Yesterday, I had the most comprehensive bike fitting that I've ever had. Bob and (new team mate) Ryan took me through three hours of fitting and bike setup on my Transition. Bob's philosophy of the day was to start me from scratch based on some measurements and work on my position by watching my (OBJECTIVE) output on the computrainer. Only when the numbers came out the same was I asked what felt better.
We started by moving my cleats back from the old FIST position then I warmed up on a computrainer based fit bike. I don't know the exact terminology, but you can get my drift. I would pedal at usual cadence (mid 90's) and Bob would ramp up the wattage and watch my spin scan. Then tweak position and repeat the ramp. Bars up and down, bars forward and back, seat up, seat down, forward, back, etc. In one position, 330 watts felt "comfortable" (340 was not) and had the best spin scan so that's where we went. We tested a new saddle (purchased!) and was reviewed with an aero helmet. The interesting thing was that I used to "hunch" down to make me more aerodynamic. Now that's not necessary and actually hurts my profile because it lifts the tail of the helmet. That will sure save my neck!
My saddle is now this. It allows me to creep a little more forward and still stay UCI compliant. I found no problem with the shape of it as it puts pressure in a whole different area than my old saddle. Hopefully, this will eliminate the numbness that comes from time trials of more than 45 minutes long. 45 minutes is the magic number for "junk numbness".
I can't wait to get it on the open road. That being said, I won't have it back in enough time for the indoor TT so I'll use the Orca for that. I wanted them to clean up all the brake and shifting cables as well as cut the steerer tube.
Absolutely would I recommend Bob for a bike fitting. As a matter of fact, as soon as I get back from Costa Rica, I'm going to have him redo my Orca.
Under full disclosure, Wheelie Fun is a new sponsor of our team. All that did was get me in door as I don't usually make it to the Lebanon area very often. After being through the fit, regardless of sponsorship or not, I would still recommend them highly.
5 comments:
I bet I tell 3 people a month about Bob's fittings. He does a superb job. And I'm not sponsored by them.
I feel a comment needs to be made about your choice in seats. I have not figured out what that comment needs to be, but there needs to be one none the less.
It looks like a vagina?
I'll admit, it is a bit on the odd side, but then again so am I. If I had my old saddle on it in this new position, I would be [gasp] UCI illegal and that would suck for that ONE race this year (that happens to be the goal race for 2009).
And it looks like a vagina.
I'd actually like to take a better look at it sometime. I've heard nothing but good about it from anyone who's ridden it. And I'm talking about the saddle, not a vagina.
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