Zwift Chat

[BurningLegs]

I'm either lucky, or an idiot. Maybe both?!

I just bought a bike based on the manufacturers recommended size for my height, never adjusted the bars or stem etc, lined the saddle up "about right" the day I got it and haven't moved it since. Threw the cleats on my shoes somewhere that "looks about right" and never had any issues with discomfort (unless I am out of shape - then everything hurts all over and I don't blame my lack of bike fit for that!).🤷‍♂️

 

[Joffey]

Mine are also almost completely moved to the back, on top of that I have quite a lot of forefoot varus and toes pointing out which is why it was so difficult. I also suspect that I might have a slight leg length discrepancy as one of my legs is always much more stressed.

Mine too, all the way to the back.

Maybe try a shim under one of your cleats of the leg you suspect is shorter - might save you a fortune on a bike fit!

 

[Legs]

For 25 years I've always had my cleats positioned right in the middle of the slots (fore-aft), and as far to the outside as possible to bring my feet as close together as possible (reduced effective Q-factor for TTing IRL). I used to use black (zero-float) Look delta cleats but I've recently gone to red cleats in deference to my tetragenarian knees.

 

[JuhaL]

My frame size is always been a 54cm or M size. After i bought Cervelo S3 few years ago it gave me bit of headache to find right riding position because the geometry was way different than my previous bikes. It was a seat tube angle what make that difference, seat post set more behind than my other road bikes. First i copied measurements from my previous bike and set them to Cervelo, it take some time to find out why it didn't felt right.

 

[berty bassett]

There are , apparently, more bike fitters in the UK than the whole of Europe.

Lots of good advice above. FWIW my right side issues, knee etc , are made much easier by a 5mm longer pedal axle. Or moving the speedplay cleats to achieve the same fit. I only discovered that with a bike fit. Similarly, the knee over spindle bike fit doesnt work for me. My cleats are as far back as they can go and saddle set so the knees are a little behind that KOS/P point to open up the hip angle for more power and comfort.

 

[<Tommy>]

I'm either lucky, or an idiot. Maybe both?!

I just bought a bike based on the manufacturers recommended size for my height, never adjusted the bars or stem etc, lined the saddle up "about right" the day I got it and haven't moved it since. Threw the cleats on my shoes somewhere that "looks about right" and never had any issues with discomfort (unless I am out of shape - then everything hurts all over and I don't blame my lack of bike fit for that!).🤷‍♂️

I guess the younger you are the more flexible you are too. I’ve got this annoying back muscle thing going on at the moment that feels age related. So I’m trying to find a yoga class that suits me time wise. And I’m trying to stretch more.

Which leads me back to your conclusion, that maybe it’s often as much a lack of fitness that’s the problem rather than the precise fit of a bike.

 

[Norry1]

Yeah I think that stuff like saddle height, reach, drop etc. I got about right.

The cleats - my goodness it took me 4 months to get to a position when I'm OK with them. Mine are also almost completely moved to the back, on top of that I have quite a lot of forefoot varus and toes pointing out which is why it was so difficult. I also suspect that I might have a slight leg length discrepancy as one of my legs is always much more stressed.

Fitters (should) check leg length as a matter of course. On my last one he also measured how much standing weight I had on my left and right leg. Surprisingly it was quite a difference. He had 2 scales connected together for this.

 

[Norry1]

I'm either lucky, or an idiot. Maybe both?!

I just bought a bike based on the manufacturers recommended size for my height, never adjusted the bars or stem etc, lined the saddle up "about right" the day I got it and haven't moved it since. Threw the cleats on my shoes somewhere that "looks about right" and never had any issues with discomfort (unless I am out of shape - then everything hurts all over and I don't blame my lack of bike fit for that!).🤷‍♂️

How many miles a year do you do Nick? Fit becomes more important the more miles you do.

 

[Peter Salt]

Well I just had a bit of a revelation on the saddle front - turns out I have a really narrow arse

Measured my sit bones at home in a few different ways and positions and they're about 100mm apart which is at the very very low end for the general population (or so internet search suggests). This means that I don't (theoretically) need a narrow saddle - I need a super narrow saddle, likely around 120mm.

 

[Peter Salt]

OK, I'm getting a bit cheeky here. Anyone has any experience returning stuff bought off Wiggle? Thinking about ordering a few saddles and testing them out. If I cover the rails in electrical tape that should prevent leaving marks.

 

[BurningLegs]

OK, I'm getting a bit cheeky here. Anyone has any experience returning stuff bought off Wiggle? Thinking about ordering a few saddles and testing them out. If I cover the rails in electrical tape that should prevent leaving marks.

They're very good at accepting returns. I haven't done it for a while so check their current policy but the last time I did it you could return an unwanted item for upto 365 days after receiving it for free via Collect+

 

[Joffey]

They're very good at accepting returns. I haven't done it for a while so check their current policy but the last time I did it you could return an unwanted item for upto 365 days after receiving it for free via Collect+

I concur - they are pretty good. Just make sure that you use a drop off point that's busy. They wait until the basket is full before sending the lot off to Wiggle and it can delay refunds. I waited 2 weeks (on 3 occasions) from my local Collect+ drop off point. Now I use a busier Hermes one and they are refunded within a week.

If you can find a Hermes one that has a printer even better - you just wrap it up and you are away!

 

[Joffey]

So when is the Tour of Watopia Splitters thing starting chaps? I think I missed all the discussions about it!

 

[BurningLegs]

How many miles a year do you do Nick? Fit becomes more important the more miles you do.

Not much by some people's standards! Strava says 130h in 2020 and and 118h in 2021. Perhaps that's how I get away with it

 

[Peter Salt]

So when is the Tour of Watopia Splitters thing starting chaps? I think I missed all the discussions about it!

Ah fair point. @bridgy, any chance we could get invites for the first leg? Can't wait to get some new scalps