{"id":19598,"date":"2014-06-26T11:15:03","date_gmt":"2014-06-26T15:15:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=19598"},"modified":"2021-09-16T13:56:38","modified_gmt":"2021-09-16T17:56:38","slug":"bike-fit-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/bike-fit-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Bike Fittings: What Every Cyclist Needs to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Bike
Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From first day pedal pushers to those who shred the gnar daily, cycling is a sport that attracts riders of all different skill levels. Some have loved the sport since they were kids, while others may have decided to take it up later in life because running started to hurt their knees or they wanted a new way to get around town. While the bikes and the way professionals and amateurs ride will very likely differ, there is one thing that all cyclists should be doing the same \u2014 getting a bike fitting.<\/p>\n

The 411 on Fittings<\/h3>\n

A bike fitting is exactly what it sounds like \u2014 a professional service that helps personalize the fit of your bike for the way you ride. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to get a bad bike,\u201d says Alex Lugosch, co-founder of 3D Bike Fit<\/a>, a fitting studio in San Francisco, CA. \u201cBut it\u2019s really easy to get the wrong<\/i> bike.\u201d So how do you know which one is right? And which saddle and shoes are best? Fittings take away the guesswork. They ensure your positioning on the bike will allow you to have the most enjoyable, effective ride possible. If your bike fits you properly, you should be able to ride for three to four hours on it comfortably.<\/p>\n

Cost Considerations<\/h3>\n

Many people are initially turned off from fittings, especially beginners<\/a>, because of the price. Though they range in cost, a quality bike fitting generally comes in around $200 and usually takes no less than two hours. While that may seem like a lot, Lugosch reminds people to put it into perspective asking, \u201cWhat\u2019s more expensive ultimately \u2014 a fitting or buying a $1,000 or $2,000 bike that you only ride for six months because it\u2019s uncomfortable?\u201d It\u2019s also important to keep in mind that this is a professional service and therefore paying less than the average rate may not provide you with the resources you need.<\/p>\n

\"Bike
Photo: 3D Bike Fit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finding a Fitter<\/h3>\n

The next step is finding the right place to have your fitting done. For this,\u00a0Lugosch says that reputation is worth factoring in. \u201cIf you\u2019re reading about a bike fitter in a cycling publication, there\u2019s a reason the journalists picked up on those fitter,\u201d he says. \u201cYelp is a good resource as well. Just be sure the shop or studio has lots of reviews.\u201d Experience helps fitters get better, so look for ones that see lots of cyclists.<\/p>\n

Ask the fitter what certifications they have and where they stand on protocol. Lugosch suggests telling them you want to be sized according to stack and reach<\/a> (looking at the bike as a square, in its entirety, and measuring how long and tall the whole bike is) as opposed to top tube typical geometry (only the length of the top tube is taken into consideration, which doesn’t mean anything particularly when two similar bikes have different seat tube angles). And, it\u2019s important to make sure that fitting is the person or shop\u2019s primary function. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to get a fitting from a random bike shop owner,\u201d says Lugosch. \u201cBecause you could end up spending a lot of money and not see any improvement in your riding style.\u201d The goal is to find out what bike fits you best and why.<\/p>\n

Digging Deeper<\/h3>\n

While two hours may seem like a long time to adjust your saddle and purchase new pedals, a fitting entails a lot more than that. A good bike fitting always starts with a physical exam. \u201cThe fitter should evaluate your flexibility, the structure of your bones, and ask about previous injuries,\u201d says Lugosch. \u201cThey use that information to create a profile about you, and extrapolate that to a position on the bike.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re told almost immediately by your fitter that they will create a custom bike for you, that may be a red flag. This \u201cfitter\u201d may just be interested in selling you a bike, and having you spend more than necessary. \u201cLook for someone who has an understanding of how the body works,\u201d says Lugosch. \u201cYou want a fitter to be able explain how the changes they are making will impact your position on the bike.\u201d And while making a sale shouldn\u2019t be the fitter\u2019s purpose, it\u2019s normal and expected for them to suggest different accessories that would make your riding better and more comfortable. So don\u2019t be afraid to take these suggestions and make purchases. \u201cYou want to leave with everything you need,\u201d says Lugosch. \u201c<\/p>\n

The Learning Curve<\/h3>\n

Post bike fitting, you should have a thorough understanding of what you need to work on to improve your riding experience. For example, if you\u2019ve been running all your life and just recently started biking, you may need to work on flexibility issues<\/a>, like tightness in your hamstrings. Or maybe you need to see a professional to correct your pelvic or spine alignment. Knowing who you are as a rider and how you can improve are definite takeaways from this process. \u201cYou should also have a thorough understanding of what you looked like when you rode before, and what you look like now,\u201d says Lugosch. \u201cThose should be different.\u201d If your back<\/a> was rounded before, maybe it\u2019s straight now. You may now sit on a firmer saddle that allows for longer rides. You should be able to pinpoint changes.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re using your bike just to commute less than two to three miles to work every day, than a fitting may not be worth your time and money. However, if you want to enjoy cycling as a part of your life, a fitting can make an even bigger difference than the actual bike you ride. \u201cBiking isn\u2019t a painful sport,\u201d says Lugosch. \u201cThe only pain you should ever feel on your bike is pain you inflict on yourself.\u201d If you are feeling aches, numbness, or having muscle spasms, something needs to be changed.<\/p>\n

Lugosch\u2019s recommendation for those who want to get the most out of the sport?<\/p>\n

\u201cSpend $1,000 less on your bike and $1,000 more on the fitting and accessories.\u201d<\/p>\n

Originally published on October 14, 2013.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cycling can be an enjoyable sport, that is, if your bike fits you properly. Learn what goes into a professional bike fitting and how it can benefit any cyclist. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":29490,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,6],"tags":[157,129,133,110,341,343,156],"class_list":["post-19598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cardio","category-fitness","tag-biking","tag-cycling","tag-gear","tag-race","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2exercise","tag-triathlon"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19598"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19598\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}