Is there really a need for a bike fit? YES. No question. Absolutely. Can’t imagine not having a professional fit.
Over the years I have encountered countless examples of cyclists complaining about their lower back hurting, their knee pain, their numb or tingling feet or hands, stiff and sore neck pain, shoulder pain, ankle issues, numb or tingling sensations in your “junk,” raw and tenderness in your bottom (or private parts), and of course the grand daddy of them all… THE SADDLE SORE. Yep, we have likely all been there before having experienced one or even all of these issues while riding. These are common to all cyclists and even more common as you ramp up your time in the saddle and your training gets longer and more intense.
While there are many explanations that can account for the above mentioned cycling pains, the most common response by virtually everyone out there is: “You need to get fit to your bike.” The hilarious side of this comment is the guy saying it to you may have the worst fit of all but STILL even he knows that a bike fit is that important. It’s simple math really, the more you ride the more strain you will put all over your body. Minimizing the strain and the pain can be as simple as optimizing the way your individual body fits to your bike. No two bodies are alike and every cyclist has a unique riding style. These factors can get complicated when you combine them with the mechanics, size, and spacing of your bicycle. It kind of seems obvious that a 7′ tall man weighing in at 250lbs would not fit on a 48cm size frame. Likewise, a 5′ nothing woman weighing in at 115lbs is not going to comfortably ride a bike that is sized out on a 60cm frame. She wouldn’t even be able to reach the pedals. The importance of a good bike fit is pretty obvious in those examples. Yet in a typical case where most of us are likely only off by a few millimeters in our perfect fit the pain and discomfort is no less real and still comes just as strong.
It’s amazing to me that a few inches off can be as painful as a few millimeters. You might notice the inches long before you notice the millimeters, but that is the subtle danger in not getting a pro bike fit. The days of riding your improperly fit bike turn into weeks, and maybe even into months and you learn to deal with the discomfort – until all of the sudden one day you hurt so bad you see every chiropractor, massage therapist, and physical therapist you can possibly afford. After weeks and/or months of treating with them (and no memory of any single act that actually even caused your injury), you come to the conclusion that the riding your improperly fit bike for so long was the likely cause all along.A good physical therapist or chiropractor that has been around the cycling community may even point that out for you!
SO… how important is a pro bike fit anyways? Simple answer via another question: Do you enjoy saddle sores, numbness, tingling, discomfort, pain, and maybe even debilitating pain while riding your bike? Of course not. Then get a pro bike fit. Not to mention that a pro bike fit will increase your efficiency as a cyclist and likely even increase your watts (power) that you generate while riding. You can actually ride faster with less energy when professionally fitted to your bike.
OK, where do I get fit to my bike? That depends on where you live and how much money you want to spend. Whatever you do make sure you avoid the “Bro” fit. The Bro Fit is the one you get from a buddy or a friend of a friend that may be an experienced cyclist. This person may know a thing or two about saddle height and proper frame size, etc. but likely lacks the expensive software and equipment to really dial in YOUR body to YOUR bike. A classic example of the Bro Fit is a new cyclist buys a bike off Craigslist, eBay, a local bike shop, etc. and goes out for a ride. Feeling uncomfortable on his new bike the cyclist expresses how weird it feels on a group ride. Overhearing this statement the “veteran” cyclist of the group pipes up and invites the newbie over to his garage for a bike fit. The veteran takes out some string and muttering the entire time while the newbie is spinning away on a trainer tries to take measurements eyeballing where the knee is in relation to just about every other body part out there. After adjusting the saddle height and maybe the forward position of the saddle the veteran stands back and watches the newbie pedal on the trainer for a minute. He then proudly proclaims to the newbie that these changes are based on his years of experience and that the technology is just not necessary. Having saved lots of money the newbie and the veteran share a few drinks together and both are feeling pretty happy.
A few weeks/months later the newbie cyclist has some or all of the classic pains described above. Classic Bro Fit. Another great example of the Bro Fit is a friend riding next to you on a group ride and notices how “off” your fit is. He suggests that you take immediate action before your pain gets any worse and he makes some adjustments roadside for you that seem to feel amazing at first. You end up keeping those adjustments for the next few months. Then you end up in pain anyway, numb hands, etc. There are lots of examples of Bro Fits. Don’t trust your Bro when you can hire a Pro. I know that sounds like some cheesy tag line on a stupid commercial somewhere, but I swear it just makes perfect sense to me. Our friends mean well, but when it comes to bike fits I only trust professionals.
Recently my wife and I were both professionally fit to our bikes by Cyclologic in Scottsdale AZ. We were referred by my cycling coach (a pro cyclist who only goes to Cyclologic for her fits) as a suggestion for the long endurance rides we are putting in. I am getting ready to solo race the Race Across the West (RAW – an 928 mile race with a 92 hour cut off time from Oceanside CA to Durango CO) and my wife is getting ready for another Ironman. With the hundreds of miles logged each week and the need to race for 90 hours straight with only bathroom breaks I figured I better be as comfortable as possible on my bike. I took her recommendation and tried out this fit.
I have been fit on numerous bikes by numerous people and companies over the years. But I should tell you that I was so impressed with this process at Cyclologic that I had to share my experience. My Cyclologic experience is shared in Best Bike Fit for RAW – Part 2.
Arizona bicycle crash and bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge
A bicycle crash is not always an accident. If you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle crash or accident caused by a road hazard or dangerous road condition, hire a personal injury attorney who is experienced and has a successful track record. Ben dodge, a licensed bicycle accident lawyer in Arizona, has dedicated his entire firm to one purpose: representing cyclists. Bicycle accident cases are the only cases Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC handles. Home based out of the great state of Arizona, Ben can still help cyclists in the entire United States.
Ben Dodge has represented and assisted bicycle accident victims across the entire united states. As an avid and competitive cyclist himself, Mr. Dodge currently participates in national and local cycling events all over the country. It isn’t uncommon to spot him in early morning hours out riding his bike. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.
Ben represents cyclists injured in bicycle accidents, at the police station, with insurance companies, and in the courts. He advocates for the rights of all cyclists, not just his clients. He teaches the police about bike laws and bike safety, he educates drivers about the rules of the road, and he trains cyclists and clubs to ride more safely.
A consultation with experienced Arizona bicycle accident attorney Ben Dodge is free
In recent years there has been approximately 700 bicycle fatalities in the united states every single year. Approximately 2,000 bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. approximately 30 fatal bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Bicycle fatalities are terrible and horrific tragedies that affect the lives of too many families and friends to count. Understanding your rights and obligations as a cyclist can bring clarity to your specific accident situation. It will always be in your best interest to be represented by an attorney who knows the bicycle laws and has a successful track record of winning bicycle accident cases. The negotiation tactics and strategies of winning a case are extremely important but should always take a back row seat to the litigation experience and knowledge of court room rules, local, state, and federal rules of civil procedure that can have significant impact on your bicycle accident case. It is wise to be represented by someone well versed in bicycle accident law, local and state bicycle ordinances, rules, regulations, policies, and laws. You should hire someone very familiar with negligence and tort law, civil procedure, and the rules of evidence as they all relate specifically to bicycle accident cases.
Ben dodge always offers a complimentary in person consultation to all local cyclists and a complimentary phone consultation to any cyclist injured in a bike accident. Typically the consultations are schedule from 30-60 minutes depending on the severity of the accident. You can expect to get answers to questions, clarity, information, and reassurance of your personal bike accident liability and potential for recovery. In your free consultation you can generally expect to discuss such topics as:
- your specific bike accident details, diagrams, and pictures from your perspective and then from the perspective of your bike accident attorney.
- the applicable local, state, and federal laws underlying your case.
- your cyclist’s rights, obligations, and any potential liability.
- the process, procedure (in and out of court), and the time frame required to conclude your case.
- the value of your case and what you might expect as compensation.
You can call Arizona bicycle lawyer Ben Dodge of bike accident attorneys, PLC at 1.855.663.3922. Mr. Dodge’s staff is standing and ready to accept your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every single day of the year. Ben will personally return your call within 24 hours. there is never an obligation for a complimentary consultation with Mr. dodge. His passion is in representing cyclists and his entire office stands ready to serve with kindness and patience.
Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC
Call Ben Dodge, the Bicycle Lawyer today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 1.800.958.8902.
Mr. Dodge can also be reached by email at ben@bikeaccidentattorneys.com
His main Arizona offices are located at:
Mesa Arizona (home base office)
4824 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 124
Mesa, Arizona 85206
Phoenix Arizona office
2415 e. Camelback rd., suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Tucson Arizona office
One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701
Mr. Dodge represents cyclists in the entire state of Arizona including but not limited to mesa, phoenix, tucson, yuma, gilbert, peoria, glendale, scottsdale, ahwatukee, tempe, chandler, prescott, sedona, flagstaff, surprise, kingman, page, lake havasu city, payson, goodyear, buckeye, queen creek, paradise valley, show low, winslow, maricopa, nogales, globe, avondale, cave creek, fountain hills, apache junction, carefree, wickenburg, pinetop-lakeside, strawberry, anthem, safford, and more. Ben Dodge is currently involved with bicycle accident cases all over the country and can assist in representation in all 50 states.