dantheman
Veteran
- Location
- Hitchin, Hertfordshire
summerdays said:
+1, and this is a great thread too....
it would also be nice to see how scoosh gets on too.
My Visit to the Fitting Guru!
- Thread starter punkypossum
- Start date
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+1, and this is a great thread too....
it would also be nice to see how scoosh gets on too.
Gary D
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Worcestershire
I thought it was about time I put my two pennyworth in 
I have already posted a similar reply in BTFB's Epic thread about bike fit - but it is worth repeating I feel
.
At the time I bought my latest bike, I was happy that the LBS had advised me on the correct frame size and they had subsequently measured and adjusted the bike to fit me. It felt reasonably comfortable, and the only issue I had was that I would get shoulder and neck pain if I was riding for more than a couple of hours. However, I hadn't had a "proper" road bike before so didn't know what level of comfort to expect and I put the neck pain down to riding technique i.e tension.
However, I had always said to myself that I would get a proper measuring/fitting session done at Hewitts just to make sure. So, I made an appointment, and off I went with my bike.
First thing Paul did was to take reference measurements from my bike and its current set up. These were recorded on the line diagram that you get given.
Next, he removed the saddle from my own bike and put it on the adjustable jig and fitted the correct pedals for my shoes.
Now, when I went in, all I expected was for Paul to confirm that my position was reasonably OK and maybe tweak things a few millimetres here and there.
How very, very wrong I was!
First thing checked was the saddle height. That was out by a mere 47mm (too low)!!!
The front to back position of the saddle was out by 27mm. With those two dimensions so far out, then obviously the reach and the drop from saddle to bars was also out. If someone had suggested that they could have been this far out beforehand I would not have believed them.
I had always wondered if the neck and shoulder pain I experience was anything to do with the reach being too long as I often found myself riding with my arms locked straight. However, Paul explained that it was in fact the opposite - I was actually too hunched up
The poor saddle to bottom bracket/pedal position was also contributing to poor pedalling efficiency. All the time, Paul was explaining to me the reasons for this setting and that setting and why this would happen if that was wrong etc etc. As someone else commented, by the end of the fitting my head was spinning with facts and figures
He then adjusted my bike to the "new" dimensions as best he could and off I went. Disappointingly, in reality, I probably should have been sold the next size frame up in the first place as the reach and drop to the bars is still not correct. Although conventional wisdom would suggest that for my height I should have gone for a 58cm frame, becuase I am short in the leg but longer in the arms I needed a longer top tube for the reach and should have gone for a 60cm.
The question I hear you all asking after all that though is: "Did it make a difference?"
Well of course it did!
Two days later I did a 71 mile ride which was my longest to date - guess what - no neck or shoulder pains
Next weekend was a 50 miler followed by another 70 miles the one after. All above my typical average for a weekend.
The bike just felt so much nicer and easier to ride as well. I am sure I went up the hills a little faster!
The only adjustment I have made since was to drop the saddle back down by about 5mm as I was just starting to get twinges in the back of my leg.
In summary. It was one of the best £50 I have spent on cycling since I started. Just wish I had done it before I bought my bike
. Thoroughly recommend it to all.
Hope this helps.
Gary.
I have already posted a similar reply in BTFB's Epic thread about bike fit - but it is worth repeating I feel
.At the time I bought my latest bike, I was happy that the LBS had advised me on the correct frame size and they had subsequently measured and adjusted the bike to fit me. It felt reasonably comfortable, and the only issue I had was that I would get shoulder and neck pain if I was riding for more than a couple of hours. However, I hadn't had a "proper" road bike before so didn't know what level of comfort to expect and I put the neck pain down to riding technique i.e tension.
However, I had always said to myself that I would get a proper measuring/fitting session done at Hewitts just to make sure. So, I made an appointment, and off I went with my bike.
First thing Paul did was to take reference measurements from my bike and its current set up. These were recorded on the line diagram that you get given.
Next, he removed the saddle from my own bike and put it on the adjustable jig and fitted the correct pedals for my shoes.
Now, when I went in, all I expected was for Paul to confirm that my position was reasonably OK and maybe tweak things a few millimetres here and there.
How very, very wrong I was!
First thing checked was the saddle height. That was out by a mere 47mm (too low)!!!
The front to back position of the saddle was out by 27mm
. With those two dimensions so far out, then obviously the reach and the drop from saddle to bars was also out. If someone had suggested that they could have been this far out beforehand I would not have believed them.I had always wondered if the neck and shoulder pain I experience was anything to do with the reach being too long as I often found myself riding with my arms locked straight. However, Paul explained that it was in fact the opposite - I was actually too hunched up
The poor saddle to bottom bracket/pedal position was also contributing to poor pedalling efficiency. All the time, Paul was explaining to me the reasons for this setting and that setting and why this would happen if that was wrong etc etc. As someone else commented, by the end of the fitting my head was spinning with facts and figures
He then adjusted my bike to the "new" dimensions as best he could and off I went. Disappointingly, in reality, I probably should have been sold the next size frame up in the first place as the reach and drop to the bars is still not correct. Although conventional wisdom would suggest that for my height I should have gone for a 58cm frame, becuase I am short in the leg but longer in the arms I needed a longer top tube for the reach and should have gone for a 60cm.
The question I hear you all asking after all that though is: "Did it make a difference?"
Well of course it did!
Two days later I did a 71 mile ride which was my longest to date - guess what - no neck or shoulder pains
Next weekend was a 50 miler followed by another 70 miles the one after. All above my typical average for a weekend.
The bike just felt so much nicer and easier to ride as well. I am sure I went up the hills a little faster!
The only adjustment I have made since was to drop the saddle back down by about 5mm as I was just starting to get twinges in the back of my leg.
In summary. It was one of the best £50 I have spent on cycling since I started. Just wish I had done it before I bought my bike
. Thoroughly recommend it to all.Hope this helps.
Gary.
