A Bike Fit is your first and most important ‘upgrade’. It transforms a bike into YOUR bike.

We all love upgrades and are quick to check out a pair of good-looking carbon wheels, light weight shoes or aero helmet. While these are great and fun, even a major upgrade to an aerodynamic/lightweight frame-set is only a marginal gain when compared to what a Bike Fit can do to your comfort, efficiency, and performance. So what is a Bike Fit all about ?

In bike fitting, there are two essential components:

Being bilingual chez MyBikeFit in both French and English, it is interesting to consider how both languages approach this industry term. In English, we ask for a ‘Bike Fit’ whereas in French, one would ask for ‘une étude posturale’ which literally translates to ‘a posturale study’. The French, having invented the bicycle and building its culture – most notably through the Tour de France – understand that the focus of a Bike Fit should not on the ‘bike’ but rather the cyclist and his or her posture. That isn’t to say that the bike isn’t important, but a Bike Fit is not just about the bike and it’s saddle height, stem length, and cleat position.

A Bike Fit primarily focuses on the rider and how their posture interacts with changes made to the bike and their posture.

There are four major goals we aim to cover in each Bike Fit:

All four of these goals are achievable by weaving a unifying thread of ‘stability’. At the core of a successful cycling posture, like in every sport and their respective postures, is stability. Like squatting at the gym, swimming laps in the pool, or galloping on a horse, what sets a good posture apart from a bad one is a question of stability.

• Being stable means our hips don’t rock from side to side which means our lower back isn’t under constant tension and thus prevents lower back pain.
• Being stable means we don’t constantly shift on the saddle which can create discomfort in our most sensitive region.
• Being stable means our knees track vertically like an engine’s pistons which reduces lateral knee splay and thus improves efficiency.
• Being stable means that we can maintain the correct posture for hours on end and thus we are able focus on pedaling dynamics to maximize performance.

Stability is the ultimate tool for cycling performance – the tool that will make you ride further, faster, and freer from any obstacles in your way. A Bike Fit is the critical upgrade to unlock and unleash this tool. A Bike Fitter will listen, watch, analyze, change, test, discuss, explain and teach every aspect of Bike Fitting to their client so that he or she not only leaves with a bike that is properly set up, but with an empowering understanding of how their body, posture position and technique work in a dynamic way with their bike to achieve the ultimate in stability !

A Bike Fit appointment can be broken down into three major phases:

Pre-phase: Initial interview and notes

Phase 1) Cyclist Focus: Analyzing the current posture.

Phase 2) Bike Focus: Making changes to the bike, its components, as well as shoes and cleats.

Phase 3) Cyclist Focus: Reworking the posture, developing technique, creating stability.

 Post-phase: Final measurements and notes

We see that nearly 2/3rds of the time is focused on the cyclist – not just the bike ! This approach is what sets MyBikeFit apart from traditionally trained Bike Fitters or bike shops using a ‘play by numbers’ solution to maximize volume and revenue and minimize time and complexity. Every Bike Fit is different at MyBikeFit because every cyclist is different. Other than focusing on stability, there isn’t a single number or solution that works across all cyclist demographics. It is the cyclists’ body and how it interacts with the bike that will determine which kind of changes we need to make – not a specific measurement or calculation. And any structural changes that are made on the bike are only validated by an improvement in the cyclists posture by their ability to discover, develop, and maintain stability.

A Bike Fit must be executed by a ‘Bike Fitter’. Bike Fitting is a profession and every cyclist should be very careful to make sure they are working with a Bike Fitting professional – someone whose full time job and specialty is Bike Fitting.

A Bike Fitter needs to have a unique blend of knowledge, resources, and experience.

Knowledge

1. Bike Knowledge – an in-depth understanding of bike geometry and a mechanical ability to work on all kinds of bikes.
2. Bio-mechanical Knowledge – a comprehensive understanding of cycling anatomy, bone structure, musculature, and movement.
3. Performance Knowledge – a tried and tested understanding of pedalling dynamics, aerodynamics, muscle isolation, power application.

Resources

1. Available Components – a wide range of available saddles, stems, cleats, shoes, handlebars and more to test, replace, and sell.
   
2. Bike Fitting Equipment – 360d rotating platform, 3D movement analysis, 3D saddle pressure mapping are the core Bike Fitting tools.
   
3. Data – a base of clients measurements, images,  and videos; recorded changes – and availability to follow a cyclists evolution’s.
   

Experience

1. Years of Experience – Expect an experienced Bike Fitter to have thousands of Bike Fits under his or her belt!
   
2. Bike Fitting Specific Training – Bike Fitters need to go through trainings and courses to stay up to date.
3. Customer Feedback: A Bike Fitter’s success is the result of their client’s feedback. Great feedback is the ultimate measure of experience!

Bike Fitting is a task uniquely adapted to the profession of a Bike Fitter.

• A salesperson or mechanic on the floor of a bike ship might have an excellent bike knowledge but may lack bio-mechanical and performance knowledge – as well as the necessary resources or experience.
• A former pro or cycling coach might have excellent performance knowledge but may lack bio-mechanical or bike knowledge to complete a Bike Fit – as well as the necessary resources or experience.
• A physiotherapist or doctor might have an excellent bio-mechanical knowledge but may lack bike knowledge or performance knowledge – as well as the necessary resources or experience.

A Bike Fit should always be done with a Bike Fitter – make sure to ask ahead if you will be working with a Bike Fitter, or a salesperson, coach, or physiotherapist or who does Bike Fits – it’s not the same thing !

Make that first upgrade and book your Bike Fit now !

At MyBikeFit, we guarantee all Bike Fits !  We work with our clients until they are satisfied.

You will know you have chosen the right place when you find yourself saying, “I should have come sooner!”