What does a bike fit include?

First we start with a good old hey how ya doin’. I want to know allll about you as a rider and person. That includes on and off bike so we can understand all the factors that play into the comfort of your ride. Yes - that includes your stress levels and bathroom habits too. We’ll talk about your lifestyle, fitness, cycling history, medical history, and cycling complaints. We’ll get into all of it before getting on the bike.

We’re going to look at your flexibility, range of motion, and overall strength of your pelvis, hips, hamstrings, and spine. We’re also going to look at your breathing mechanics, core activation, and overall posture during functional movements. Everyone’s body is different, so it is essential to understand how your body moves before adjusting things on the bike.

Because I’m an occupational therapist and pelvic floor therapist by trade - this part of the assessment is my jam and is what makes me slightly different than a bike fitter who works in a shop. You’ll likely walk away with a better understanding of your body and some personalized exercises that will help you have a better position on the bike.

The moment you’ve been waiting for. Equipped with all the info from the interview and physical evaluation, we are prepared to start making adjustments! You’ll hop on your bike on the trainer (provided by me). You’ll do a warm up so we can see what’s happening on the bike. We’ll work our way through all the contact points on the bike to make adjustments as needed. We’ll take before & after pictures/videos to compare your position and form.

Sometimes an adjustment you need involves some bike mechanic work and possibly a new part for your bike. For example, I may recommend a new saddle, shorter or longer cranks, or a shorter or longer stem. In this case, I will provide you with a “bike fit prescription” that you can bring to your local bike shop. From there, they will be able to help you find the parts you need and install them.

Each bike fit includes a follow up visit ~2 weeks after your bike fit. I recommend riding at least 30 miles on the bike before your follow up. The reason for this - it will take some time to adjust to your new fit. During the follow up, we will take some more after photos/videos, and make any remaining adjustments as needed.

Like most things in life, a bike fit is not a one and done. Your body changes. Your stress level changes. Your riding skill level changes. YOU change as time goes on. It’s important to remember that your bike fit is not forever, and you may want to get reassessed every few years. Ask me about discounts for repeat clients or refer-a-friend discounts.