Bike fit / correct riding position

New bike time

Some interesting vids with Neill Stanbury recently

https://youtu.be/OPASHllkqJM

https://youtu.be/CIFRLF0xURk

https://youtu.be/gbFrz5FsIow

https://youtu.be/fLWoK6NtTLg

How do they calculate or play around with crank and stem length on a bike fit if you’re on your own bike?

They have a range of cranks and stems and a set of allen keys?

But surely they can't have all combinations? People may come in with all sorts on BBs or shells.

Of course not, but there's a bell curve of positions. Most people are probably just fine in the 165-175mm range so there's likely little benefit. Only when you have freaks or specific issues would you be looking at crank length changes. In my case, I have a hip problem and we decided to try shorter cranks and open my hip angle up so I bought shorter cranks to suit my bike and requirements and went back and had more fitting work done. It's very unlikely fitters will carry super short cranks but they might identify the issue and suggest them as an option or work a position with the current cranks. Stems, I would expect most fitters to have a wide range of options.

Some fitters have fit bikes that can adjust crank length, so if that was something that needed to be targeted for some reason they could replicate the position on the fit bike and then adjust crank lengths.

I'm about to throw my laptop out the window, trying to compare two frames stack/reach etc. Is there a simple to use calculator out there that allows you to input the geo data for each and then see what I'd need to adjust top make them work?

My brain hurts

https://geometrygeeks.bike/compare/

Yep, I've seen that one. Unfortunately one of the frames I want to compare isn't in their database and I don't seem to be able to manually input the geo data for it. Unless I'm missing how to do that?

http://www.bikegeo.net/
https://www.bikegeocalc.com/

Perfect. Much appreciated

So I'm having real pain in my elbows whilst riding on my new Topstone. I've been 'uncomfortable' before on other bikes in the past, even had minor back pain, but managed to sort it with the usual adjustments. But this time after about 20 minutes or so and then for the rest of the ride my elbows really start to hurt. When stopping at the lights and trying to stretch them out a bit by bending or whatever it doesnt help at all.

I've tried short stems, longer stems, narrower and wider bars, rotation of the bars, stem spacer arrangements and am completely stumped! Is there anything else I should try or just resign that the frames not working and look for something new?

I'm 170 and on a topstone small..

Stop playing tennis?

Are you arms locked out when you ride, bent 90 or relaxed somewhere in between?

It’s quite hard to advise without seeing you on the bike. If you’re able to take a few pics while on a turbo, that would help.

Are your arms slightly bent at the elbow when in your usual riding position (I assume on the hoods) ?

If you were to be riding along and took your hands off the bars, would you be able to support yourself with your core? Or would you flop face first into the bars?

Is this it? Is this what tennis elbow actually is?

They're somewhere inbetween

Tennis elbow is a form of tendinitis.

If you have a bike that fits comfortably then adjust the new bikes contact points to match. Or see a bike fitter.

Or it could be a conditioning issue and your core isn’t sufficient to hold your body in position or your flexibility is limiting.

Or elbow cancer

Too many variables

any recommendations on who to see in north London for a bike fit? New bike and scherrit is too far away

Jorrit at what is now Strype Street Cycles

Yeah double down on this.

If you were to be riding along and took your hands off the bars, would you be able to support yourself with your core? Or would you flop face first into the bars?

Out of interest, what exertion level do you need to pedal at in order to do this?

No exertion. You’re not pressing against the pedals to push your weight up and back off the front of the bike, so you shouldn’t be pedalling hard.

Also, the expectation isn’t to be able to totally support your body weight with your core, just enough of it that most/all of your upper body weight isn’t being supported by your arms and wrists.

To add - This is what I’ve picked up from the bike fitting sessions I’ve had, but IANABF, so hopefully someone with real knowledge can comment.

Thanks booked!

No exertion.

@scherrit will normally test this kind of thing at threshold. Or maybe that's just for me because I need to burn the extra calories :P

I think you’re right. My memory is slightly hazy now as it’s been a long time since I’ve seen him.

@Hovis

See this video at about 07’50”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gbFrz5FsIow