Is a Bike Fitter Enough?

[carlheinz]

Thanks @ChrisF

[Anthem24]

Go to Spook in Somerset West -- far more experienced than some others I've been to.

https://www.daisyway.co.za/fit-your-bike/

 

[DieselnDust]

3 hours ago, Anthem24 said:

Go to Spook in Somerset West -- far more experienced than some others I've been to.

https://www.daisyway.co.za/fit-your-bike/

 

I’ll second this ^^

[Guest Mike Dewing]

Have we established if a bike fitter is enough.?! Or not.?!

🤔🤣

[DieselnDust]

26 minutes ago, Bike Dewing said:

Have we established if a bike fitter is enough.?! Or not.?!

🤔🤣

I doubt it as it sounds like a visit to Dr Swartz at sports science might be necessary 

[carlheinz]

I mean I can still walk and talk 😂

[carlheinz]

Some feedback here. 
Booked a session with Irma and it was an awesome experience. Detailed analysis and checking of everything.

It seems my hips did lie! As they are skew 🥹 to mention a few things. However we identified the issues with the hardware and the software. Next up is the journey to rectify it. 10/10 would recommend her. Psyched to get things sorted. 

[Andreas_187]

2 hours ago, carlheinz said:

Some feedback here. 
Booked a session with Irma and it was an awesome experience. Detailed analysis and checking of everything.

It seems my hips did lie! As they are skew 🥹 to mention a few things. However we identified the issues with the hardware and the software. Next up is the journey to rectify it. 10/10 would recommend her. Psyched to get things sorted. 

Irma is the best

[TheGreatPerhaps]

Good morning everyone 🚲

I need some advise on problems with saddle sore/pressure points on my saddle. I currently ride between 10-12 hours a week, mostly mountain bike, but as soon as my rides start going above 3 hours it gets very uncomfortable in the saddle. 

I've had the bike setup, I've invested in top of the range VYE bibs, my core is not the worst, yet I cannot spend long days in the saddle on the trials. 

Currently have a Bontrager saddle measuring a width off 155mm

Any advise would be greatly appreciated. 

[Paul Ruinaard]

I was involved in a simmilar string about 3 years ago - its a long story but basically i was of the same opinion - i can fit myself and with age and growing degeneration you must just suck up some of the pain.

Anyway after much back pain and back and  forth with some of the guys on the hub that are in the trade i was convinced to go to Richard Baxter for a fit. He did pressure on the saddle and also fitted for a person my size i.e. a prop forward rather than Pantani. I ended up with Pedal extensions for Q factor of 20mm as well as looking at saddle pressure and bringing me more upright as, lets say, i have spread out a little.

First ride out the Garmin indicated an increase in VO2 max and FTP. Both went up about 10%. That was week to week on a route in the cradle. This was all from a bike fit - i changed nothing else and it was over a weeks period.

As they say the data doesn't lie. 

I would say i got a bike fitter that understood what i wanted and wasn't using a series of formulas from a manual but focused on me.

Do some research and get a good fitter. Its worthwhile.

[carlheinz]

2 hours ago, TheGreatPerhaps said:

Good morning everyone 🚲

I need some advise on problems with saddle sore/pressure points on my saddle. I currently ride between 10-12 hours a week, mostly mountain bike, but as soon as my rides start going above 3 hours it gets very uncomfortable in the saddle. 

I've had the bike setup, I've invested in top of the range VYE bibs, my core is not the worst, yet I cannot spend long days in the saddle on the trials. 

Currently have a Bontrager saddle measuring a width off 155mm

Any advise would be greatly appreciated. 

What is the width of your sit bones? 

[Paul Ruinaard]

4 minutes ago, carlheinz said:

What is the width of your sit bones? 

 

 

Edited November 27, 2024 by Paul Ruinaard

[TheGreatPerhaps]

7 minutes ago, carlheinz said:

What is the width of your sit bones? 

About 110mm

[F@yino]

3 hours ago, TheGreatPerhaps said:

Good morning everyone 🚲

I need some advise on problems with saddle sore/pressure points on my saddle. I currently ride between 10-12 hours a week, mostly mountain bike, but as soon as my rides start going above 3 hours it gets very uncomfortable in the saddle. 

I've had the bike setup, I've invested in top of the range VYE bibs, my core is not the worst, yet I cannot spend long days in the saddle on the trials. 

Currently have a Bontrager saddle measuring a width off 155mm

Any advise would be greatly appreciated. 

I had the exact same issue. After 3-4 hours severe discomfort L buttock. Could still ride but constantly shifting around the saddle. I also had bontrager saddle 155mm. My new bike had the exact same saddle. Had Bikefit at freewheel Cycology & was recommended to change to a 145mm (exact same saddle) All pain & discomfort gone even on an 8hr DC ride this weekend. 

[Ncayi]

Its been almost 2 years since I asked this question and my fit has changed drastically over this period. I just thought i should share some nuggets from my journey. 

Bike fitter 1

He raised my saddle height by 4.5 cm, swapped 130mm giant contact saddle for a 155mm bontrager aeolus saddle, cleats were positioned a few mm behind my 1st mertatasal and it was happy days. I rode that position for a year with out any major issues. But there was this niggle on my left knee ane I alson got a new bike which I wanted t9 setup. So I approached bike fitter 2 as bike fitter one was nolonger operational.

Bike fitter 2

He simply replicated bike fitter ones fit, and reduced my handlebar drop to open up my hips. He also moved my cleats further forward and that led to major discomfort. I simply moved myself back to the previous fit. I know what you may be thinking, give it time so you can get used to it. Trust me that fit was garbage. Cue bike fitter 3

Bike fitter 3

This dude almost ruined me. He staggered my cleats, raised the saddle a few mms and tilted my saddle like a MF. I am talking -8.5° of tilt from tip to tip and bare in mind Bontrager recommends about -2° of tilt. The position was so aggressive I felt pro for a few months. I was never the most symmetrical of specimens but I am convinced this fit really messed up my pelvis. I developed an extreme muscle imbalance, pelvic rotation, extreme anterior pelvic tilt, yeah I became a mess. I returned myself back to the bike fitter 1 put me on. I felt comfortable on the but could still something was not right.

Bike fitter 4.

I saw this dude because I was trying to sort out the assymetry had developed. He confirmed I was sitting skew on the bike, proceeded to Google what could be causing it while I was perched on the bike like TRex. After finding no answers from the great Oracle. He simply rotated one of my cleats and  charged me R700 bucks and said I must go see someone to help figure out what was wrong and come back. I saw a Bio but didn't go to Mr googler because I just didn't have faith in his ability. Cue in bike fitter 5.

Bike fitter 5

He made some changes ,same saddle height as bike fitter 1, a more chilled saddle tilt but moved my cleats further forward than ever before and reduced my stem from 100 to 80mm. In hindsight, I learnt that my body can adapt to extreme changes because I was able to ride a sub 3 cycle while riding on my tippy toes.

As I land. This is where I am  now. Throughout this period I have been consuming an insane amout of bike fit content which I started applying.

I moved from 172.5 to 165mm long cranks. It felt strange at first and I couldn't produce any seated power especially on climbs. Tweaked my setback and now I am at home.

Saddle went up from 81cm to 81.5 because of the change in crank length.

Got a proper seat measurement of 125mm and I now use a 140mm wide selle san marco saddle. I run 10.5 cm setback, 3.8° of tilt. A big bum doesnt always mean a wide saddle is required.

I shoved my cleats all the way back in my shimano shoes. They now sit 2cm behind my 5th metatarsal. Tweaked my cleat rotation till all the medial and lateral knee discomfort vanished.

I am on an exercise plan to restore balance to my hips and strengthen my weak left glute and hip flexors which contributes to my assymetry.

Using specialized blue footbeds. They felt strange at first but I now feel support throughout my entire foot.I started with the red and moved to the blue a few months later. They can take a bit of time to get used to.

With these changes I have moved myself from a 44%L/56%R to a 48%L/52, stabilised my hips with the right knee not collapsing as much.

Edited June 2, 2025 by Ncayi

[PedalGoat]

Got a new bike and Richard Baxter has left the country. Replicated the same measurements he did on my old bike and although I don't have any pain,  I'm very uncomfortable on the saddle. I have the right width seat for my sit bones. Sliding all around especially on the trainer. Could it be an old seat or do I have to go to a fitter?