Bike Fitting
Thread started by
sexy at 03.20.07 - 11:35 am
Does anybody know or have any suggestions or experiences with getting fitted properly for your bicycle. Know of a place or person that you where really happy with, and would suggest to other people
I've read Sheldon Brown, I know of Nate Loyal already. I even had an older bike fitter at SuperGo and they didn't give me the specs from the computer, (they pulled an optomtist office move, telling me I don't need it, it will always be here, and then they lost the info) so I am shy of Cynergy I think it is the same guy who did it at Supergo.
I have some serious right knee issue and think that I'm longer on one side and might need either a shint, or different size crank arm on one side.
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go to Jax in Long Beach. They are really honest about sizing. I would know, I used to work there.
SC_heckler03.20.07 - 12:57 pm
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There's a shop off kanan rd. and the freeway (I can't remember the name off hand) that does the serotta fitting thing.
dave03.20.07 - 1:05 pm
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Sundance cycles
http://www.sundancecycles.com/services/fitting.htm
dave03.20.07 - 1:22 pm
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Bike fit can be a simple thing, or a detailed scientific process and you can pay up to $250 for a professional fitting. Andy Pruitt from the BCSM in Colorado literally wrote the book on bike fit and if you truly want the best fit, anyone properly trained by BCSM personnel can do it correctly. Stay away from thei bike chain stores unless they have someone fitting who has been properly trained. Most bike shops pretend to know, all in the name of blowing out bikes they need to get rid of.
Jeronimo03.20.07 - 4:58 pm
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go to the bike oven.they got a pro fitter named nelson.they'll probably thow in a bigger heeled boot to fix your problem.all for the low price of a tall can.
mandingo03.20.07 - 7:11 pm
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I don't mean to be an ass - Which of course means that I'm going to be...
But I'm just trying to be helpful here - Honest:
It sounds to me that you need knee surgery - not a professional bike fitter.
I say that because a friend of mine made excuses for years why he didn't need knee surgery. When he finally did it, and got it over with, he was very happy.
I don't know you - But I have seen Dr. Phil several times on TV and although I've only heard 3 sentences from you, I know exactly what the problem is, and exactly how to fix it.
Good Luck.
BillyB03.20.07 - 7:13 pm
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Yeah sexy. Listen to doctor Billy. I could show you a special maneuver for that knee if you want, but it requires a parked suv and a bottle of brandy...
Joe Borfo03.20.07 - 7:18 pm
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Thanks Billy,
Hell with fitting my bike properly, I get the knee cut up and risk infection and if that doesn't work then, I'll go to and check out a good bicycle fitter. Make sense to me, why try to avoid the avasive stuff first, just go right to the $50,000 solution. Maybe even a softer bike like carbon might help, but nahh, lets get the knee surgey
I know your just trying to help. I know it is from the bicycle , it first started when I went to "clip-in pedals", It's real bad when I do that.
If the fitting doesn't help and II need knee surgery, I'll tell you first, and then you can say, "I told you so",
sexy03.20.07 - 7:28 pm
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Also, if you feel like one leg is longer, maybe check out a chiropractor, I was having that feeling for a while, and it was actually my spine being out of alignment, causing one side of my pelvis to tilt upward a little, took him all of like 30 seconds to fix the problem, a little crackling and a day or two of taking it easy to let the muscles relax into shape, and it was fine.
One way to check if this could help, stand in front of a mirror, just normally, and look, when you're relaxed, if one shoulder is sitting lower than the other, this could be part of the problem. there are other things that can cause this, but scoliosis (lateral curving of the spine) is one of the most common, especially if you carried a heavy bookbag as a child/teenager.
FuzzBeast03.21.07 - 7:18 am
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"go to the bike oven.they got a pro fitter named nelson.they'll probably thow in a bigger heeled boot to fix your problem.all for the low price of a tall can." - mandigo 03.20.07 - 10:11 pm
Hey Dingo... is there someone at ELBO that can help on the fitting... the Nelson guy? I was there on Monday and didn't think of being fitted over there.. I just need the basic stuff cause my knee feels a little odd. No
Sexy... did you ever get fitted anywhere? If so... how did it go? Any recommendations? Thanks in advance...
Al
digablesoul05.9.07 - 1:13 pm
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what kind of clip-in pedals are you riding?
there are certain ones with more "float" (the ability to swivel) before they get unclipped...
you might want to look at the Speedplay pedals, which are the best for knee issues...
a lot of the time, you just have to get everything put in the right place, according to how long your legs are, how your legs "cycle" when turning the pedal over, and even where the pedals clip in laterally...
I don't think you need knee surgery...and most good bicycle stores have some knowledgable people for fitting...
good luck!
adrian05.9.07 - 1:47 pm
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Hmm.. I decided to peek under my shoe to check out my cleats and they ended up sliding forward on my foot. No wonder my knee was feeling odd. Now I feel better. I was talking to Scott at the Top of Topanga ride and i'll do a semi fitting for $30 that will do the basic stuff... cleats/shoe positioning... saddle... stem. Maybe this weekend.
digablesoul05.10.07 - 11:42 am
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it is "simple" positioning...but very hard to explain and hard to do if you don't have any experience with it...You want the cleat to be in a natural and neutral position through your whole pedal stroke, not forcing your knee or leg to compensate for anything. If you're angling your leg or ankle or knee to "fit" the stroke, then the positioning is wrong. And you want the cleat to be in a "central" area near the ball of your feet, but not forcing your foot to be too far behind the pedal axle or to far in front of it either! And you never want your leg and the kneebend to be over OR under extended at any point of the pedal stroke either! If you're pointing your toe at the furthest point of your downstroke, you're definitely going to stretch something in your leg, and vice versa...if your ankle is bunched up at the top of the stroke, you'll hurt something else.
And of course, everyone's legs and pedal strokes are different, so it must essentially be a custom positioning job!
Oh, and your seat position is also important in all of this, but that's another discussion! whew!
adrian05.10.07 - 12:30 pm
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Thank you for the info Adrian. Man.. that's a bunch of info. I'll do some more reading and I'll figure out what's going on. I'll most likely get that mini bike fit at Bicycle John's in Burbank this weekend...
digablesoul05.10.07 - 1:05 pm
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yeah, 1/8's and 1/16's of an inch can make a big difference...that's the scary part in all this! don't be afraid to ask all kinds of questions at your fitting, to better understand the "mechanics" of the process!
adrian05.11.07 - 9:14 am
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OH yeah, there ARE cleat shims for those of you who know which leg is longer! Do a google search for for them...they exist!
adrian05.11.07 - 5:44 pm
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Is it your knee or side of knee ACL?
I damaged my knees running marathons, if it's your knee and you feel or a grinding or "pop" I would advise you get an xray, if it's the out-side ACL stretching, Ice and bike fit would do the trick, start by lowering the seat a little. Hope this helps.
dannyzuko05.11.07 - 9:15 pm
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