Bike Fitting
Hi there
Can anyone please recommend someone to assess my current bike set-up and help to adjust to suit me?
Lately I've been experiencing groin pain after riding, and having been cleared of any other issues by my GP, think it is quite possibly related to my bike set-up.
If anyone has had similar issues and can suggest someone who may be able to assist, it would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Stephen
Tags: fit
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Frank on
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It's a dark art that's for sure!
I have set up a few people of late who had astonishingly bad set up!
I be happy to take a look otherwise, go to BMCR in waymouth st city!
They know their shit as Gus said!
I tried some others and boy, one of the above mentioned almost crippled me and than said I must have moved something!
Oh, and remember, nobody has ever been u before or had ur groin!
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Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on -
Avanti on Main Nth Road Salisbury do bike fitting and Gavin was assisting the physios on Ride to Work Day in Vic Sq this year.
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Permalink Reply by David Ellison on -
I was really happy with Darren at Trak Cycles - Norwood. Before starting riding I'd had 2 knee surgeries within a 24 month period, with a total of 4 years of inactivity (no sport, not able to jog, let alone run). He got me seated properly, we took some time to get the general positioning right and then Darren made a few minute adjustments which made all the difference to the pain in my knee.
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darren(DOG) is good also, I still recommend BMCR.
One thing u could try first is look up a few websites on bike fit, get a stationary trainer and have a go, it's actually not hard!
Make sure u write down adjustments and final settings.
Also try and keep feet flat to pedal and change ur stroke to not push down but pull up on the pedal!
Imagine pulling your foot along and up and tossing a tennis ball over the handle bar with ur knee!
Continue to alternate and only pull up, that way your stroke is way more efficient and u r using more muscle groups than by pushing down, especially on hill climbs and you will wipe minutes off your PB.
If u r having trouble, take one foot out of cleat and pedal with one foot only and see how smooth your motion is!
In fact in slow motion, there is no rider in the world that has a perfect circle with no stops, trick is to make it as smooth as possible!
If u need a stationary trainer to help, I lend u one!
It seriously not hard!
One other thing I did was set up a camera and film ur self! Even on a iPhone or iPad, it's amazing the things u pick up looking from the outside in!
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Permalink Reply by CLP on -
About 2 weeks ago I had a bike fit at BMCR. Pete was quite thorough, and appears to be very knowledgeable on the topic. Also went through a few points on general riding technique. Good value, and worth it if you can get it done. I think they're booked about a month in advance, so bear that in mind if you have an event coming up.
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Permalink Reply by Tim B on -
Bike fit is a very personal thing. Any average shop can fit any average person to any average bike. Most average people are flexible enough and adaptable enough to be fit on just about anything that is "close enough" and I think most average fitters can get away with this most of the time.
The problem is when someone has genuine structural or physical deficiencies/ injuries or dont fit the "average". A lot of fitters/ shops continue to try and force a square peg into a round hole which just doesn't work. Like a few other comments here, I have been to a few of the well know shops around over the last ten years and been forced into positions on the bike that just weren't right for me, even though I was making a point of telling them, due to neck and back injuries (not to mention being sold saddles, bars and stems that I "needed").
If a person has real issues, I don't think a $50, 30 minute quickie is the way to go (hey, who knows, the fitter may actually get it right....)
Just recently I went through a BG fit on Anzac Hwy. I'm not advocating this or suggesting everyone race in there because it is quite expensive ($350) and again, a personal thing, but I did spend 3.5 hours there trying multiple saddles, bars, stems, shims, footbeds, video analysis and a follow up fitting in a couple of weeks and trying to work on MY issues rather than what a shop thought I wanted. Was it worth it?, dont know yet, too early to tell, if it does work out, then I'll be a very happy and comfortable camper, if not , well I guess I put it down to experience and keep searching. They did say I was "challenging" though :-)
Good luck with your search for the holy grail of bike fit, everyone is different, what works for some, wont work for others, hope you get good results, its no fun not being able to ride due to pain.
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Permalink Reply by Shav Bird on -
well said. A one size fits all is not the answer. Sometimes it takes a number of attempts to get a fit that you are happy with.
That said, I was pretty happy with Noel at The Bike Station. Over all he spent about an hour or so in total, and also took into consideration what I found comfortable at the time of adjustment. He wasn't pushy in setting what he thought was the best for me, he worked with what was right but also what I felt was comfortable.
Im sure the other larger places in SA could offer the same advice and expertise on the subject too. All you can do is ask.
Bottom line, bike fit is everything.
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
Tim B, that is interesting that injuries can make a bike fit more complex and to seek the appropriate fitter. Would I be guessing correctly that your injuries are due to bike crash?
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Permalink Reply by Tim B on
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Hi Heather, injuries due to a car crash back in 1990. Hit a tree up Old Norton Summit road, got out of it relatively unscathed however been dealing with back and neck issues since. Done the A to Z of Physio, Chiro, Osteopath, Chinese, massage, Personal Trainer etc, all help but not resolve. Basically I really cant take much weight through my shoulders or get migraines. Its been getting worse over recent years but when going to various bike shops, they still want to get me long and low or leaning on the bars way too much despite my indications that I need otherwise. I spent the last few years off the bike pretty much. Working in an office hunched over a keyboard didnt help either.
A lot of shops are also selling saddles (usually pre installed on new bikes) that are way too narrow. Highly recommend the Specialized "Ass-O-Meter" to determine sit bone width and correct saddle width.
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Permalink Reply by Blake on -
Tim, I have found the guys at BMCR very good at listening and really trying to find solutions. I have been having issues with things and they have been the only ones to actually listen, not just sell me something or try to get me to upgrade.
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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Tim, I was wrong about a bike crash but road trauma. When cars hit trees, not all occupants survive, but with the constant reminder you may not consider yourself lucky. I have permanent neck and back injuries due to negligent drivers. More than a decade ago but it still plays up, especially when I mow the yard. Have given up many tasks and interests to decrease these hiccups. Hence my interest in your comment about bike fitting.
I could not ride a road bike. Sit up on a slower MTB. Cannot twist my back enough to swing over a diamond frame so ride a step-thru. This equates in Australia to low quality bike. While interstate 6 months ago, met a cyclist in NSW, who recommended a custom road bike maker in Qld, who referred me to a custom MTB bike maker in Vic. Cycle crash 6 months ago due to poor road maintenance, so unfortunately plans to order a bike delayed for medical treatment and physio. During this time, have had almost constant headaches.
Had not heard of the saddle tool. I used to get saddle sore through the coccyx, until I bought a Serfas gel split saddle. Over time the saddle covering has deteriorated. So last year looked for a replacement saddle. Found more split saddles and cheaper, but wider and unsuitable, so settled for a cover to slip over the saddle.
Good to compare stories, learn from your experience, and realise that others understand.
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