Setup queries

[DaLoCo]

Hi

 

I got a Merida 901 this week past, and rode it a few times. It felt beautifull, but the saddle needed height adjustment, so on advice I took it to the LBS for a proper fitting, you know, to get it properly set up.

 

After this morning's ride I feel the saddle is too low. My knees got sore under the kneecap....in front.

 

My cleats are in the foremost position on  my shoes (MTB shoes for comfort reasons), and also set up straight, not toe in or heel in.

 

The LBS dropped my saddle by about 20mm, then raised it by about 5mm from the new position. the saddle front was also dropped by them.

 

My thought is to raise my saddle back to the height before LBS made money. I will also move the cleats back about 5mm, if needed. I will check the position of the axle first.

 

Any help or direction would be appreciated

[Sammajoor]

I know Arran Brown and Hanco Kaggelhofer of Team Medscheme do setups.

 

Only heard good reviews too

 

[Daxiet]

I have had my MTB setup done by CycleLab in Centurion. I tried riding with their exact setup, but found it did agree with my body. I landed up raising the seat height slightly as well as setting my cleats as far back as possible (believed the cleat position added to a recurring injury). Bottom line, a computer/formula is not able to catter for every individual, nor are some of the classic rules about how much angle/bend there must be in the knee at a particular point in your pedal stroke.

 

My road bike landed up being a self fitted bike and I  have had no issues. Go with what feels comfortable and experiment. I have found however once pain has set in on a ride, it's too late to adjust and experiment. You will have to wait for another day.

 

How long have you been cycling for?

[wannabesub3]

I had them do a bike setup as well, but most times the set you up in a racing setup there same system allows for setup for recreational, as well as comfort setup.

I agree ride the bike and tweek it untill it suites you.

DaLoCO go to bikefitting.com there is lots of advice they give on bike setting, a lot of setting is based on variables like what type of shoes, pedals, etc.

If you have an old bike that worked for you, copy that setup onto the new bike.................Enjoy the new One

[DaLoCo]

Thanks, I have basically changed the setup to somewhere between my old bike and the LBS setup......and my ride on Sunday morning was good. I had no specific pains, and my average speed jumped by 2,5 km/h to 23.7 km/h (we ride some hectic uphills). I do have to lower the saddle aver so slightly as my hip are rocking marginally. I will also move the cleats back as it seems the pedal axle is just in front of the ball of my feet.

 

I started cycling in October last year, and this is my first road bike.

 

I am very much a researcher when something bothers me, and your advice is very much in line with what most people say on the web.

 

I am doing a race on Sunday....my first! It is the McDonalds race, basically a 20 km flattish circuit repeated up to six time...I am doing the 80 km.