Bike Fitting by Peter White

With regards to crank length, the article ignores the plasticity of muscles. We all know that
muscles change their shape depending on the type of exercise that we demand of them (compare the
shape of body builders with marathon athletes for an obvious example). Muscle plasticity is not
limited to fibre types and to muscle thickness, but the muscle length and the position of attachment
to the tendons and bone also changes with exercise. Over a period of weeks or months, the leg
muscles will adapt to provide optimal performance on your usual bicycle, so that crank length may
matter very little. Changing your crank length from 175 to 170 mm, or the reverse, may be equally
unpleasant in the short term, until your muscles adapt. Long term perfomance will hardly be
affected. Intensity of training and fitness are much bigger factors. So, just keep cycling and don't
change your bike settings too often.

Mike

"iarocu" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm Good article on bike fit with good argument/method for
fore/aft saddle

position.

Quoted message said:

cheers Iain C

To illustrate that point, I raised the saddle on my mountain bike by about one inch since I was
getting groin ache and a pain in my right knee evey time I went out on it. I made this change last
Tuesday. I have been right as rain since then. Amazing difference.

Slim

"maf" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

With regards to crank length, the article ignores the plasticity of

muscles.

Quoted message said:

We all know that muscles change their shape depending on the type of exercise that we demand of
them (compare the shape of body builders with marathon athletes for an obvious example). Muscle
plasticity is not

limited

Quoted message said:

to fibre types and to muscle thickness, but the muscle length and the position of attachment to
the tendons and bone also changes with exercise. Over a period of weeks or months, the leg muscles
will adapt to provide optimal performance on your usual bicycle, so that crank length may matter
very little. Changing your crank length from 175 to 170 mm, or the

reverse,

Quoted message said:

may be equally unpleasant in the short term, until your muscles adapt.

Long

Quoted message said:

term perfomance will hardly be affected. Intensity of training and fitness are much bigger
factors. So, just keep cycling and don't change your bike settings too often.

Mike

"iarocu" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm Good article on bike fit with good argument/method for
fore/aft saddle

position.

Quoted message said:

cheers Iain C

"iarocu" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm Good article on bike fit with good argument/method for
fore/aft saddle

position.

Thanks for the link. Having suffered a lot with aching wrists I found the bit about seating of
interest. When I checked my bike (which is a little unusual in having a 74 degree seat tube), I
noticed that my saddle was as far forward as it could be. Moving it back has definitely
improved things.

Tim

(iarocu) said:

www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

Ah, I thought you meant the BBCs disability correspondent, the excellent - er - Peter White.

See also wrenchscience.comwrenchscience.comOpen ↗

Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. chapmancentral.comchapmancentral.comOpen ↗ New!
Improved!! Now with added extra Demon!

"Tim Downie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

"iarocu" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm Good article on bike fit with good argument/method for
fore/aft saddle

position.

Thanks for the link. Having suffered a lot with aching wrists I found the bit about seating of
interest. When I checked my bike (which is a little unusual in having a 74 degree seat tube), I
noticed that my saddle was as far forward as it could be. Moving it back has definitely improved

things.

Quoted message said:

Tim

Good site - interesting reading, I got my made to measure done by Omega Cycles who essentially sit
you on a jig using you choice of shoes and pedals if poss. and move stuff (Tm) around till you feel
comfortable. I also paid £30 for a Bio-racer fit which was a useful starting point. However to
emphasise Peter's point an awful lot depends on personal taste and physical ability (e.g upper back
problem) as well as simple bodily measurements.

Additionally it is the first site to clearly answer the front chainring compatibility questions. I
run a Campag racing triple on my audax bike and would like to drop the inside 30 to 28. Now I know
what will fit!

HTH Julia

iarocu said:

www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm Good article on bike fit with good argument/method for
fore/aft saddle position.

I was trying to remember the URL for this site a few months ago when posting stuff about someone's
problem with excess pressure on the hands. Now added to favourites - thankyou. Its good advice, if
you ask me.

--
Jim Price

jimprice.dsl.pipex.comjimprice.dsl.pipex.comOpen ↗

Conscientious objection is hard work in an economic war.

"the Baker-Bealls" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Tim Downie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"iarocu" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm Good article on bike fit with good argument/method for
fore/aft saddle

position.

Thanks for the link. Having suffered a lot with aching wrists I found the bit about seating of
interest. When I checked my bike (which is a little unusual in having a 74 degree seat tube), I
noticed that my saddle was as far forward as it could be. Moving it back has definitely improved

things.

Quoted message said:

Tim

Good site - interesting reading, I got my made to measure done by Omega Cycles who essentially
sit you on a jig using you choice of shoes and pedals if poss. and move stuff (Tm) around till
you feel comfortable. I also paid £30 for a Bio-racer fit which was a useful starting point.
However to emphasise Peter's point an awful lot depends on personal taste and physical ability
(e.g upper back problem) as well as simple bodily measurements.

Additionally it is the first site to clearly answer the front chainring compatibility questions. I
run a Campag racing triple on my audax bike and would like to drop the inside 30 to 28. Now I know
what will fit!

HTH Julia

My problem getting bikes to fit is normally handlebar height. I like the bars more or less level
with the saddle. I,m 6ft3 so I can always get frames where the saddle goes high enough although
close to the limit but normally have to change the stem. The MTB I bought fits now. But only after
fitting a new stem - to shorten reach and a Zoom adjuster (which raises bars on Ahead stems by 2"😉.
The pedals and saddle were changed as well as both were a touch narrow as I,m wider than average as
well. The bike was a good deal reduced from £450 to £299 so I,m not complaining but I wouldn,t be
surprised if many people are put off cycling by an uncomfortable riding position. Would it not be
worthwhile for more manufacturers to market bikes with adjustable stems. It would be a minimal cost
to the factory. cheers Iain C