Thursday, October 14, 2010

The Proper Racing Bike Fitting

Proper fitting for a racing bike is best for your body. It is like having a tailored suit for your body. They say it fits you like a glove. You look good. Your suit fits and hangs correctly. You feel and act like royalty. That is what a proper fitting racing bike can and will do for you.
Performance, endurance and more comfort on a proper fitting racing bike is the desired result. That said, competitive sport is not a total comfort and is a stressful pursuit. All the while, just having the bike fit you reduces the competitive strain. You are not over or under reaching with your limbs. Back aches are lessened. More comfort is the result.
The bike fit here is regards to the diamond racing frame. The latest current synthetic racing frames could require a bike shop fitting machine. This is also an accurate way to measure up for the best fitting racing frame. Everyone is different. One size frame does not fit all. A tailored and measured fitting frame starts with the inside the leg measurement.
Because a touring frame is designed more for comfort, its diamond frame will be larger. A racing frame will have a smaller diamond frame and more rigid, it is designed for speed. The same person will have more seat post space on a racing frame than on a touring frame. The handle bar neck is also longer like the seat post.
The foot is on top of the spindle. Notice that racing shoe cleats have the connection point under the ball of the foot? Why is that instead of under the arch? It is the same reason everybody bounces on their toes and runs up the stairs with the balls of their feet. That is the strongest point of the feet for the peddling on a bike.
With the front peddle at 3 o'clock your knee is in line above the ball of the foot. This point is where the seat is adjusted front to back. The seat is adjusted with front tip above the seat back. This keeps you from sliding and going forward when slowing down or stopping.
Now peddle backwards with your heals. The down stroke at 6 o'clock will show you the proper seat height. That occurs when there is no hip movement vertically. The seat is too high if your hips bob downward. Seat is too low, Your hips will go off above the seat. Riding with seat adjusted too high, may cause knee strain or injury. A seat adjusted too low may cause hip discomfort and injury. The seat height is adjusted for proper riding and not to be able to stand with your feet flat at a stop.
A properly fitted handle bar neck or stem is measured by looking down the handle bars. Your hands are in the bottom forward corner of the drop bars. The front axial will be in line and disappear under you eyesight. The correct stem length will allow your neck to feel normal.
This was only a starting point by introducing you towards proper racing bike fit. This does not replace consulting your sports physician and bicycle store.

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