While back in England for the post season, our Bloke James Hewitt went for a pro bike fit. We’ve been talking a lot about the value of a proper fit, and here James adds fuel to the fire – and power to his position…
Firstly, I’d like to wish everyone a belated Happy New Year. I celebrated the coming of 2005 here in France after spending Christmas with my family back in England. Whilst I was back I got the chance to visit the guys at the CycleFit bike shop in Covent Garden, Central London. I’d been interested in getting my bike and shoes fitted professionally for a while and when Julian at CycleFit offered me the opportunity I jumped at the chance.
PezCyclingNews published a great article on Bike Fitting a while back when Charles Manantan got fitted‚ by Bicycle Ranch in Arizona.
I got a similar treatment from the guys at CycleFit here in the UK, and at the risk of making this article sound like an infomercial, I was pleasantly surprised by the immediate improvement I noticed.
Hamstrings so tight, you could play the theme from Deliverance on ‘em.
You see, I always thought that cycling involved suffering. I didn’t realize that so much of mine was coming from my position on the bike. Since my move into the French amateur scene and the corresponding increase in workload I thought a stiff neck and numb toes were par for the course during the long training rides and races.
I was wrong, and some tweaking and inserting has really improved my comfort and efficiency on the bike. Take a look at the remarkably unflattering photos for the evidence of my experience. No suntans please, we’re British.
Is that your inseam measuring tool, or are you just happy to see me?
Before I even got on the fitting bike, which is actually a mutant collection of tubes and components mounted on an indoor trainer that facilitates the replication of an infinite number of positions and components, we had a chat to figure out what kind of rider I was and what I wanted to do.
We then moved on to the embarrassing issue of measuring my ham string flexibility which made piano strings look positively elasticized in comparison and then used a novel method of determining inside leg measurement without the usual intimacy one has come to expect from one’s personal tailor.
Oooo – custom footbeds!
I’ve got feet so flat that my arches are jealous of pancakes’ vertical achievements, so the moulding of some custom foot beds and precisely placed LeWedges‚ finally addressed an issue that had gone unattended for too long.
LeMond’s LeWedges have become an industry standard in giving your feet the proper tilt and in doing so, taking some of the slop out of your pedal stroke.
Even before we adjusted my position on the bike I already noticed that my legs were actually moving up and down equidistantly spaced from the top tube as opposed to the usual phenomenon of my right knee occasionally brushing it - much to the annoyance of my Director in the following car. The foot bed moulding experience itself was agreeably tactile as the warm soles were moulded. I’d recommend the process for that alone!
After some elongation and protraction of my stationary mutant friend’s tubes (adjusting reach length, bar height, saddle tilt, seat height and set back etc.) we decided on an optimum position. I’m now supporting my torso with my core more than my hands and I’m also a little more stretched out and “EuroPro looking” which pleased me greatly.
E Voila! Our man James finds happiness in his new position. That’s the OLD setup on left, and NEW on the right. (note the shoulders not so crunched up and the back more flat. Tech Ed)
I’ve been riding like this for a few weeks and have covered a couple of thousand kms in that time. I can honestly say that I’ve never been as comfortable on the bike and the PowerTap has also indicated an improvement in efficiency. Of course there is the intervening factor of my massive improvement through the immense quality and intensity
of my training ;).
In conclusion, getting a professional bike fitting is an incredibly
worthwhile investment in my opinion. Whether you are as imbalanced as me and intend to knock out thousands of kms this season at ridiculously painful intensities, or you just love riding your bike for its own sake (that’s me too) why not let the discomfort be provided by how fast your going and not by the fact that you look like a frog on a stick on your velocipede.
Finally, I’d recommend that CycleFit.co.uk will definitely do this job, and do it well.
(Tech Ed note: The guys at CycleFit are well qualified, working with new riders as well as some top flight folks. Nicole Cooke gives them the nod, and as she flew past me on Filmore Hill at The T-Mobile International in San Fran, I got a taste of her horsepower (as did several male pro's in the bunch I was with)... Point being that lots of people tell you how good they are, but you need to treat finding a bike fitter like finding a doctor (or else you'll wind up needing the doctor...). Check em out and see who they have helped, and ask lots of questions (what physio and rehab clinics they work with and if they have a doctor on staff or in consult for instance).
Bike fit is the single most important thing you should pay attention to. Your body and needs should dictate your choices for all your gear, not some advertisement... get what you need, not what you're sold!)
James Hewitt usually lives in Limoux in the south of France,and rides with the CA Castelsarrasin team in the highest category of amateur team in France, DN1 Espoir. It is set up to aid the development of Under 23 riders. The team, its sponsors and support staff provide the opportunity and support to race successfully at a high level, and is aided by the management and support of Didier Rous and Brioches La Boulangère.
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James Hewitt usually lives in Limoux in the south of France,and rides with the CA Castelsarrasin team in the highest category of amateur team in France, DN1 Espoir. It is set up to aid the development of Under 23 riders. The team, its sponsors and support staff provide the opportunity and support to race successfully at a high level, and is aided by the management and support of Didier Rous and Brioches La Boulangère.
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