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25 Comments
I like Coldplay !!
I did a bike fit once. A roll around the parking lot it felt good, but once I got out on the road for a 35-mile ride – nope! I put my bike back the way it was and haven't looked back.
As a cyclist and a guitarist, the thought of sounding like a Coldplay gig would give me nightmares. Awesome metaphor though 😂
Couple of thoughts; is the prop too big? I used to run 1cc diesels on an 8×4. Second point, try running the needle valve taper by hand in a piece of fine oiled emery paper, rotating it gently so the needle surface becomes polished, and any microscopic pitting is removed. Used to do this on old motors I was rejuvenating, gave a more responsive reaction to needle control. I had a Frog 100 at one time, but totally goosed! Roger in Spain 77
Comfort! Comfort! Comfort! Well said Leonard. Words of wisdom.
Exactly on the point! Listen to Your own body.. while measurements can help You to find right direction still ”the feel” is the compass. I’ve got two road bikes and both are a bit different sized, but with both I get hours after hours by. Saddle height is the same, but another has a bit longer and wider reach than the other which makes it feeling better on faster descents when ”tighter glove” is better on longer runs…
I know that bigger one is a bit (a couple of centimeters) too big for me, but it feels so soft and easy to ride so I like it. There I just listen my butt feeling and enjoy my red ride! 😊
Sound advice Leonard. I get my ideal comfort and power level I am happy with by adjustments out in a ride, a couple of mm or degrees on a seat can transform a ride! Roger in Spain 77
I’ve always been skeptical of bike fits and you nailed many of the reasons. If you’re not making a living riding your bike, comfort is everything. I’ve made subtle adjustments after buying new shoes or installing new cleats, which made big differences. Thankfully I’m fine from the waist down. It’s above that which gives me grief. And you’re absolutely right. You have to get on the bike in the real world and check your adjustments. I’ve never had a bike fit and never will. I know my bike and my body, and unless I’m doing a bender in distance, I’m usually pretty comfy.
"Sack of custard" never fails to make me laugh! 😅
You continue to give some of the best advice for riding. I'm a very large rider and comfort is key or I won't ride. I enjoy the honesty of your videos and how you don't sugar coat your experience. Keep the videos coming. Riding in the state of Illinois, U.S.A.
Thank you for yet another great video.. I recently invested in a new gravel bike, a Marin Gestalt 2, which when I tried it, it made me feel awesome!.. When I rode out on it then next day, I was somewhat deflated,. It didn't feel right at all.. It was only after I'd ridden about 5 or 6 miles up the road I realized that the saddle was wayyyyy too low!!!.. Now, you might not think that was any big deal, but I tell you something, I raised the saddle to the correct height and i was riding a completely different bike after that and well worth the money!!..
😎👌🏻🙏🏻
I got a mixed and mostly negative message from this video. I'm not sure if that was your intention. I have to assume since you showed your bike fitter you were not entirely unhappy with your fit but it's not really clear. I am a bike fit believer from my experience but it is from a perspective of comfort. Just because I could ride 350 k in a day didn't mean I could fit myself. The two day ride year later after a fit meant I was tired but not sore. The idea of a performance bike fit is 40 years and sixty pounds in the rear view mirror. I tell people to ask questions of the fitter before they sign up.
"Coldplay gig" lol, that's a keeper!
Snake oil bike fits. Just get bendier
I have several flavours of road bikes. I measured them and found a few differences based on geometry, specifically top tube length. So I took measurements of one that I find most comfortable and efficient to compare. Using saddle height, reach from saddle tip to hoods and drop from saddle to stem I switched a few bars and stems. Now the position is similar within 1 cm reach and that seems to work well. It is harder to adjust bikes with 1" stems and bars than the modern stuff.
I've never bothered to have a bike fitting. I just keep adjusting it until I'm happy. One time I kept having to change the bike stem bracket to get the right length and angle. The fourth attempt finally got the result I needed. My advice to anyone is to be picky. If the bike is uncomfortable, it will not be used.
68 years old still using the fitting I paid for 35 years ago from my LBS and other than the latest short crank phase nothing has changed
I know people who seem to have a bikefit obsession, they've had 6 or more.
I find how I ride on the indoor trainer feels like crazy different compared to outside, a mate told me you don't use any core muscles inside whereas outside you do or something like that..I feel the bars are too LOW yet outside it works 🤷♂️.. #happymedium
Finely adjusting a sports bike if in pain is madness if it is the wrong bike type for your weight or stage of fitness. New or heavy riders should just buy a really comfortable bike (more upright eg Dutch/Omafiets) and just use it daily until fitter, lighter and the dead hands and feet and other pains reduce. Decent mileage (if not speed!) comes easy if comfortable and in time the sportier bikes can become comfortable and enjoyable.
You go have 5 bike fits…you’ll wind up having 5 different fits…and the only one thing that is common is you shelled out money 5 times 😮…I tinkered and tinkered my fit after those 5 bike fits and I’m not pretty much dialed in doing adjustments by myself!! Just saying,bike fits aren’t for everyone
Back in 2019 after an 80 miles sportive in the new forest I was suffering terribly with neck and shoulder pain. Paid £150 for a full bike fit, seat adjusted bars dropped and rolled and it really helped and an added bonus it naturally increased my cadence and enabled me a few months later to complete my first century ride.
I bought a bike. Changed the stem changed the bars and changed the seat to my liking and now is perfect.. no “bike fit”
Nice diss of Coldplay 😅
Excellent advice, sensibly and clearly stated. You are so right that a "perfect fit" that is not comfortable is not perfect at all.