Is a Bike Fitter Enough?

[DieselnDust]

50 minutes ago, Ncayi said:

My fit was quite close, not perfect but close enough. The injury occurred of the bike and has complicated issues on the bike. The bio also noted that I have weak hamstrings which may indicate that I mostly use my quads when cycling. I typically need a high saddle and short reach (I have the body of a T-rex)

 

It's a great platform. After using it confirmed that my fit was close.

 

They roll inward (not sure if its supernate or pronate)

 

I saw a Bio and they gave me an exercise recovery plan which has helped significantly. I have a follow-up in a few weeks.

sorry inward cant is pronate

outward cant is supinate

[Ncayi]

11 minutes ago, Frosty said:

I would recommend a bike fit to everyone I engage with, purely because what feels comfortable/normal isn't necessarily the best position on the bike.

I think this has always been my situation and they say the body is good at adjusting to less ideal positions until it cannot compensate any longer. So, what may have been a close position may no longer be the case after the injury as my body's capacity to compensate may have diminished.

So, what I have gathered so far is that needing a bike fit is a relative experience but necessary in my situation. So, I will start by consulting a bike fitter and take it from there.

[Ncayi]

7 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

sorry inward cant is pronate

outward cant is supinate

Mine pronate a lot to the point that it can be noticed easily which further exaggerates my "kiss madolo", which literally translates to kissing knees.

[Frosty]

12 minutes ago, Ncayi said:

I think this has always been my situation and they say the body is good at adjusting to less ideal positions until it cannot compensate any longer. So, what may have been a close position may no longer be the case after the injury as my body's capacity to compensate may have diminished.

So, what I have gathered so far is that needing a bike fit is a relative experience but necessary in my situation. So, I will start by consulting a bike fitter and take it from there.

It isn’t not cheap, but compared to a potential medical cost later in life is worth ensuring setup is done.

[DieselnDust]

9 minutes ago, Ncayi said:

Mine pronate a lot to the point that it can be noticed easily which further exaggerates my "kiss madolo", which literally translates to kissing knees.

then you want to go and see a specialist 

[Ncayi]

23 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

then you want to go and see a specialist 

In your view would that be a podiatrist, orthopaedic or something different altogether?

[Sepia]

I have had three bike fits and many  visits to the Bio and thought at least one of them would sort out my busted leg/hip problem and leg length discrepancy but to no avail.

I am old and crock and the best fit was done by myself in order to allow no pain when spending a day on the bike.  Never again.

[DieselnDust]

3 hours ago, Ncayi said:

In your view would that be a podiatrist, orthopaedic or something different altogether?

I'd actually start with a GP and get a referral based on their assessment. I've not even seen you, never mind seen you pedal and not a doctor so I can't advise on which will be best. The GP will give the better advise (I Hope)

[Steady Spin]

Spent over R2000 on a fit with a well recommended fitter. The stem length changed 10mm and the saddle was raised 5mm. 

Made no difference to the comfort of the bike and didn't resolve the pain issues I had. I was also promised a copy of all the adjustments and my measurements. Multiple followups and nothing. 

I ended up adjusting everything myself and the bike fits like a glove. University of YouTube for me before I trust another snake oil salesman. 

[J Wakefield]

On 8/8/2023 at 1:54 PM, Ncayi said:

Like "many" cyclists I have never had a professional bike fit. On my part mostly due to being stingy if I am being honest but GCN telling me I can do it on my own didn't help either. I have been riding for 2 years now in the same position with no issues, but at the back of my mind, I was flirting with the idea of getting one. I always felt that I was leaving some power and comfort on the table and felt a bike fit would help in this regard.

After suffering an injury (off the bike) and getting a professional assessment by a Biokineticist I am now rehabbing what he called patellar chondromalacia. This has led me to accept that I desperately need a bike fit. I have narrowed my bike fit options to Richard Baxter, Cycle Fit and North Cliff Cycles. 

Which brings me to the point of this thread.

Is a bike fitter enough or should I also consult with a podiatrist?

I have extremely flat feet, knocked knees and duck "feet" the trifactor of bad posture. On top of that, I was once told that I have a leg length discrepancy, extremely tight hamstrings.

 

sounds like you need to work on yourself and improve overall strength, flexibility etc and not try adapt a bike to you. 

I would however, advise that you save your money and get to Cape Town and see Dr Jeroen Swart for an assessment and fitment before going elsewhere. you will land up spending the money at all the other places, including podiatrist and not have a overall positive outcome. 

My 2c. 

[Lynskey]

10 minutes ago, J Wakefield said:

sounds like you need to work on yourself and improve overall strength, flexibility etc and not try adapt a bike to you. 

I would however, advise that you save your money and get to Cape Town and see Dr Jeroen Swart for an assessment and fitment before going elsewhere. you will land up spending the money at all the other places, including podiatrist and not have a overall positive outcome. 

My 2c. 

He was the fella I saw. Rude, obnoxious and arrogant are the words that come to mind. That was my experience with him. 

[DieselnDust]

47 minutes ago, J Wakefield said:

sounds like you need to work on yourself and improve overall strength, flexibility etc and not try adapt a bike to you. 

I would however, advise that you save your money and get to Cape Town and see Dr Jeroen Swart for an assessment and fitment before going elsewhere. you will land up spending the money at all the other places, including podiatrist and not have a overall positive outcome. 

My 2c. 

the only one stop shop I'd recommend if one can actually get an audience with him!

[J Wakefield]

44 minutes ago, Lynskey said:

He was the fella I saw. Rude, obnoxious and arrogant are the words that come to mind. That was my experience with him. 

How was your fitment and/or medical you received from him?

[Ncayi]

 

1 hour ago, J Wakefield said:

sounds like you need to work on yourself

I have realised that. I have not been doing anything else apart from just riding the bike which in hindsight I realise was a mistake. I am not the most flexible chap, but I now have a plan for that, and I will also be doing some of the bike strength work. I am also dialling in my nutrition with a nutritionist to ease the load my joints have to endure. Luckily age is still on my side so I have some time to sort things out.

1 hour ago, J Wakefield said:

I would however, advise that you save your money and get to Cape Town

I have heard good things about Dr Swart but getting to Cape Town would be a logistical nightmare at the moment.

Edited August 9, 2023 by Ncayi

[RobertWhitehead]

So here's my opinion based on my own experience: 

A bike fitment from a bike fitter doesn't add too much value. I have had a few fitments in the past and found that the only difference between their findings and what this website gives: https://www.competitivecyclist.com/Store/catalog/fitCalculatorBike.jsp is that the tolerances are smaller with a fitter and they charge for something you can find freely on the interwebs . 

But work on your flexibility and core

[J Wakefield]

What does working on your core do?