Do I Need a Bike Fitting?

HOW DO I KNOW?
Driving around town the other day I saw so many people who were so obviously uncomfortable on their bikes (and suffering a loss of efficiency because of their lack of comfort along with other factors).  So, since so much of my material is inspired by my experiences - I was inspired to write another post: A few quick pointers on how to know if you need someone to assess your bike fit.

Several of the signs are pretty obvious: persistent knee pain being the most common.  But there are a few quick and easy signs that something is wrong that aren't immediately apparent (or that some of you think you just have to live with).  Let's start at the front of the bike and work our way back.

Quick note: Bicycle Fitting "Apps"

First - don't get me wrong.  I'm not a Luddite. I love many things that have come along in the technological revolution.  But, we still must be careful how much gravity we give these tools and applications that actively or passively claim to replace humans.

I've talked some about the bike fitting calculators which can be found at various locations online and how; while they may be based on good equations, there are two inherent flaws when it comes to claims of delivering "correct fit" or "correct frame size":

1. The accuracy of the resulting dimensions is only as good as the accuracy of the measurements used in the equations.  Garbage in, garbage out.

2. Unquantifiable factors such as injury history, desired riding position, physiological asymmetries, riding history and goals are not accounted for.  Additionally, flexibility and ranges of motion also weigh heavily into determining a rider's optimal on the bike position.  These factors are glaringly absent from these applications because they introduce an "X" factor which cannot be caluclated.

So in the end - using such applications as a guide or a starting point is not bad and may help you narrow the herd a little.  But, until an application comes along capable of evaluating and somehow quantifying the unquantifiable; there will be no replacement for the hands and mind of an experienced bicycle fitter.

Now, go ride! (And if it hurts - go see your fitter.)

Bike Mistakes Series

Here for your easy browsing; an index of the posts I have created (and the planned posts for future publishing) on what has turned out to already be a popular topic. I hope you find all this helpful in making your bike more comfortable, run more smoothly, and last longer.

Have any suggestions? The comments section of this post is the place to leave them; so comment away!  But most importantly - enjoy.

• Bike Mistakes #1: Handlebar Position
• Bike Mistakes #2: Chain and Gears
• Bike Mistakes #2.5: Chain Lubrication
• Bike Mistakes #3: The Saddle

Bike Mistakes - Part 1: Handlebar

This is the first in a series on common mistakes on your bike... 

I've been thinking about a series of posts about common mistakes that most everyone (even some shops) makes on bicycles. I'm going to give this a stab here and see how it goes. I'll be focusing on mechanical mistakes as well as those that may effect comfort, handling, or safety. I don't know how many parts there will be - this will just sort of evolve. If you have a suggestion or something you'd like to see covered: leave a comment and let me know.

IN THE BEGINNING...
So, let's start at the front of the bike - and with an important contact point: the handlebar.

Choosing the Right Road Tire

Part of a series I'm calling Tires 101 with lots of great info to consider when looking for new tires.

BECAUSE I TACKLE TOUGH TOPICS...
You'd be amazed at how many of these topics are inspired by my daily conversations with customers and clients (and even further amazed by how many of those common conversations I never get around to writing about...)

This is actually a frequent conversation I have. There are so many tire choices out there that it is hard to sort through the marketing spin and quasi-technical data to the stuff that really matters. So, for the sake of this post and to simplify things; I'm going focus on traditional clincher tires (maybe we'll discuss tubulars and tubeless at a later date...) and break the road bike tire market into 3 segments:

-Racing/High Performance/Light Weight

-Training/Medium Puncture Resistance/Better Tread Life

-High Puncture Resistance & Tread Life

Tires 101 Series

...EVEN STUFF YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW...

This series kind of came together after the fact as I realized how much complementary material I had written about bike tires. I think this is especially helpful when you have been disappointed with the tires you've been riding or just know you need something different.

As a whole; the individual posts will address much of what I cover when I talk in person with a client about their options for tires. Of course; that exchange is much more conversational and often less exhaustive because we can assess needs and narrow down the options in a hurry.  Here we don't have that luxury. But; check it out - skim the sections that don't apply to your situation - and enjoy the rest.

• Choosing the Right Road Tire - Simplifying the myriad options into categories and addressing their unique qualities and characteristics to hope to bring some clarity to the chaos!
• The Truth about Tire Pressure - Because it's not as simple as just pumping your tires up to the maximum pressure on the sidewall. (And why more is rarely better...)
• Fascinating Tire Test Results - Some surprises and some confirmations. Putting some data behind the speculation.
• Worn Tires and Flatting - Sudden chronic flatting can be caused by excessive tire wear. A quick photo guide to the most common types (all seen on one summer Saturday in the shop...)
• Tubeless Cyclocross Tire Tips - A "guest post" with some great helps on setting up wheels to run tubeless for cyclocross season.
  
  Got any lingering questions? Something you'd like to see covered in detail? Leave your idea in the comments and it may become the next in the series!

Shimano WH-6700 Road Tubeless Wheel Review

THE TUBELESS REVOLUTION CONTINUES

The single most-viewed page on this blog at this moment is my review of Shimano's WH-7850-C24-CL wheels. And, it's no surprise to me - they're amazing; revolutionary wheels (no pun intended).

Why do I mention this? You see, these wheelsets are related. The WH-7850-SL is the predecessor to the WH-7850-C24-CL and is Shimano's first tubeless road ready wheelset. It features a Scandium alloy rim with a sealed inner wall; making it air tight, stainless steel spokes and Dura Ace hubs. The WH-6700 is the latest in the family of Shimano's Road Tubeless compatible wheels (also including the WH-7850-C24-TL) and the most affordable truly tubeless-ready wheel available - without much of a penalty (at 1652 g published weight - it's a difference of 138 g from their lighter "big brother").

Cycling Nutrition - a basic guide

Comments from my recent post on Fitting, Fitness, and Fuel prompted me to post this article (with a few edits...) I recently wrote for a newsletter. It is geared heavily toward the Hammer Nutrition products - as that's what I use and what we were emphasizing in the article; but it's still a good guide whatever your brand of choice may be. Enjoy!

GARBAGE IN = GARBAGE OUT
You've heard that expression applied to many different topics; but it is no less true when it comes to how your fuel your body on a ride (or any exercise for that matter). Proper nutrition during exercise and endurance activities is one of the most important keys to success - and to enjoying those activities too. However, there are a few really common mistakes which most of us have made in the past or make regularly which hurt our performance - often without even knowing! With some help from Steve Born of Hammer nutrition (who's excellent article on this very topic can be found online here) I want to offer a guide to success in your pursuits in the coming season. So, read the guide; and then Steve's article, to decide which products to add to your regimen.

PROPER RECOVERY

We'll start with my favorite product - and probably the most beneficial one: Recoverite. How many of us go out and ride hard or put in a killer workout only to spend the rest of the day sore, run down, and wishing we hadn't gone so hard? Wake up the next morning - and: POW - it's even worse! Makes it hard to feel like doing it again, but then - how do you get any stronger? The secret is in recovery - and recovering properly.

Improve your cycling: Fitting; Fitness; Fuel

Photo: Chris WareThis conversation came up on a Saturday ride with some of the members of our race team. In addition to the usual conversation about new, cool bike gear that usually crops up on a ride; one of the members was commenting on the results of the fitting I'd performed for him a couple of weeks prior. We had eliminated his knee pain and increased his efficiency and balance on the bike. He was thrilled because he was able to get in more training miles (after resolving himself to a break from riding) and his bike was feeling faster, more nimble, and yet more predictable.

This prompted a response from me that some of my customers have been hearing from me for several years now: Most of us can get greater returns from getting our bike fit, fitness, and fuel (nutrition) dialed than from spending a bunch of money on the newest coolest gear.

["What? I thought this was a product-focused blog. I read this to get real-world reviews on some of the best equipment out there instead of the watered-down drab stuff that comes from the major publications because they're afraid of hurting the suppliers' feelings. Why is Matt telling me not to buy stuff...?]

Well, the above comment is true - I am a "gear geek" through-and-through and I get tempted by all the new cool chi-chi stuff out there just like the rest of you. But, I have seen in the lives and riding habits of my clients (and myself) the difference that the three principles above have and I'm a firm believer. Your riding experience is a multi-faceted product of a variety of factors including these three principles and your gear. When all of them include high-quality, well-selected, properly maintained elements - you can't help but succeed!

Flat...

This rolled into the store last week to our amazement. We have summited this record setter to Guinness and are waiting to hear back...