they are evolve over time. 25cm tyres are now the standard.
What is unusual about it?
