Spring Is Time To Bike Fit
Ride More, Enjoy More With Properly Fit Bike.
Harriet gets fit in a bike shop studio with an Oriental rug on the floor. Credit: Harriet Wallis
If you think your bike hates you, it’s time to schedule a bike fitting. If you hurt when you ride, there’s probably a mismatch between your body’s geometry and the geometry of your bike.
Sure, all bikes look pretty much alike. They have wheels, pedals, handlebars and seats. And they come in sizes – essentially small, medium and large. But your body’s measurements are more complex than that.
Unfortunately, many dedicated bike shops will say: “Find the bike you like and we’ll fit it to you.” That usually means they’ll jiggle the seat up and down.
A real bike fitting includes taking body measurements: shoulder width, arm length, leg length, sit-bone width, and more. You’ll have to ask around to find who’s the real bike fitter in your area.
Some physical therapists are qualified bike fitters, while others are bicycle fitting gurus. A skilled fitter can solve arthritis-related and other structure-related aging problems so it will be fun to ride your bike.
This is what the computer sees. Credit: Harriet Wallis
A fitting can take about an hour, and the fitter is likely to suggest a different seat or stem or some other component to make it compatible with your body’s unique geometry. They can’t change your body, but they change the bike to suit your body! All this comes with a price tag, but it’s worth it if you want to have fun riding after the snow melts.
Here are some ways to figure out what’s wrong, but if you change one thing then something else will probably feel wrong. A real bike fitting should help you be “one with your bike.”
1. If your knees hurt, you’re seat’s probably too low, too far back, or both.
2. Ask a friend to watch you from behind. If your hips rock back and forth even a little bit, your seat’s probably too high.
3 If your hands, arms, shoulders or neck hurt, you’re probably too far away from the handlebars.
4. If your neck hurts, your handle bars might be too low, too far away, or both.
5. If you feel you’re just not getting enough power for your push, lots of things are probably out of whack.
Friend Laurie is fit by a physical therapist. He placed markers on key areas to analyze her alignments on the computer. Credit: Harriet Wallis
Question For You 6: Next Season
How Is This Going To Work?
Everyone in the ski business has been puzzling about next season and how it will unfold. Uncertainty brings with it lots of speculation about if, when, and how the ski industry will re-open. Even if it does re-open, whatever that means, will people show up? So our first Question For You this month is asking for specifics from your point of view.
Please write your response in the Reply Box below.
What will you need to see ski resorts do to make you feel comfortable about coming back next season?
Question For You 7: Keeping Fit
What’s Your Routine?
From our reader surveys, we know that our audience is interested in fitness and a variety of outdoor activities as a regular element of their lifestyles. Tennis, hiking, cycling, golf, kayaking, running are some of the top choices, however, we do have some equestrians, sailors, fishers, and weightlifters out there, among a bunch of other miscellaneous sports and exercises.
During these unprecedented times, we’re wondering how COVD-19 has affected your fitness regime. What have you stopped doing because of the virus threat? What have you started? What has helped you get moving (apps, online communities, family, Zoom, etc.)?
So here’s our Question For You:
How has the virus changed your usual fitness habits over the past two and a half months?
Please make a comment in the Reply Box below.
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