Is a Bike Fitter Enough?

[Shebeen]

On 6/2/2025 at 8:36 PM, Ncayi said:

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.

wow, what a journey thanks for sharing.

3 hours ago, Ncayi said:

Try Mitch at Mellow Velo. He did a fit for someone I know and they were quite happy. He also gave me some great advise with some of my tweaks at no cost. And he is a pretty decent dude as well.

bike fitter #6?

[Ncayi]

28 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

wow, what a journey thanks for sharing.

bike fitter #6?

Im staying away from them for the foreseeable future. 

Edited June 4, 2025 by Ncayi

['Kaze Pete]

2 hours ago, Ncayi said:

Im staying away from them for the foreseeable future. 

They are not all created equal.

If you want/have to trust, trust advise by @J Wakefield 
I have an idea that he knows a thing or two. Not taking anything away from the others though!

[Eugene]

On 6/2/2025 at 8:36 PM, Ncayi said:

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.

I'm in the silent minority here. I have always believed that bike fitters are over rated. 

If having exact measurements, right down to the last mm or degree, are so important, why to bike fitting systems always differ from each other? One or both are always going to be wrong. 

 

[Dexter-morgan]

Has anyone tried this? Some fancy AI bike and software.

https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fsmart_bikefit%3Figsh%3DamtnempmbnM3NjRy%26fbclid%3DPAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadJT8-x-wjgvVTiuMZ1MKZ7i2clFAQCOCy96xPtfOmiIvccfh-dWHvWcv9Wqw_aem_i6fNNGYUnTOvl1Q_YoWr1A&e=AT1CDaoioCjkIkJoAR_ANBJV9e3UYonqowCUB2ECb00mu83bNIpwuZEKezQvIaz4hvcqFXYNjE2x1PXWT23YCGNcKwvICbuAX7_3tw

Edited June 5, 2025 by Dexter-morgan

[DieselnDust]

1 hour ago, Eugene said:

I'm in the silent minority here. I have always believed that bike fitters are over rated. 

If having exact measurements, right down to the last mm or degree, are so important, why to bike fitting systems always differ from each other? One or both are always going to be wrong. 

 

On the whole I agree with you but it is a good idea to have a knowledgable third party have an objective view of how you interact with the bike especially in areas where you experience discomfort or repeated injury. Just like doctors needs doctors, cyclists need bike fitters from time to time. But generally I don’t need someone to tell To take two panados until I do.

[J Wakefield]

6 hours ago, Dexter-morgan said:

Has anyone tried this? Some fancy AI bike and software.

https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fsmart_bikefit%3Figsh%3DamtnempmbnM3NjRy%26fbclid%3DPAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadJT8-x-wjgvVTiuMZ1MKZ7i2clFAQCOCy96xPtfOmiIvccfh-dWHvWcv9Wqw_aem_i6fNNGYUnTOvl1Q_YoWr1A&e=AT1CDaoioCjkIkJoAR_ANBJV9e3UYonqowCUB2ECb00mu83bNIpwuZEKezQvIaz4hvcqFXYNjE2x1PXWT23YCGNcKwvICbuAX7_3tw

 

[ChrisF]

On 6/5/2025 at 6:59 AM, Eugene said:

I'm in the silent minority here. I have always believed that bike fitters are over rated. 

If having exact measurements, right down to the last mm or degree, are so important, why to bike fitting systems always differ from each other? One or both are always going to be wrong. 

 

 

A friend with a life time in cycling shares your opinion.  He has done road, track, MTB for many decades.  Even won his category in the Trans Baviaans.  He just laughs when we talk of bike fitters.  At mid 60's he does one off 100km ride every 4 to 6 weeks, and a couple of 30 to 50km rides per week.  He just did a 6 week training block to prepare for the 36one.  Testimony of what is possible.

 

On 6/5/2025 at 8:40 AM, DieselnDust said:

On the whole I agree with you but it is a good idea to have a knowledgable third party have an objective view of how you interact with the bike especially in areas where you experience discomfort or repeated injury. Just like doctors needs doctors, cyclists need bike fitters from time to time. But generally I don’t need someone to tell To take two panados until I do.

 

And here is the rub .... @DieselnDust as an engineer you often experience the difference between "good" and other engineers ..... Sure your wife has experiences with some "good" doctors and a some others .... it is the reality of any industry.

 

The bike fitter industry is no different.  Many (possibly most) are good at taking measurements and setting up a bike to a formula ..... and this works well enough for those riders with no residual medical/injury issues.

 

The likes of Irma does what I need from a bike fitter.  Starting with a medical/injury history.  Then checking mobility, core strength, flexibility .... Only then does the "bike fit' / adjustments" start.  And when the client has specific issues, the setup is most certainly off the "standard charts" and tweaked to that individual.  She also explains that as issues are addressed, your body adapts small setup tweaks may be needed.

 

LUCKY are those that are injury free and for whom the "dimension chart" type setup works.

 

 

 

Now to take this one step further ......

 

I have done about 10 000km on my "Argus bike" over the last few years.  Setup fine, no issues.  End of last year I suddenly start having issues .... Seems like the Selle Italia saddly had sagged out.  Bit of a search, but I find the exact same saddle.  Bike setup measured up with a laser level ... yea yea ...   So I carry over the setup 100% to the new saddle.  NOPE !!  I cant cycle 5km !!   Two other saddles later I went back to Irma .... we swopped out a number of saddles, checked and re-checked the setup, just cant get comfortable on the bike.  Irma steps back, head tilted to the side .... and then she gets a frown ..... "When last did we check your sit-bones?"  

 

Let me tell you .... in that moment that question did not make any sense ..... but let's check it again.

 

Turns out my sit-bones allignment was out by more than 10mm !   Basically one sit-bone at a time could sit correctly on the saddle .... no wonder it was so painful.

 

Here is the shocker .... this is not an uncommon issue.  She referred me to a physio, who confirmed my left QL was one tight spasm ..... took about 3 physio sessions to remedy my allignment.  Few more bio sessions to get to the root cause.

 

 

Moral of the story ..... IF you have some history with sports injuries and are on a road of recovery.  Expect your body to change as you cycle/exercise more.  These changes may impact how you "feel" on the bike.

 

 

TOP TIP - STAY IN SHAPE.  Use it or loose it !!!!!  The road to recovery sucks .....

 

Edited June 6, 2025 by ChrisF

[Guest Mike Dewing]

13 hours ago, ChrisF said:

 

A friend with a life time in cycling shares your opinion.  He has done road, track, MTB for many decades.  Even won his category in the Trans Baviaans.  He just laughs when we talk of bike fitters.  At mid 60's he does one off 100km ride every 4 to 6 weeks, and a couple of 30 to 50km rides per week.  He just did a 6 week training block to prepare for the 36one.  Testimony of what is possible.

 

 

And here is the rub .... @DieselnDust as an engineer you often experience the difference between "good" and other engineers ..... Sure your wife has experiences with some "good" doctors and a some others .... it is the reality of any industry.

 

The bike fitter industry is no different.  Many (possibly most) are good at taking measurements and setting up a bike to a formula ..... and this works well enough for those riders with no residual medical/injury issues.

 

The likes of Irma does what I need from a bike fitter.  Starting with a medical/injury history.  Then checking mobility, core strength, flexibility .... Only then does the "bike fit' / adjustments" start.  And when the client has specific issues, the setup is most certainly off the "standard charts" and tweaked to that individual.  She also explains that as issues are addressed, your body adapts small setup tweaks may be needed.

 

LUCKY are those that are injury free and for whom the "dimension chart" type setup works.

 

 

 

Now to take this one step further ......

 

I have done about 10 000km on my "Argus bike" over the last few years.  Setup fine, no issues.  End of last year I suddenly start having issues .... Seems like the Selle Italia saddly had sagged out.  Bit of a search, but I find the exact same saddle.  Bike setup measured up with a laser level ... yea yea ...   So I carry over the setup 100% to the new saddle.  NOPE !!  I cant cycle 5km !!   Two other saddles later I went back to Irma .... we swopped out a number of saddles, checked and re-checked the setup, just cant get comfortable on the bike.  Irma steps back, head tilted to the side .... and then she gets a frown ..... "When last did we check your sit-bones?"  

 

Let me be tell you .... in that moment that question did not make any sense ..... but let's check it again.

 

Turns out my sit-bones allignment was out by more than 10mm !   Basically one sit-bone at a time could sit correctly on the saddle .... no wonder it was so painful.

 

Here is the shocker .... this is not an uncommon issue.  She referred me to a physio, who confirmed my left QL was one tight spasm ..... took about 3 physio sessions to remedy my allignment.  Few more bio sessions to get to the root cause.

 

 

Moral of the story ..... IF you have some history with sports injuries and are a road of recovery.  Expect your body to change as you cycle/exercise more.  These changes may impact how you "feel" on the bike.

 

 

TOP TIP - STAY IN SHAPE.  Use it or loose it !!!!!  The road to recovery sucks .....

 

I’ve been doing a lot of stretching and mobility training.. working out my hips and all the knots and tightness of my hamstrings and glutes and lower back.. man it’s making such a difference but also sometimes feels like I’m causing harm.. I feel good and then something hurts and then I work that out.. I think I’m making progress to a healthy body.. I can touch my toes.!! 🥳🥳.. but I wake up sore man.  😭 my actual cycling has taken a bit of a back seat.. the goal is to get healthy over all so it must be done..

[NotSoBigBen]

13 hours ago, ChrisF said:

A friend with a life time in cycling shares your opinion.  He has done road, track, MTB for many decades.  Even won his category in the Trans Baviaans.  He just laughs when we talk of bike fitters.  At mid 60's he does one off 100km ride every 4 to 6 weeks, and a couple of 30 to 50km rides per week.  He just did a 6 week training block to prepare for the 36one.  Testimony of what is possible. 

Chris I'm pretty much in that camp,  thankfully, 1 year to 'mid' 60's, 36yrs of riding

I simply use the same methods that I was taught by the older riders when I started, there were no bike fitters for many many years. Seat height and seat forward and aft KOPS critical everything else according to comfort/feel.

My setup is probably far from optimal for power and stiff I guess but it is comfortable enough for me to do what I do. I have learnt that cycling comes with some pain here and there if you spend any amount of time on a bike irrespective of the bike itself!

['Kaze Pete]

The human body is massively adaptable, so it can bend / mould into many positions with relative ease. Pretzel shaped or not.

We accept that what we do is ‘good’, and learn to live with that. Unfortunately, good is the enemy of great. Reminds me of the saying(s) about mechanics and their own cars.

So, ‘good’ is not what you are looking for when hiring somebody to do a bike fit. Great / excellent is the goal. 

Sure, many of us can get ourselves comfortable on a bicycle, but is that position optimal for you?  (Performance, injuries, limb discrepancies, many of other issues - sometimes even unknown …)

Pick a bike fitter with care! It is YOUR body & bicycle. You surely do not take your car to the nearest self professed ‘mechanic’ with a shifting spanner, just as you pick and re-pick doctors for your body with some care?

How many people do have the actual knowledge / understanding / inclination to iterate through their own bike setups?

[droo]

On 6/5/2025 at 7:59 AM, Dexter-morgan said:

Has anyone tried this? Some fancy AI bike and software.

https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fsmart_bikefit%3Figsh%3DamtnempmbnM3NjRy%26fbclid%3DPAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadJT8-x-wjgvVTiuMZ1MKZ7i2clFAQCOCy96xPtfOmiIvccfh-dWHvWcv9Wqw_aem_i6fNNGYUnTOvl1Q_YoWr1A&e=AT1CDaoioCjkIkJoAR_ANBJV9e3UYonqowCUB2ECb00mu83bNIpwuZEKezQvIaz4hvcqFXYNjE2x1PXWT23YCGNcKwvICbuAX7_3tw

Without a mobility assessment this is just a fancy chart.

[ChrisF]

5 hours ago, Mike Dewing said:

I’ve been doing a lot of stretching and mobility training.. working out my hips and all the knots and tightness of my hamstrings and glutes and lower back.. man it’s making such a difference but also sometimes feels like I’m causing harm.. I feel good and then something hurts and then I work that out.. I think I’m making progress to a healthy body.. I can touch my toes.!! 🥳🥳.. but I wake up sore man.  😭 my actual cycling has taken a bit of a back seat.. the goal is to get healthy over all so it must be done..

 

Hiehie .... quickly becomes a rabit hole, or is that a maze, when you try to "progress to a healthy body" ....

 

At least my bio has a nice smile while torturing me ... 🤣

 

[Guest Mike Dewing]

19 hours ago, ChrisF said:

 

Hiehie .... quickly becomes a rabit hole, or is that a maze, when you try to "progress to a healthy body" ....

 

At least my bio has a nice smile while torturing me ... 🤣

 

My wife is basically my physio.. she enjoys my grimacing and screams a lot more than she should I think.. 🥵🤣🤣