Without doubt, it's pepople having trouble with the fit of their
existing bikes that fill most of our appointment schedule. Let me tell
you, there's nothing like the feeling of taking someone who's
uncomfortable on their bike, and making them not only comfortable, but
powerful and efficient too. We've been jokingly called magicians, but
really we simply follow some very sound principles and, most of all, we
listen to our clients.
There are two levels of bike fit: the
Basic Fit, and the MoCap (Motion Capture) Fit. Both are comprehensive
bike fittings, but the MoCap Fit is clearly more detailed, and we feel
our clients get the most out of them.Whatever level of
fit you choose, however, the most important thing to us is that we make
sure you're fitted properly to your bike, and ride happily with it for
as long as you call it your own.
If you come to us
for an existing fit, you'll typically need to carve out about two hours
of your time, and be prepared to ride inside as well as outside. We
pride oursleves on making the experience both fun and informative - our
goal is to not only fit you porperly, but to provide you with the
knowledge of why you fit to your bike the way you do. Expect to answer
questions about your typial rides, your goals for the future, and any
aches and pains you might be encountering. Every fit is a little
different as our clients all bring their unique abilities, body types,
and cycling-related problems. The most important thing to you is that
we treat you as an individual, not a generic automaton who fits to a
bike the exact same way as everyone else. We've never fit an "average"
person, and suspect we never will.
Along With Your Fit...
There
are a few extras you should be prepared to purchase during your fit.
Since reach is the biggest problem facing most of our clients with
existing bikes, we install new stems quite frequently. The price of
stems varies a great deal depending on how "Gucci" you want to get -
$30.00 to $500.00 with every price in between - the cost is up to you.
Likewise, we change a lot of saddles during bike fits, and these, too,
offer a wide range of prices. We have saddles for all budgets,
starting at about $45.00, but the average cost is $120 to $150. If you
have saddle issues, you're typically willing to pay the appropriate
price, and if those issues are severe, there's likely nothing you
wouldn't pay for relief; however, we never forget these add-ons can
quickly sap your budget, and offer many different options for you to
try first hand before you decide which saddle, or stem, is best for you.
We Have a Foot Fetish
Of
the best "deals" we offer during a fit relates to foot comfort and
efficiency. Placing you feet in the proper position for a powerful and
efficient pedal stroke is the foundation of a good fit, and we'll
conduct a fairly extensive foot assessment at the beginning of your fit
session. The overwhelming majority of cyclists have mis-aligned feet
on their bikes causing discomfort, pain, and loss of power in the pedal
stroke. Fortunately, the fix for these issues is usually quite simple
and easy to achieve. The use of Cleat Wedges, or some instances, In
The Shoe (ITS) Wedges, will almost always do the trick, and help create
a smooth, powerful pedal stroke.
Yes, But What If...
It
would be dishonest of us if we said we could fit every person who comes
through our doors. Sometimes people have bikes that simply don't
fit...not even close. We do our very best to make your bike fit you as
well as it possibly can, but we can't always make a good fit appear
when it's just not possible. You can be sure we'll be honest with you
during these times, and do all we can to help you out.
At
a time when many of us don't have the extra money to purchase a new
bike, a great fit on your existing bike can make it feel new again, and
make you feel more comfortable and powerful. Bike fits are the best
investment you can make as a cyclist.