What is a professional bike fit? Basically, it’s the process of adjusting all the contact points on your bike – like the bars, stem, shifters, saddle, crank arms, pedals, and cleat position – to make sure that the bike fits you perfectly. This creates a seamless connection between you and the bike.
I’ve heard the analogy that a bike fit is like buying a nice pair of pants. You buy the pants, but still get the pants tailored to perfectly fit your specific build. Similarly, after you buy a bike, you should get the bike tailored to fit you.
Why is this important? If you’re not comfortable on your bike, you’re not going to enjoy riding it. Plus, you could end up with long-term injuries from being in the wrong position – things like knee tendonitis that could keep you from riding your bike or keeping up with your energetic kids. So a proper bike fit is definitely worth considering.
Bike Fitting Is Not Just for Professionals
It’s a known fact that professional cyclists devote a significant amount of time to cycling, often spending around 20-30 hours a week on their bikes. To ensure that they can ride for extended periods without experiencing discomfort, they work closely with their teams to customize each bike to fit their individual needs perfectly.
As cycling enthusiasts, we can learn a lot from them, even if we don’t spend nearly as much time on our bikes. We too want to enjoy pain-free rides and continue enjoying this sport for many years to come.
Types of Bike Fitting Services
There are two primary bike fitting services available:
- The first one is a Static Fit at Purchase. This type of fitting is not considered “Professional” as it is usually offered by bike shops as part of purchasing a bike. The sales team will take a few body measurements and adjust the saddle height and fore-aft (setback). Although this method gets you on the bike quickly, there are more technologically advanced and scientific methods of fitting a bike.
- The second type is Dynamic Professional Bike Fit. This fitting requires specialized knowledge in human physiology and typically involves a certificate in bike fitting. It begins by assessing the rider’s mobility and flexibility. Then, video analysis and motion capture technology are used to accurately evaluate how the rider interacts with the bike. This ensures that the posture and alignment are optimized for increased comfort and performance.
How Does It Work
Expect to spend anywhere between $250 – $500 on a professional bike fit depending on the services being offered. There are numerous types of professional bike fitting systems, but in general, they all perform:
- A physical assessment: height, weight, mobility check, etc.
- An on-bike video assessment with your bike on a trainer using some sort of motion-capturing technology.
- Proprietary software that takes the motion capture assessment and identifies position changes that need to be made.
- The fitter will then work with you to change the fit of the bike, reach, saddle height, saddle setback, etc.
- Some changes may require new equipment to be purchased to get to the correct position like, cleats, pedals, bars, stem, and saddle.
- You then will receive a report with all your information so that it can referenced back if you ever make changes in the future
Investing $500 in your physical health and bike enjoyment may seem like a lot, but it is worth it in the long run. Especially considering that bikes now cost thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars, $500 is a small investment in the overall bike cost.
Small Changes Make a Big Difference
Sometimes, even minor adjustments from a professional bike fit can have a significant impact. For instance, my spouse had been experiencing discomfort in her left leg, and it was discovered during her bike fit that her left leg was slightly longer than her right. To address this, the fitter added a plastic shim to her right cleat, which immediately alleviated her leg pain.
Similarly, I had been experiencing excessive pain in my VMO muscle while cycling. Upon assessment, it was found that my knee tended to angle outward during my pedal stroke, despite having the correct saddle height. To address this, I was advised to invest in new pedals with longer axles – just 4mm longer. This small change did the trick, as my knees now track straight up and down, and I no longer experience any discomfort in my VMO.
What Professional Bike FIt Does Dads Riding Bikes Recommend?
I recently tried the RETÜL bike fitting service, which offers an assessment on their exclusive RETÜL Muve fit bike. They adjust the frame size, bar length, and other factors to determine your ideal bike position. Then, they recommend bikes and sizes that can be customized with minimal changes to achieve the perfect fit for you.
After purchasing your new bike, you return for a follow-up fitting using the RETÜL motion capture system. They use their proprietary software to make any necessary adjustments to ensure a comfortable and personalized fit.
I got mine from Denver Fit Loft. Check them out if you are in the Denver, CO area, they are right downtown!
Let’s Hear What you Think
What are your thoughts on professional bike fitting? Have you already gotten one or will you be getting one now? Leave a comment let’s hear your thoughts!