and gives a break to the core and upper- body, the fit should accommodate it.
BIKE FITTING BASICS A good bike fit considers many factors. The fitter should first become acquainted with the athlete’s goals, experience and injury history. Bike fitters will check many of the following biomechanical factors:
1. Hamstring flexibility and range 2. Hip flexion 3. Internal and external rotation of the knee/hip
4. Shoulder width 5. Foot evaluation
6. Iscial tuberosity (sit bone) width 7. Core strength
After the initial physical assessment, the athlete gets on the bike so the fitter can determine where to make adjustments. While some fitters still use a tape measure and plumb bob, many have graduated to higher tech solutions. That’s where systems like Specialized Body Geometry Fit and Retül come in. Providing dynamic, 3-dimensional measurements and assessments, they have taken bike fitting to new levels. “Starting in 2000, dynamic fit really started to be the gold standard,” says Carver of Retül.
Using motion capture technology, they can determine everything from cleat and saddle placement to stem length, handlebar height and base-bar width, as well as aero bar adjustments. A bike fit using Retül technology includes these steps:
Lindsay Wyskowski
Lindsay Wyskowski
1. LED markers are placed on the wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee ankle, heel and toe.
2. The rider begins to pedal, sending data related to the pedal strokes and movements of the rider.
3. Data is put into a final analysis so the fitter can make the necessary adjustments.
4. Using The Zin, Retül’s handheld digitizer, the fitter digitally measures the bike at 13-15 points and adjusts it to fit the rider. 5. Data is stored to keep a fit history on the rider for future reference.
Voila! You have a properly fitting bike. On average, you should head in for a check-up every three years. But with the new wave of fit technology, you might just find yourself going in more often. Who knew fitting a bike could actually be fun?
Top: Elite triathlete Brian Fleischmann, who competes mainly in non-drafting events, took part in a bike fitting this summer at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Above: A Retül certified fitter dials in a perfect fit on Fleischmann’s bike.
USATRIATHLON.ORG USA TRIATHLON 71
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124