What is Bike Fitting?
The process through which we find the best way to set up your bike so that you can get the most out of your riding whether that be comfort, performance, effiency, injury prevention, or all of the above. It needs to be carefully personalised for each person to get the best outcome.
Bike Fit process
Rider History
This allows for a broad understanding of the individual and has a great influence over every step that follows afterwards.
General Health
Medical
Previous Injuries
Occupation
Riding Level / Type
Screening Assessment
This stage now places the emphasis on the current physical capacity of the rider and how robust they are for the level of riding.
Range of Motion
Flexibility
Strength
Muscle Balance
Rider Goals / Aims
Next we need to align the rider’s current capacity with what they want to do or achieve. This is vital to be able to plan what aspects need to be addressed both on and off the bike.
Events
Races
Challenges
Riding Holidays
Commuting etc
Baseline Bike Measurements (Pre-Fit)
Using an X-Y self levelling laser, accurate measurements are taken of the bike’s current set up before any testing / changes are made.
Initial Dynamic Examination
Observations (both visually and with a camera) are made from all sides of the rider to look at current movement patterns, control, symmetry, pedalling technique.
The next part of this process is where rider feedback is critical - during this phase we will be looking to obtain information on comfort, pressure distribution, areas of strain, which muscles are tiring or working harder. The first part of this process is meaningless without the second part - this is what makes the fitting session collaborative, individualised, and interactive.
Adjustments
This process is meticulous and laborious as it involves making continual and incremental changes while closely monitoring responses in the rider’s body and also the rider’s own verbal responses (they can often be conflicting so its important to consider both aspects).
All contact points are considered from the shoe / cleat / pedal interface, the saddle, and the bars.
Crucially, changing one contact point will always have a knock on effect on other areas of the fitting.
Continual rider feedback on key areas of comfort, balance / stability, pressure distribution, efficiency, power etc.
Mutual consensus over final positional set up
All contact points tested and re-tightened to torque specifications
Final Bike Measurements (Post-Fit)
The same measurements are taken but this time they will include detail on what has changed and also recommendations for any parts they may need (or recommended) to be replaced.
Off Bike Work
During the screening and fitting process it is likely that numerous areas will have been identified that could benefit from some focused work off the bike. A program of recommended strength / flexibility / core exerises may be drawn up at this point
Follow-Up and Review
A Bike Fit is not complete once the bike rolls out the door. The bike needs to be ridden in the real world to test out the new set-up. This can often lead to further adjustments down the line
Bike Fitting for any individual is a journey rather than a one off event and as such there may still be more aspects to work on.
A six week review is recommended to dial in the set up and review the off-bike rehab programme and ensure goals / targets are being met.
You can access online bookings HERE
If you have any questions about bike fitting or a booking please email info@thebikethebody.com