The Philosophy of Fit

 

Written by Mike Palmeri, owner of Cartecay Bike Shop in Ellijay, GA.  Mike was certified in 1983 by the Schwinn Bicycle School in Chicago, Illinois and re-certified in 2000 by the United Bicycle Institute in Ashland, Oregon.  He is a certified bicycle mechanic, suspension specialist, a DT Swiss master wheel builder, and has been in the bike business since 1979.

 

Have you been riding your bike?  If not, is it because it causes you pain to ride (and not from lack of fitness)?  One of the most common complaints and questions that we hear, is “How do I know my bike fits me?”  There’s not one simple answer.  It’s not just height, weight, inseam, or reach.  Proper bike fit takes into consideration a myriad of things.  What fits you and makes you comfortable, may not work for someone else, even though you may appear to be the same size.  A bike that does not fit well can be cumbersome and uncomfortable.  You may never adapt to a poorly fitted bike and rarely ride it.

 

Back in the old days, bike fit was somewhat of a mystery.  Everyone had their own way, but it was actually pretty good guesswork.  Today, that guesswork has a basis in science.  In the last decade, a large amount of laboratory testing has been performed to develop a uniform starting point that would work when fitting cyclists to their bikes.  Recently, I was fortunate to meet Dr. Andy Pruitt.  Dr. Pruitt is a sports medicine expert and has been head of the U.S. Cycling Federation Sports Medicine for four World Championships, and the 1996 Olympic Games.  He has been working and researching sizing and bike fit for cyclists for over ten years.  Dr. Pruitt has also been working with Lance Armstrong and has recently published a book on bike fit.  The studies performed by Dr. Pruitt have continued to improve the cyclist’s biomechanical fit to the bike and we rely on many of his methods to custom fit our customers. 

 

There are three contact points of your body to your bike: Your feet, your hands, and your butt (ocks).  If you have pain or discomfort in one of these areas, you need to make an adjustment to your bike fit.  If you don’t have pain or discomfort in one of these areas, but experience pain or discomfort in another area (i.e. your back), it may be caused by poor fit in one of three contact points.  Many cyclists just deal with the discomfort and chalk it up to long distances or too long in the saddle.  There are options available to make your bike fit better, and be custom fitted to you.  A bike that fits is not only more comfortable, but allows you to ride more efficiently and spend longer hours in the saddle.

 

There are different ways to size people, different measurements to take, and different ways of interpreting and translating the measurements into meaningful adjustments to make your bike fit you better, or to select the proper size bike.  The correct frame size is important, but you can make a frame that is either slightly too small or too big fit better by adjusting some of the other components.  Some of these adjustments include saddle height and position, crank arm length, shoe and cleat alignment, stem length, and handlebar width.  Adjusting one or more of these components may have a tremendous impact on the overall fit of the bike and the potential enjoyment of the rider

 

 

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There are eight elements that are measured to determine a neutral position for frame size, handlebar width, overall reach and recommended saddle height.  These elements (measurements) are height, sternum notch, inseam length, arm length, flexibility, weight, shoe size, and shoulder width. Each element has a specific measurement for calculating the bike fit.  Checking for length discrepancies is a critical factor.  There are dozens of minor structural differences in the bones of the hips, legs, feet and hands that can have an effect on other body parts and bike fit.  For example, flexibility in the lower back muscles and the spine can affect leg length by rotating the hip slightly, effectively changing the leg length.  Just measuring the inseam is not enough. 

 

One of the most common bike fit problems I see is saddle heights either too high or too low.  When the saddle height is adjusted incorrectly, the leg extension is incorrect, and may be the source of discomfort or pedaling inefficiency.  If your hips rock up and down or side to side, your saddle may be too high.  Consistent movement back and forth on the saddle may cause saddle sores.  Blood flow to those areas may decrease causing numbness.  Think about what happens when water is running through a hose and you fold the hose in two.  You can cause this same situation by an incorrectly adjusted saddle.  Blood flowing from your upper body to your lower limbs is slowed.  You may develop numbness in you knees, calves or feet over the course of a long (or even short) ride.  Proper bike fit can eliminate almost all pain and discomfort.

 

A proper sizing session at a local bike shop can cost anywhere from $25-$75, but is worth it’s weight in gold in diagnosing and correcting existing problems or helping you select the correct size frame and other related components for a new bike purchase.  Ask questions!  A fit specialist can help you understand differences in stand-over height, effective top tube length, overall reach, stem & crank lengths, proper saddle height, and pedal and cleat placements.  Remember cycling should be fun, enjoyable, and pain-free (except for burning lung feeling after a hard climb)!

 

Cartecay Bike Shop offers basic and advanced mechanic classes, has two full-time DT Swiss Master Wheelbuilders on staff and specializes in custom bike fit.  Call 706-635-2453 (local) or 888-276-2453 (toll-free) or email Mike for more information.  Any questions regarding this article, please contact Mike Palmeri. Send mail to Cartecay Bikes