The Benefits of a professional bike fitting session
6 Key reasons to correctly size your bike
There are a number of ideas why all keen cyclists – and regular commuters by bike – should get a professional bike fit from a bike fitting expert. Most of us simply walk into a bike shop and try a bike for size without actually knowing what a correctly fitting bike feels like. The retailer frequently just tells you the frame seems fine, and then off you go – only to feel pain and discomfort on subsequent rides and not know why.
Whilst professional bike fitting studios are a recent addition to the U.K. cycling scene, in parts of Europe and elsewhere they’ve been common for some time. Brands such as SQLab have also been analysing cyclists for many years, and developing a range of products that can help to personalise your own bike. Yes, a visit to a professional bike fitting expert should be something that all cyclists have done at some point, so let’s briefly examine the 5 key areas that a professional bike fit will analyse for you.
Ultimately, whilst there are three main points of contact between the cyclist and the bike, not getting these elements right can adversely affect other parts of your body. After all, we’re simply a muscle-laden skeleton, with all parts inter-connected. When we sit on a bike, we need first of all to know that the saddle is in the right position for us, so let’s start your professional bike fit information by sitting down, shall we!
Saddle Height
All cyclists should know their own saddle height. The correct saddle height depends on your leg length, hip flexibility, and frame size. If your saddle is set too high, then your hips may rock when you pedal and be painful. This in turn can also lead to pain in the neck, the shoulder and especially lower back pain. Conversely, if your saddle is set too low, then you might begin to feel a pain in your knees. Saddle height is something that you can carry out yourself, and there’s lots of advice online. However, a professional bike fitting expert will look at this alongside a number of other issues. For instance, the position and style of the saddle is also important.
Saddle Choice and Saddle Position
If you look at the rails beneath your saddle, you’ll see a series of marks. These show how far the saddle can be moved forward and backwards. If your saddle is too far back, you might well experience posterior knee pain. Conversely, if the saddle is tilted too far downward, you may slide forward on the saddle and have to push back harder with your arms; and if the saddle is too far forward, the load on the handlebars is increased, which may result in pain, pressure, numbness and tingling in the hands or wrists, and some pain through the shoulders and into the upper back and neck.
Add to this, the discomfort of having the wrong saddle, and you’ve got a whole list of issues that can arise if you don’t use a professional bike fitter to help you out. In terms of the saddle being the right one for you, SQLab have a system that measures your sit bones and the pressure mapping of how you sit, allowing the professional bike fitter to advice you on the best saddle for your own body and style and riding. Along with the saddle being in the right position and at the correct height for you, then you’ll already be feeling the cycling benefits.
Remember too, that a comfortable cyclist will also perform better!
Crank Length
One of the most common areas that cyclists fail to understand is the crank length. In truth, there are also few retailers who give the right advice on this. It’s often luck rather than judgement that gets it right for you – which is why you should have a professional bike fit to find out the correct crank length for you.
The length of your cranks can affect your thigh to torso and your knee flex angles. This in turn cab then adversely affect and impact on your pedal stroke, also causing some pain and discomfort.
Cleat Position and Insoles
Once you’ve got the crank sorted, an SQLab bike fitting analysis can also tell you the correct cleat position for your cycling shoes, and the right float for the cleats. We’ve got lots more advice on cleat positioning, here on the Pedalnorth website. SQLab professional bike fitting experts will analyse and measure your feet properly; looking at the length, the width, the volume and the foot shape, including the arches and bridge, they’ll view how your pedal action works, before recommending the right insoles for your cycling shoes too. Remember, the standard cycling shoe insoles are simply that – standard. Your feet are unique, and how you use them is too. A professional bike fitting expert will fix any issues with this critical contact point between you and the bike.
Handlebar and Handlebar Width
The third and final contact point is no less important, and a professional bike fitting session will look at several issues. If you book an SQLab bike fitting analysis, they’ll look at shoulder width, arm length, hand size and width and how you naturally hold onto the handlebars. For example, cyclists with small hands might benefit from using handlebars with a shallow drop. The shape of the bars can be chosen too, to give that extra comfort; and using the right spacers on the fork, along with the correct stem, will all add to that feeling of comfort when cycling. Most importantly, the professional bike fitting session will ensure that the width of the handlebars is correct for you, reducing the likelihood of shoulder and upper back pain.
Ultimately, it’s not simply about performance when looking at a professional bike fitting session. If you cycle to work regularly, or if you ride frequently for leisure, there are so many factors that you can get wrong and feel pain due to not having the bike correctly set-up for your own unique self. Thankfully, brands such as SQLab have been examining and analysing cyclists for over 30 years now, and have a range of products that can improve your cycling performance and comfort. The first step to more smiles along your won cycling miles is however, to get yourself a professional bike fitting session.
Why not take a look at the SQLab website and see their list of global partners, today.
Ultimately, it’s not simply about performance when looking at a professional bike fitting session. If you cycle to work regularly, or if you ride frequently for leisure, there are so many factors that you can get wrong and feel pain due to not having the bike correctly set-up for your own unique self. Thankfully, brands such as SQLab have been examining and analysing cyclists for over 30 years now, and have a range of products that can improve your cycling performance and comfort. The first step to more smiles along your won cycling miles is however, to get yourself a professional bike fitting session.
Why not take a look at the SQLab website and see their list of global partners, today.
