July 1, 2024
Saved from Disaster
Last week I took the time for a professional bike fitting and analysis. It was informative, but also quite humbling as well. As it turns out, it seems as though I was a disaster on two wheels and it’s a wonder that some other injury, such as my recent tendinopathy, hadn’t occurred sooner.
Thorough Analysis
I went to an outfit called BioMoto and John Huenink was the person I worked with. He was very thorough and professional. He utilized an interesting assortment of high and low technology. Elaborate sensors analyzed my gait and the weight distribution of my feet while standing. This was used to adjust the insoles on my cycling shoes. Next up, I got up on my bike and the rest of the fitting was a combination of video analysis and John just feeling my muscles and analyzing where I was tense and how my muscles were firing. It was really an intuitive process of trial and error that lasted well over an hour. In total, the complete analysis and bike fitting was a little over two hours.
Precise Adjustments
When it was all over, major adjustments were made to my seat height (lower), seat placement (more forward), handlebar height (slightly lower), placement of my cleats on my cycling shoes (further back toward the heel), and I also got a new stem (shorter than what I had). I was very impressed with the wide assortment of stems John had laid out at his studio.
Before and After Videos
When John was finished, he put up side-by-side videos of me riding my bike. A video of pre-fit me next to a video of post-fit me. Even my untrained eye could see a huge difference. Pre-fit me looked stiff, rigid, uncomfortable, and even seemed to be struggling on the bike; whereas post-fit me appeared much more relaxed and comfortable. The cost of everything, including $65 for a new stem, was $436. It’s expensive, but if it leads to more comfortable riding and helps prevent further injury, then I feel it’s worth every penny. BioMoto has two locations, one in Delafield, Wisconsin, (where I went) and another in Park City, Utah. They not only perform bike fittings but also address biometrics for just about any matter of sport or activity.
You can find out more about bike fitting HERE.
