Bike Fit over time

In article <[email hidden]>,

gds said:

Anyway my point is simply that if you have a good fit and if there are
no major changes to your body- like wieght change or injuries there is
really no reason yor fit on the bike should change.

Most beginners should re-evaluate their fit after a year or so.
They gain strength and flexibility and thus can take advantage of
a more high performance fit that would have been uncomfortable when
they were just starting out.

(C) said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

gds said:

Anyway my point is simply that if you have a good fit and if there are
no major changes to your body- like wieght change or injuries there is
really no reason yor fit on the bike should change.

Most beginners should re-evaluate their fit after a year or so.
They gain strength and flexibility and thus can take advantage of
a more high performance fit that would have been uncomfortable when
they were just starting out.

That was me when I got back on the pain machine, uh, road bike, last year. A lot
of stuff comes back to you real quick, but the fit has been an evolutionary
process.

It's a little faster for me than a complete beginner, you remember faster than
you learn. But I'm still not in final form and don't expect to be for another
year or two.

Ron

RonSonic said:

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 00:11:14 +0000 (UTC), [email hidden] (C)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

gds said:

Anyway my point is simply that if you have a good fit and if there

are

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

no major changes to your body- like wieght change or injuries there

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

really no reason yor fit on the bike should change.

Most beginners should re-evaluate their fit after a year or so.
They gain strength and flexibility and thus can take advantage of
a more high performance fit that would have been uncomfortable when
they were just starting out.

That was me when I got back on the pain machine, uh, road bike, last

year. A lot

Quoted message said:

of stuff comes back to you real quick, but the fit has been an

evolutionary

Quoted message said:

process.

It's a little faster for me than a complete beginner, you remember

faster than

Quoted message said:

you learn. But I'm still not in final form and don't expect to be for

another

Quoted message said:

year or two.

Ron

Note: I was never off the bike. I can imagine problems if one reenters
the sport after a ong lay off which probably changed the body a bit.
But I have ridden pretty constantly over the decade and am the ame
weight, etc.
Still lots of folks reccommended a refit simply because of lapsed time.
It seems to me that time is not the relevant variable but certainly
body changes are.

gds said:

RonSonic said:

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 00:11:14 +0000 (UTC), [email hidden] (C)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
gds <[email hidden]> wrote:
>Anyway my point is simply that if you have a good fit and if there

are

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>no major changes to your body- like wieght change or injuries there

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>really no reason yor fit on the bike should change.

Most beginners should re-evaluate their fit after a year or so.
They gain strength and flexibility and thus can take advantage of
a more high performance fit that would have been uncomfortable when
they were just starting out.

That was me when I got back on the pain machine, uh, road bike, last

year. A lot

Quoted message said:

of stuff comes back to you real quick, but the fit has been an

evolutionary

Quoted message said:

process.

It's a little faster for me than a complete beginner, you remember

faster than

Quoted message said:

you learn. But I'm still not in final form and don't expect to be for

another

Quoted message said:

year or two.

Ron

Note: I was never off the bike. I can imagine problems if one reenters
the sport after a ong lay off which probably changed the body a bit.
But I have ridden pretty constantly over the decade and am the ame
weight, etc.
Still lots of folks reccommended a refit simply because of lapsed time.
It seems to me that time is not the relevant variable but certainly
body changes are.

Then you've done well to stay in good shape.

Keep on...

Ron

As I grow older (now 65) I had the road bike refitted last year.
Raised the bars a bit, as I have had some problems with s sore neck
from straining. My body has changed, my fit should change.

Colorado Bicycler said:

As I grow older (now 65) I had the road bike refitted last year.
Raised the bars a bit, as I have had some problems with s sore neck
from straining. My body has changed, my fit should change.

This is a questions I have been pondering as well. And I do ponder
alot. I do not have any idea if any of my bikes are the proper fit for
me. I think trying to find the perfect fit when you first start
riding is not necessary. With some more riding time, I will go to the
LBS and buy a bike which is suited for my needs and has a good fit.
Even at the gym I notice everyone who gets on a stationary adjusts the
fit of the bike. I get on the bike and wonder which way I should push
the all the levers...I have no clue. Supposedly my trainer is supposed
to show me the proper fit. The bikes have so many bells and whistles
that its confusing just starting the darn thing. Everything is so
technical now in gym equipment.

New Paragraph.....
My point is...and I think I do have a point....I persaonlly would find
a bike with a great fit after riding for awhile. Not when you begin. I
know that when I start riding miles and miles and miles and MILES, I am
going to need a bike that gives me the comfort of a good fit. For now,
I can ride on anything. (But not in the rain) ;-)
Maggie.

Maggie said:

Colorado Bicycler said:

As I grow older (now 65) I had the road bike refitted last year.
Raised the bars a bit, as I have had some problems with s sore neck
from straining. My body has changed, my fit should change.

This is a questions I have been pondering as well. And I do ponder
alot. I do not have any idea if any of my bikes are the proper fit for
me. I think trying to find the perfect fit when you first start
riding is not necessary. With some more riding time, I will go to the
LBS and buy a bike which is suited for my needs and has a good fit.
Even at the gym I notice everyone who gets on a stationary adjusts the
fit of the bike. I get on the bike and wonder which way I should push
the all the levers...I have no clue. Supposedly my trainer is supposed
to show me the proper fit. The bikes have so many bells and whistles
that its confusing just starting the darn thing. Everything is so
technical now in gym equipment.

New Paragraph.....
My point is...and I think I do have a point....I persaonlly would find
a bike with a great fit after riding for awhile. Not when you begin. I
know that when I start riding miles and miles and miles and MILES, I am
going to need a bike that gives me the comfort of a good fit. For now,
I can ride on anything. (But not in the rain) ;-)
Maggie.

Maggie, I think you are making good sense. I can't imagine an
experiment that would separate out the adaptability of a cyclist from
modest variations in top-tube length, etc., and because of this I doubt
if there is any empirical evidence behind the computer programs the
claim to optimize fit. In other words, I think such things, like many
things in bicycling, are better money generators than worthwhile tools.

--
Bob Wheeler --- http://www.bobwheeler.com/
ECHIP, Inc. ---
Randomness comes in bunches.

Bob Wheeler said:

Maggie said:

Colorado Bicycler said:

As I grow older (now 65) I had the road bike refitted last year.
Raised the bars a bit, as I have had some problems with s sore neck
from straining. My body has changed, my fit should change.

New Paragraph.....
My point is...and I think I do have a point....I persaonlly would find
a bike with a great fit after riding for awhile. Not when you begin. I
know that when I start riding miles and miles and miles and MILES, I am
going to need a bike that gives me the comfort of a good fit. For now,
I can ride on anything. (But not in the rain) ;-)
Maggie.

Maggie, I think you are making good sense. I can't imagine an
experiment that would separate out the adaptability of a cyclist from
modest variations in top-tube length, etc., and because of this I doubt
if there is any empirical evidence behind the computer programs the
claim to optimize fit. In other words, I think such things, like many
things in bicycling, are better money generators than worthwhile tools.

I lost track of who posted what up there but it does seem that just
because it feels like a good fit in the bike shop or after a short spin
around the block it is going to feel good after 10, 20, 40, or even 100
miles of riding. Maybe ten at a time but if you ever get a beautiful
summer day and decide to really go for it take enough tools so that you
can adjust the fit every few miles until you find what is most
comfortable. Seat height, handle bar stem height, and handlebar angle
through the center adjustment where you can rotate the bars up to ape
hanger status or down to a very low bent over angle. You should have at
least these three geometries to play with and as mentioned before your
body knows more about you than any @#$%^&&^ computer program. I write
software sometimes and no matter how good you think it is someone will
break it or find it doesn't work for them. Nothing beats personal
experience and in this case it means miles, which, as long as they are
comfortable, is a good thing. Just don't come back with a sore back
after tweaking or you may wind up returning the bike, with the fringe
benefit of having learned, the hard and painful way, what you really need.

Best of luck with your endeavor.
Bill Baka

"Maggie" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

This is a questions I have been pondering as well. And I do ponder
alot.

Isn't pondering done silently?

Mike Latondresse said:

"Maggie" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

This is a questions I have been pondering as well. And I do ponder
alot.

Isn't pondering done silently?

I do not do ANYTHING silently. ;-)
Maggie