Why is it important to do a bike fit?

Spring is upon us and it's almost time to get your bike out. Most people are looking forward to a season full of long days on the saddle, and with good reason!

Serious cyclists will tell you that a good bike fit is essential so that you can produce more power, more efficiently. And that's true. There is, however, a third reason, even more important than the others, for a fit suitable for riders of all levels: comfort.

Indeed, both for cyclists who want to perform and for those who just want to savor their escapades, the proper fit of the bike is essential as it will help prevent injuries resulting from poor posture.

If you suffer from numbness in your hands or toes, pain in your knees, lower back pain, shoulder discomfort, or many other aches and pains after cycling, these are indications that a bike fit is possibly required to eradicate potential postural problems like these.

What to expect in a bike fit session?

The first step in the process is the interview with the cyclist. We take into account your history as a cyclist (and athlete), your cycling goals and any injuries you have suffered that may affect your comfort on the bike. From there, we assess your flexibility and measure different parts of your body.

The next step: a cycling session (on a stationary bike) where the bike positioner will assess your fit and shape on the bike by making adjustments and corrections. During this stage, expect a full adjustment which could take one to two hours.

Depending on the issues that have been observed, here are the adjustments that can be made to your bike during this process:

• Saddle height
• Front / rear saddle position (movement of the seat on the saddle rails)
• Saddle tilt (angle of the saddle to the ground)
• Change of saddle (a completely different saddle may be suggested depending on your body position and anatomy)
• Stem length (for reach adjustments)
• Stem height
• Handlebar angle
• Handlebar width
• Brake lever adjustments (they can be adjusted so that you can reach them comfortably)
• Bottom bracket crank length (crankset)

This will then be followed by an evaluation of the shoes, sockliner, and cleat adjustments (relatively small adjustments here can make a big difference in how your knees and hips move when you pedal, which could be the cause of discomfort in these areas).

So once a year, take care of yourself by offering yourself a bike fit. This will allow you to ride happily and painlessly for many weeks and for hundreds of kilometers to come.

Visit our positioning services right here!