Proper bike setup

[Giant]

MichH,

Sounds like the top tube is too long,

If you are looking straight down the fork, a normal stem is not going to be short enough. look for a downhill stem, only about 20mm.

Also you can look at moving your seat forward, provided a plumb line from your front knee, (when the peddles are horizontal) does not extend past the centre of your peddle spindle.

[MichH]

Thanks all for the advice. My dad is a giant and the bike was waaay too small for him.

In this pic, you can see the bike with his saddle position (mine is much lower). I think I'll prob need to change the stem...

uploads/MichH/images/2006-07-14_091003_Kona.jpg

[MichH]

OK, so we have identified that the frame is too big for me, so hopefully I'll be taking all those nice components and putting it onto my Schwinn frame!

[Thug]

Just spoken to Arran, so tomorrow I'm going to get my bike setup correctly.

 

And the best part of it............. he lives round the corner from me!

 

[Thug]

Went to have my bike setup properly last night.

 

The long & short of it, is that my saddle was 3cm to low, cleats in the wrong position on my shoes & handlebars were slightly to wide.

 

 

 

[dirtrider]

So you will be in the front tonight ?

[mallo]

Hi Joburg_Red

 

Please give some feedback after a week or two of riding with your new set-up I think it will help other hubbers as well knowing what works or not from our service providers out there .

Enjoy your cycling

 

[Thug]

 

So you will be in the front tonight ?

 

Didn't plan on coming through to ride 25k's' date=' but.............we'll see (I suppose I should test out the new setup).

 

I thought you were out of town & not riding tonight !

 

Please give some feedback after a week or two of riding with your new

set-up I think it will help other hubbers as well knowing what works or

not from our service providers out there.

 

Will do

 

 

 

[SARA]

While on the topic of proper bike set up, if you are training lots ie millions of pedal strokes inflicted on your body over time, get your biometrics checked out. Seriously it's so simple just go, it's one appointment and check your bodies alignment. Don't wait till you have patellofemoral syndrome aka useless knee to find out that you displace your hip by 2 cm just by walking about and simply have to crack your back back into place before you ride, if one had known this one would not have patellofemoral syndrome. cough. oh and stretch people.

[cracked up]

look guys the easiest thing to do is this take your inseem measurement.. iE: your crotch to the floor.. multiply that amount by 0.886 and thats your seat height.. thats from centre to top.. ie: centre of B.B to top of saddle..

simplest reach is put your elbow against the tip of your saddle and your hand on the stem, with two fingers infront of your stem hand.. this should be in the centre of the stem if not adjust your seat rails.. normally a 6 allen key on your seat post..

thats the basic..

back problems are normally a sign of incorrect bike position

and this could cause a loss in up to 20% of efficiency this could be the difference between a best time or a second place.

[Cycle Fit]

Hi Guys, good to hear you appreciate my work.

I can honestly say that a propper bike setup is vital. I have been doing professional bike setups for just over 1 & 1/2 years, this means well over 2000 bike setups. I would seriously recommend seeing someone for a propper setup even if you are not suffering from aches and pains. Some bikes come close to the correct position but i have honestly never seen someone without their position being out here and there. With the use of professional equipment it makes life alot easier So yes give me a call if i can help in any way. The setup costs are R250 and usually take around 1&1/2 hours as it is very indepth.

(072 566 2925)

Thanks guys

[WorcesterWheelers]

So who's the Cape Town version of the bike setup Guru? (sorry Cycle Fit, Joburgs at bit too far...)

If been having a bit of problems lately with cramps and playing around with my setup.

Also just purchased a TT bike (thanks 101%) smileys/smiley36.gif, and would like to get all my setups checked and adjusted for best results.

[fatcyclist]

Also just purchased a TT bike (thanks 101%) , and would like to get all my setups checked and adjusted for best results.[/quote'] Sometimes I hate you!!! smileys/smiley36.gifsmileys/smiley36.gif

[Cycle Fit]

Hi

Unfortunately im not aware of anybody that specialises in professional bike setups in the Western Cape area... I would love to be able to help. If you read on the inter-net you may pick up some helpfull tips, however this will never be 100% accurate. Saddle height is measured with special equipment that measures the angle at which the knee is extended at the most extended point during your pedal stroke. This will be set at 30 degrees. Cleat setup is done with a special jig, where your feet are measured and so we are able to set the cleat in the correct position. Yes all of this doesn't help you being so far away... Give us a call when you are in JHB. Enjoy your new bike in the meantime.

Arran Brown (Cycle Fit)smileys/smiley2.gif

[Cycle Fit]

Hi Scott

I am available to do bike setups during the day, evenings and certain weekends.

 

Please call to make a booking or ask for further info.

Arran

[Thug]

Did a 72k ride last night on some seriously bumpy gravel roads with some lekker single-track thrown in for good measure.

 

I can definetly recommend having your bike set up properly, as I can honestly say that my body has never felt this good after a long ride such as that.

 

smileys/smiley20.gif