Many of us assume that because we’ve been riding bikes since we were kids, and because most everyone has seen an innumerably large number of people on bicycles, especially in cities these days, that we know how a bike should feel and how we should look on the bike. But ask yourself—when was the last time you saw yourself in a mirror...on a bicycle? Like trying to read over your own blog post to check for excessive snark, there are some things that you ought to let others do, and sizing you up on a bicycle is one of them. This is reason enough to go to a bicycle store, rather than, say, IKEA (they took down the pictures of the bikes built with the fork installed backwards, but read the comments), since any good bike store will have experienced riders who will size you properly. At bare minimum, they will endeavor to get you a bike that is the right size for you. Even the most casual commuter ought to heed this advice.For those who ride a good deal more than the average Joe, a proper fit by a trained “fit technician” [or “guy/gal who does fits] is a necessity. Consider this: a cyclist who rides 9 months out of the year, and about 8 hours a week, turns the pedals over about 1.5 million times. Let me write that longhand for extra emphasis: 1,500,000 pedal revolutions. An active person takes 10,000 steps every day, so about 3 million per year—would you spend 6 straight months walking in shoes that are a size too small?
Fortunately for you, Breakaway offers a free fit to anyone who purchases a bike valued at over $1,000 from our store. It takes about 30-45 minutes, and involves a few tests and measurements, but it can save you from a world of hurt. An improperly fitting bicycle usually manifests itself first with knee issues. Other signs are tingling hands, a sore neck and back, tight calves and Achilles, aching hips, and a numb....euphemism. If you’ve experienced any of these, it might be time to consider a proper fit. Also, your body changes, so a once-a-year fit is highly recommended. Do it, and your knees will thank you.
For those of us who demand a bit more from their body—the 2, 3, even 4 million pedal strokes a year-types, a professional fit is in order. For one thing, you are probably a competitive athlete, and therefore want to be as efficient as possible. A professional fit will ensure this. Triathletes an time trialists ride bikes specifically designed to be aerodynamic. But remember that the body position accounts for three quarters of your aerodynamic drag. Refining (like so) the body position can improve aerodynamics by over 20%. A better position is also a more powerful position, something which our years of power training allows us to measure and track.
At Breakaway, we offer two versions of the professional fit, one combining the industry standard model, taking over a dozen measurements with levers, goniometers, tape measures, plum lines, and even a couple fancy spring-action sticks, and one where we stick a bunch of sensors on you and let a computer take even more precise measurements; we combine both with our years of experience and trained eyes, as all the machines and algorithms in the world are no smarter than the person using and applying them. The second, computerized fit, is known as the professional fit using Retul. This fit incorporates 3D motion captured computer imaging to give you the most precise fit possible. Joe will be conducting a demo later this month to demonstrate the professional fit using Retul. Those who schedule a fit there will be offered an exclusive discount. If you want to stay informed as to when this will happen, check back here, and also sign up for our mailing list to stay current with all the Breakaway Bikes & Fitness news.
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