Cycling Training
A PERFECT FIT WHY BIKE FIT IS IMPORTANT
FOR EVERY TRIATHLETE By Mackenzie Lobby
ou have a fresh pair of sneakers, a brand new wetsuit and a souped up bike; you’re ready for your next triathlon. Not so fast. You can buy gear to your heart’s content, but if it doesn’t fit right, an expensive purchase may end up doing more harm than good. In the same way you’d never run in shoes that were two sizes too big, you also should avoid training or racing on a bike that hasn’t been specially fit for you.
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“In my experience, just about everybody can benefit from having their bike fit,” says Aaron Harrison, Fit Services Manager at Bike Gallery in Oregon.
Indeed, the manufacturers design the bikes with certain averages in mind and very few people actually fit those averages. That’s precisely why they make so many of the components adjustable.
“Bike fit is crucial to maximize rider comfort, efficiency and to prevent injury,” explains Harrison. Whether you’re jonesing for a new bike or devoted to an older pair of wheels, be sure to visit a bike fit specialist before you hit the road. Not only
will you enjoy the ride more, you’ll also avoid injuries and increase performance.
SKIRTING INJURIES
Knee pain often materializes after too many miles on a bike with poor seat position. Neck soreness results from handlebars or aero bars that are too low. Lower back ailments are usually caused by a seat that is too far away from the handlebars.
The problems don’t stop there. “Bike fit works to both treat and prevent injuries,” says Todd Carver, co-founder of Retül, which offers a state-of-the-art bike fit system to fitters worldwide. “If your bike is fit properly, you likely won’t develop an injury in the first place.”
“Perhaps most important, a good bike fit can significantly improve lower leg alignment and knee tracking through the pedal stroke to minimize the chance of injuries to the knees and hips,” says Harrison. Just as it is important to practice running and swimming form and technique, you must practice this on
the bike. If you aren’t initially positioned correctly, your mechanics will be limited.
PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT
In addition to limiting your chance of encountering a sidelining injury, proper bike fit also improves performance. “Bike fit can have a big effect on aerodynamics and speed,” explains Carver. Harrison agrees, saying, “poor fit severely decreases performance, especially by limiting lung capacity or exceeding an athlete’s range of hamstring and hip flexibility.”
If you are forced to bend in the middle of the spine, the lung’s lower lobes aren’t able to effectively take in air and, in turn, produce power. This type of bend usually occurs if the position is too long or too low. A position that exceeds a triathlete’s range of motion at the hamstrings and hips also can impede performance. When the bike doesn’t fit comfortably and correctly, it oftentimes becomes difficult to maximize time spent in the aero position. Since this position is directly related to faster speeds
70 USA TRIATHLON FALL 2011
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