Why do Bike Fitting?

The technique can make a big difference in the comfort of your pedal.

Here you can, from your measurements, discover the measures and idea settings of your bike.

Normally, the selim tube measurement is used, however, there are more measures that can make a difference in the quality of your pedal.

How does Bike Fitting work?

What is Bike Fitting?

Bike Fitting is a comprehensive board that determines your ideal personal riding position. The ideal setting for your road or mountain bike is calculated based on your personal cycling preferences. The most important questions are:

  • What is the ideal saddle configuration for you (saddle height and saddle indentation)
  • What is the ideal handlebar configuration (handlebar range and fall)
  • What size bike fits you best and how you can adjust your bike get this riding position

An ideal position to ride the bike is different for each person and therefore must be determined in person. Your ideal riding position not only depends on your leg height or length, but is determined by:

  • Various body proportions (trunk, arm, leg, thigh, feet, etc.)
  • Your physical fitness and flexibility
  • Your cycling goals
  • Your bike type

The best adjustment of the bike is obtained with a personal dynamic measurement of the bike position, performed by an experienced professional. Most dynamic bike adjustments are expensive, take a long time and there is a wide variation in quality between different bike assemblers.

The Importance of the Correct Riding Position.

It is important to think about your ideal riding position before buying a new road or mountain bike. Not every bike model can be adjusted to its ideal riding position. And to choose the size of the frame, you must first know your riding position. Do not choose the size of the frame only based on the height or length of the seam.

A good driving position is important for optimal performance, comfort and injury prevention. There are five elements affected by your driving position and therefore by the configuration of your bike. Unfortunately, there is not a single riding position that is ideal for all five elements. That's why it's important to have your cycling goals identified to optimize the elements that are most important to your goals. The elements are:

  • Peak energy: Your goal is speed? So peak power is perhaps the most important factor because it leads to obtaining speed and maximum power.
  • Efficiency: Do you want to travel long distances? So you benefit to the fullest by maximizing cycling efficiency. This will minimize energy waste and optimize for long trips.
  • Comfort : The comfort of a bike is also important. Prevents and limits back, neck and shoulder pain and makes cycling more enjoyable.
  • Injury prevention : An important factor is the prevention of injuries, which aims to prevent injuries by overuse. Young people tend to be less susceptible to these injuries than older people.
  • Bicycle handling: This means maximizing bike maneuverability and control, so you can ride your corners well. Especially important for technical mountain bike trails.
Determining Frame Size

For an ideal cycling experience, it is important that you buy the correct frame size. The correct frame size and bike configuration ensures you feel comfortable. In addition, the correct bike configuration also increases the efficiency and speed of cycling.

In the bicycle industry, a frame size recommendation is usually based on your body or sewing length. This is an easy but unreliable method. The right method for determining the optimal frame size is more complex. More information about this can be found in our article: What is the size of the bike frame I need?

Measure Frame Sizes

If you need to measure the frame size of your bike, make sure that your bike is on a flat horizontal surface. There are several different parts that require attention and are informed below:

  • Saddle Height: The height of the saddle is the distance from the center of the lower bracket to the top of the saddle. You can measure this directly with a tape measure.
  • Indentation: The indentation is the horizontal distance between the lower bracket and the front of the saddle. You can measure this, for example by hanging a rope with a weight along the end of the saddle. Then measure the horizontal distance between the rope and the center of the lower bracket.
  • Handlebar range: The handlebar range is the horizontal distance between the center of the handlebars and the front of the saddle. You can measure this directly with a tape measure.  
  • Fall: The fall is the height difference between the top of the handlebars and the top of the front of the saddle. Extracting the front height of the saddle from the height of the handlebars top is the easiest way to make this measurement. In our definition, the fall is negative when the handlebars are lower compared to the saddle.

Image Authorized by: PC Caltabiano