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Bike fit before race?
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 2015-03-22 3:44 PM |
 11 |  Subject: Bike fit before race?I've been riding my road bike for over a year now and I don't think it fits me well. It wasn't fitted to me when I bought it, so there's no particular reason to think it would be well adjusted, and when I look at pics of me on the bike I look about as comfortable as I feel (i.e., not very). So I'm thinking about finally getting a professional fit done at my new LBS. I'm taking part in an Oly next weekend, though. If I get the bike fit done this week, will I feel fast and awesome during the race? Or will I be miserable and uncomfortable until I've spend some time in the saddle? What do you think? I've always just ridden any old bike so I have no experience of this. Also, if you look all hunched and uncomfortable on a bike, is that likely to be just the fit or do you need to work on your form or posture or something as well? I thought I had reasonable posture and core strength because I do a fair bit of yoga, but maybe not. |
| 2015-03-22 5:24 PM in reply to: #5102571 |
370   , North Carolina | Subject: RE: Bike fit before race? If your not comfortable now. What's to lose? However, you've been training your muscles a certain way. A change in fit could have you hitting your muscles slightly different. Could result in injury or pain. Hard to say. But it could also be amazing. |
| 2015-03-22 7:06 PM in reply to: mangobingo |
Master 8247   Eugene, Oregon Bronze member | Subject: RE: Bike fit before race? Not sure I would mess with it (or anything) that soon before the race. But definitely get it done in the near future. The fit can make a big difference in both your comfort level on the bike (which can make you more willing to put in more time on it) as well as your power output. But my guess is that the latter might also take a period of adaptation to the new fit, and a week might not be enough time for that. Also, the bike might handle a bit differently with a new fit, and I wouldn't want to find that out at race speed/effort. When you talk about being hunched and uncomfortable, it almost sounds like the bike might be too small for you. I have that problem with one of my road bikes, and the best a fit can do is make the best of a suboptimal situation--it's comfortable enough but power is compromised. If it's something adjustable, it can be fixed; if, like me, you're in a weird position because the reach is too short, there's not much to be done. |
| 2015-03-22 7:49 PM in reply to: #5102592 |
Regular 137 , Ohio | Subject: RE: Bike fit before race? I am no means an expert but I am in the process of getting my bike fitted to a more aero position. Long story short, I needed to order a few parts so it's not completely done but from what was changed, I feel a huge difference but it also caused different areas to become a little more sensitive and I don't know if you would want to risk this scenario with a 10k still when you get off the bike. |
| 2015-03-22 8:47 PM in reply to: mangobingo |
| Master 10208 Northern IL | Subject: RE: Bike fit before race? Maybe at least talk with the bike shop. See what they have to say and be sure to explain your situation. They might be able to work with some smaller tweaks for now and a better fit after. We're only talking an Oly here and things already sound bad. They wouldn't be a very good shop if it felt worse from a fit that already felt bad at this kind of distance. There may be some training to do before it really felt awesome, hard to say with this. Sometimes it's a slight adjustment of something and others it's a larger reworking. |
| 2015-03-22 9:19 PM in reply to: #5102620 |
Member 622 Franklin, TN | Subject: RE: Bike fit before race? I got fitted about a week before my first Oly. My comfort level and speed improved immediately. A good fitter will spend enough time with you to dial in the most comfortable and powerful fit for your personal attributes. |
| 2015-03-23 5:14 AM in reply to: mangobingo |
Master 1718 Loughborough, England | Subject: RE: Bike fit before race? I would mark on the position you are in now, eg. seat height, fore/aft position, then get a professional fit. If you feel comfortable with the new fit and feel like you will be able to race in this new position, great. If not make a note of the new position, return everything to how you have it now then after the race change back to how it was set up in your professional fit. |
| 2015-03-23 12:23 PM in reply to: Hot Runner |
| 467 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Bike fit before race? Originally posted by Hot Runner Not sure I would mess with it (or anything) that soon before the race. But definitely get it done in the near future. The fit can make a big difference in both your comfort level on the bike (which can make you more willing to put in more time on it) as well as your power output. But my guess is that the latter might also take a period of adaptation to the new fit, and a week might not be enough time for that. Also, the bike might handle a bit differently with a new fit, and I wouldn't want to find that out at race speed/effort. When you talk about being hunched and uncomfortable, it almost sounds like the bike might be too small for you. I have that problem with one of my road bikes, and the best a fit can do is make the best of a suboptimal situation--it's comfortable enough but power is compromised. If it's something adjustable, it can be fixed; if, like me, you're in a weird position because the reach is too short, there's not much to be done. If the reach is too short, maybe try a longer stem? Just a thought . . . |
| 2015-03-23 1:36 PM in reply to: mangobingo |
Pro 5361 | Subject: RE: Bike fit before race? You should be fine- as long as you get a chance to try out the new position on at least one training ride. I'm assuming sprint/oly distances. you should be able to put up with anything for 12 or 26 miles. 56 or 112 miles... I wouldn't be changing position in the last few days. unless you're desperate |
| 2015-03-24 2:55 PM in reply to: morey000 |
| 11 | Subject: RE: Bike fit before race? Thanks everyone! I'm going to go for it if the bike shop can fit me in; just negotiating with them now. If it happens, I'll let you know how it goes. Btw I don't think the bike is too small, if anything it might be a bit too big. I'll be very curious to see what the knowledgeable bike people have to say. Finally, I was half expecting to get a load of replies along the lines of "why didn't you get it fitted properly to start with you moron". So thanks for not doing that  |
| 2015-03-24 7:59 PM in reply to: mangobingo |
Extreme Veteran 701 Raleigh, North Carolina | Subject: RE: Bike fit before race? I'd definitely go for it. I've had fit sessions for 2 different bikes and the very small adjustments make a big difference mainly from comfort - which translates into endurance. It's a dead loss to add to your fatigue with minor aches, cramps, squirming, et al of an ill fitting bike. The only caveat is just be sure the LBS knows what they're doing. There are many discussions in here that should give you an idea of what's required to do a 'proper' fit. |
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