Bike Setup - ErgoFIT vs BG FIT vs Bike Shop

[mr HED]

had my ergofit done 2 weeks ago and feel great, no major adjustments just tweaks etc. best part i had 2 bikes done, 2 pairs of shoes, got measurements emailed to me for future use and got mtb measurements too.

 

tried to book with a certain store that does BG fit but they did not reply to an email booking, 2 calls. overall glad i went with ergofit.

[dracs]

I have been to him, PM me if you would like some honest feedback.

excellent thanks will do.

[dracs]

I am not sure that bike fitting can be purely scientific. The way I have learned was that there are some general measurements that get you into the correct set up range for your personal proportions. (This was mainly helpful advice from old pros before the internet was born...) From there your comfort and personal flexibilty determined which way you tweaked and perfected this general set up. This didn't just suddenly happen. It took months of riding with that set up and playing around adjusting one element at a time until you feel what the sweet spot is for you. Overall, the ideal probably ended up being years of playing around...

 

A personal example which substancially altered my bike set up. Flexibilty is not a static thing. Years after having back surgery, I went to a biokineticist for rehabilitation. On my first toe touch test, my flexibilty was 10cm short of touching toes (after warming up). Through extensive stretching therapy, after a month I was pushing 24cm past my toes for the same test. Luckily I was able to adjust my bike for the increased flexibilty myself because of the way I had learned to do it before.

 

Just bear in mind that there are other areas of the body which become stiff which will affect your set up. Sometimes when I get on the bike and feel a little stiff I try to warm up and stretch the tense muscle. If I find the position is still causing discomfort, possibly through age, I try adjust the set up.

 

Another example.... because of my back op and subsequent nerve damage I sometimes find that my hips are way out of alignment - can be up to 4cm higher on one side. I'm not sure if a fitter would take all this into consideration? Or would he assume a leg lenght discrepancy...?

 

Another thing... I know how my road bike should be set up for me. What happens with MTBs? My XC bike has a forward position but nowhere near my road bike. The trail AM bike has to be much much more upright than that. What happens when I bring my DH bike?

 

I'm not trying to diss these fitting systems but to me the experience of the fitter takes precedence over whatever system is being used.

Yup I hear you on this - thats why I give a lot of weight to personal testimonials. What I will say though is we are definately not all able to tweak ourselves based on feel etc as may work for you (as you say you developed this over time), but I'm guessing its a little like golf - often what feels right initially is the exact opposite of what you should be doing!

[RockCoach]

Yup I hear you on this - thats why I give a lot of weight to personal testimonials. What I will say though is we are definately not all able to tweak ourselves based on feel etc as may work for you (as you say you developed this over time)....

 

Yebo, that is probably why some peeps feel very wrong after a fit when a whole lot has been changed. I'm not a fitter but I have helped guys get into that general correct range.

 

It was great then before the big cycling revolution where almost everyone you rode with was very experienced. Guys who you rode with would advise you and you learnt to spot quite quickly if somone was set up incorrectly.

[Baaisikilist]

Anyone know of someone offering an Ergofit in JHB region?

 

I'm going to see Ryan at Active Physio in Alberton at 1pm tomorrow for an ErgoFit. 25 Hennie Alberts Rd, corner Van Bergen. 011 867 5848.

Will post how it goes.

[The Ghost]

I'm going to see Ryan at Active Physio in Alberton at 1pm tomorrow for an ErgoFit. 25 Hennie Alberts Rd, corner Van Bergen. 011 867 5848.

Will post how it goes.

 

When you there, can you please ask him if he can recommend anybody in the North of JHB?

[dracs]

When you there, can you please ask him if he can recommend anybody in the North of JHB?

Seemingly Ian at design in motion cycles, morningside also does Ergo with at least one good review from a fellow hubber.

[Baaisikilist]

When you there, can you please ask him if he can recommend anybody in the North of JHB?

 

Yeah, as Dracs said. Design in Motion cycles in Morningside.

[Baaisikilist]

Went to Ryan for my Ergofit yesterday, really cool guy, explained everything he was doing and gave me detailed answers to the millions of questions i asked.

 

My cleat positioning was incorrect, they were at the wrong angle, as well as too far back on the shoes. Frame size is correct (thank f*#k for that).

Saddle height had to come down, so too did the stem height.

My saddle is too far forward, and herein lies a problem for me...

The saddle is already as far back in the clamps as the rails will allow, but i need to come back about 40mm. It seems as though most of the saddles available have pretty much the same/standard length rails (i have an SDG on the bike), so no matter what i go for, it still won't go any further back.

 

My thought is to find a layback/offset seat post, the current Easton EA70 on the bike already has a 10mm offset, the biggest/furthest offset i can find in a 30.9 is a Ritchey, with a 25mm offset, so thats 15mm of the 40, where am i gonna find another 25mm...?

Before any1 suggests a longer stem, i already need to go 10mm longer on that, but thats a reach issue, not a saddle position in relation to my centre of gravity issue.

 

Anybody know of either a seatpost with a setback of more than 25mm, or a saddle with unusually long rails (that doesnt look as **** as a brooks or anything similar)...?

[NotSoBigBen]

That seems like a lot of changes ........ you doing them all at once?

 

May I ask how much it cost?

[Baaisikilist]

Twas R600.

 

Cleats, stem height and saddle height sorted. I need a new saddle anyway, I've had this one singe you bought that Gobi from that flippen handsome oke in Meyersdal. My lower back and knees have been killing me after our sat rides, and now even after just 20km around Thaba, so even a lodda changes at once have to be better than where i was with my settings.

He said i can leave the stem length for now, but the saddle must come back coz i'm not using my hams and glutes nearly as efficiently as i should. riding almost entirely on quads.

[SeaBee]

I've had no way near as radical changes as you, but was also utilising my quads way more than I should. It's a strange effect once I started feeling I'm using my glutes and hammies a bit more. And on a hard ride the other day, I had the weirdest legs pains, all due to the proper muscles now working (having not worked before).

 

My mtb feels like an entirely different beast and like I told Renay, I now feel like I'm riding the thing instead of just pedaling it. And suddenly it feels like fun and I do things more instinctively... Some situations are a bit nervy still, but all in all I love the changes. Still adapting, but very very happy.

 

Took my road bike out for a first ride after that disaster the rest of you called Argus (also with the new setup). Felt a bit more stretched, but all felt very good and comfy. I think in the end the only change there was to drop my bars a little as well.... and I think maybe a little back on the saddle.

 

As for seatposts - have you looked at Thomsons Elite yet?

[splat]

Went to Ryan for my Ergofit yesterday, really cool guy, explained everything he was doing and gave me detailed answers to the millions of questions i asked.

 

My cleat positioning was incorrect, they were at the wrong angle, as well as too far back on the shoes. Frame size is correct (thank f*#k for that).

Saddle height had to come down, so too did the stem height.

My saddle is too far forward, and herein lies a problem for me...

The saddle is already as far back in the clamps as the rails will allow, but i need to come back about 40mm. It seems as though most of the saddles available have pretty much the same/standard length rails (i have an SDG on the bike), so no matter what i go for, it still won't go any further back.

 

My thought is to find a layback/offset seat post, the current Easton EA70 on the bike already has a 10mm offset, the biggest/furthest offset i can find in a 30.9 is a Ritchey, with a 25mm offset, so thats 15mm of the 40, where am i gonna find another 25mm...?

Before any1 suggests a longer stem, i already need to go 10mm longer on that, but thats a reach issue, not a saddle position in relation to my centre of gravity issue.

 

Anybody know of either a seatpost with a setback of more than 25mm, or a saddle with unusually long rails (that doesnt look as **** as a brooks or anything similar)...?

 

FSA does a SB32 seatpost (32mm setback as opposed to the standard 25mm) I am sure there are some other options.

 

Edit: I found this: search

[splat]

As for seatposts - have you looked at Thomsons Elite yet?

 

I thought that Thomson would be a good option too, but it seems that it only offers 16mm set back. It looks like much more on my bike...

[Baaisikilist]

Yeah I looked at the Thompson, but as stated, it's only 16mm offset. The Fsa is the furthest back I could find, but it only comes in a 27.2. I've considered going for it, with a reducing shim in the seat tube, but it's a carbon post, and I'm not sure if it'll flex too much and break if I go the shim route...

[Baaisikilist]

Thanks for the search link splat, I'll look into that.