Bike fit - worth it?

[cpelser]

Hi guys

 

Is it worth spending R850 to have a pro fitment on your bike?

 

Apparently it takes 2.5 hours.

My wife has taken to riding quite well but her right knee hurts a little while cycling and she's been referred to a professional woman who does bike fitments.

 

She rides both MTB and road and it's R850 for just the one bike, which does seem a bit steep to me.

 

We're in Cape Town Northern suburbs, is there any other places to have this done?

We're very much weekend warriors..

 

EDIT - So for those who stumbled onto this page and want the executive summary:

 

YES! The fitment is worth it according to most hubbers! Even if they only adjust a couple of millimeters.

Edited August 4, 2015 by cpelser

[worriesnot]

I think it is, but others may not.

You ride for fun right? No fun if riding in pain.

If the pain is riding / position related then R850 could fix the problem. If it something else that requires medical attention then it will cost a hell of a lot more than that. Worth a shot IMHO...

[Schnavel]

Best money spent on my bike other than buying a bike in the first place.

 

I also used to have lots of knee pain etc and went for a setup. Definitely worth it

[HBO]

I have the same question. I am contemplating to do the fit offered by Cyclefit, but that is R 1 500.00.

 

Since me and my wife are both cycling everything that I do, she must as well, so everything is x2.

This is a very hightec fit. Is it worth paying that much when you can do a non/less hightec fit for half the price.

 

Did anybody perhaps did the fit from Cyclefit and did it improve your performance and/or pains?

[Crossmonster]

Absolutely YES! I've had chronic knee pain while cycling since I started a few years ago. Even went for a knee op. Still the same story.

 

Never thought much of a bike fit until the other day when my physio recommended it. Life changing. Can't believe I haven't done it sooner.

[90 Inch]

I started cycling competitively nearly 40 years ago, so though I knew what position worked best for me. I only recently had a bike fit done due to issues when switching between 3 bikes within the same week, its the best value for money I have spent on cycling ever.  

 

What I spent on the bike fit, I saved in phisio immediately, as I was forever having lower back and shoulder issues on the MTB.

 

My power output on my road bike improved as well.  

 

Just do it..  

[Pusher]

I have the same question. I am contemplating to do the fit offered by Cyclefit, but that is R 1 500.00.

 

Since me and my wife are both cycling everything that I do, she must as well, so everything is x2.

This is a very hightec fit. Is it worth paying that much when you can do a non/less hightec fit for half the price.

 

Did anybody perhaps did the fit from Cyclefit and did it improve your performance and/or pains?

I did the standard set up which suited me. With four bikes the R1500 set up would have killed me!

[Raydek]

I honestly have some reservations… 

 

I had been MTB'ing for about 18 months when I was given a LBS voucher for a bike fit.  My bike had only ever been set up by myself with the help of the Competitive Biker Website bike fit guide. Maybe to add first, I never had any pain of any kind while riding.

 

So I went to the fit and ALL that was changed was the direction of the cleats on my shoes (when I still used clipless), they were rotated maybe 5 degrees max. Thats it, nothing else.

 

Oh, I lie, they also rotated my stem angle from up to down as this is a more aggressive riding style, even though I have now changed it back as my riding style is less XC and more upright.

 

But seriously, nothing else was changed.. R500 later… 

 

So take what you will from this.. Just IMHO

 

Edit:

However, I should add that my wife had a fit done by her triathlon coach which she said made the very long rides more comfortable and according to her coach gave her more power/stamina...

Edited August 4, 2015 by Raydek

[IceCreamMan]

just been quoted 1700 for a fit.... that's a lot of loot ..

[eddy]

. Is it worth paying that much when you can do a non/less hightec fit for half the price.

 

 

 

Yes, it is

 

 

 

 

Did anybody perhaps did the fit from Cyclefit and did it improve your performance and/or pains?

 

Yes, and yes

Edited August 4, 2015 by eddy

[Supersix EVO]

The best investment you can do is to go for a proper bike fit and I am not talking about the quick fitment at your LBS some bike sales man is doing. Go to a proper fitment specialist.

 

Please take your wife before she injures herself and your dr/physio bill will be more than the bike fit.

 

Just a few instances as to why knee pain may occur. As you can see there is many different settings that can cause this. and the smallest mm can make a difference.

 

Cleat Rotation AngleIf your cleats are set at an angle that prevents the foot from sitting on the pedal at the angle that the body naturally prefers, then knee pain is often the result. 

Cleat Position Fore and AftThis is a huge variable. A cleat position that is too far forward may load the knee in susceptible people. 

Foot Separation DistanceIf the feet are closer together than the knees while cycling then there will be a challenge to the plane of motion of the knees. 

Saddle HeightIf a rider has their seat too high they will attempt to compensate for this. It is exceedingly rare to see a rider with seat too high sit squarely on the seat and overextend each leg more or less equally. The norm is to tilt the pelvis towards one side; usually but not always the right, protecting that side to varying extents while at the same time significantly overextending the other leg; usually, but not always the left. 

Seat SetbackAn ideal seat setback balances the loads on the knee joint from the front and the back. The further back the seat, the more the rear chain is enlisted; gluteals and hamstrings. The further forward the seat, the more the quadriceps are enlisted. 

Bar PositionIf the bars are too low or too far away, knee pain MAY be a price paid for the compensatory contortions the rider undergoes in an effort to reach the bars while attempting to maintain stability in their position.

Edited August 4, 2015 by Cycle Success

[Rick Sanchez]

I feel pretty comfortable on the bike, but am also contemplating the possible benefits of a bike fit. I had knee pain, but later found out it was because my seatpost was extended too fa, and after fixing this I had no more pain and was definitely faster on the bike as well. Now I'm not so sure if it would be worth paying R500+ if I may be setup right to start with.

[Dazshell]

I will be going for my fitment this afternoon.  Been batting (make that agonising) with Hot Foot and ITB plus pain on my right leg as well as hunched shoulders.   I will let you know what was done and if there is any inprovement in a few days.

 

The guy I am going to is Clayton at Cycle Symmetry in Durban North.  Highly recommended to me and has all the gizzmo's apparently.  Cost?  R450 for a full setup.  Where do these other guys get off charging R1500+?

 

Let's see how it goes.

[Brickleberry]

Honesty after a bike fit ,even just a std fit, from cyclefit I have seen a huge difference. I was fitted before from a LBS and I can honestly say they don't seem to get even close. Although the measurements may be similar, Richard at cycle fit was able to change the way my weight was spread over the bike and make movement of my legs seem much easier, I'm still amazed at how much difference it makes. Go do a std fit best 695 you will ever spend .

[Supersix EVO]

I will be going for my fitment this afternoon.  Been batting (make that agonising) with Hot Foot and ITB plus pain on my right leg as well as hunched shoulders.   I will let you know what was done and if there is any inprovement in a few days.

 

The guy I am going to is Clayton at Cycle Symmetry in Durban North.  Highly recommended to me and has all the gizzmo's apparently.  Cost?  R450 for a full setup.  Where do these other guys get off charging R1500+?

 

Let's see how it goes.

 

Clayton is one of the best in the business. You wont regret using his services and at a decent price.

[Veebee]

While R850 is a bit on the higher side, getting a fit is worth every cent. I've been riding for about 10 months now, and only had a fit done 2 weeks ago.

 

Prior to the fit, I experienced lower back pain and some pain on my right knee. Now 250km later I am pain free and my power transfer feels much better.