Bike fit / correct riding position

@Scilly.Suffolk you called?

@MechaMorgan this would depend on where your flexibility is now, and if that is at the limit of your physiology or if you have room to adapt.

Cyclefit reckon that once they have established your fit that one contact point 5mm out of position will have a detrimental effect.

Well, flexibility is the interesting question I guess. I've managed to stretch through my low back pain, and now I can usually just about touch my toes after my regular stretching routine. If I could improve my lower back flexibility and stretch my hamstrings further I'm pretty sure I could get my palms on the ground. Tell me how, Dancing James, tell me how.

I'm sure Cyclefit are right, when you're as stretchy as you're gunna get. I'd like to get to that point. Mainly to give me more options for bikes to buy, and so the bikes I can buy look less crap ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Speak of the Devil...

You should have a notification.

🙏🏻

http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/280883/#comment12777798

yup, I got it. I should be moving back to London fairly soon, and this is exactly what I'm after. Will be in touch ASAP*.

*More as soon as it's convenient for me to book up a block of sessions but you know.

In the interest of troubleshooting my left knee I bought one of those cheap laser levels and set it up in front of my Tacx trainer to check for wobble/bad form. First tentative conclusion is that being mindful of the ball of my foot makes a notable difference.

However, I'm probably not the only one doing a bit of DIY knee alignment and I am sure I could do more to properly systematise the trouble shooting process.

Any advice for improving lower back / flexibility above the hips?

Thrusting

Actual lol

So my peddle pusher is clunky from the knee down, well rested but still have pain if I go over 1/4 mile.. Will this ever mend? Do I start looking at power assist? Should I stop winging and get on with it? My cat said I should ask someone else so..

My left knee has started tracking all over the shop when riding clipped on my road bike. Always used to be spot on. I have been riding my commuter a lot recently which has flat pedals and a slightly different set up overall. Will this correct itself, I only noticed it on one 2 hour ride after a week without using that bike? Cleats are not worn and have not moved on the base of the shoe. My knee hurts now.

Nix good. Back to original setup with a vengeance always helped me as that was fitted by @scherrit

I've been fine-tuning the fit on my new bike, tried to get it pretty much identical to the old one.

I was finding my arse and outside of my thighs were a little sore and felt the arse muscles were getting... Tired? When previously they didn't really seem to be up to much.

Anyway, over the course of this week I've moved the saddle back about 5mm and down about 5mm and the arse pain has disappeared and my right knee seems to be tracking straighter but I feel as weak as a sodding kitten. Everything's getting knackered quickly. Do I need to give it a bit of time? How can a tiny adjustment have such a big effect?

Dial in new bike the same as your old one.

Given a 1mm wedge in your shoe can have a massive impact clearly moving other bits by 5mm will have a significant influence on your comfort.

I've bother with knee tracking on a triple geared bike, but not on the fixed ones.

Can't it be the crank Q factor and should I use two pairs of shoes with different cleat positions?

The Q-factor bandwagon is definitely something you should jump on...

Do you need a triple? Can't a compact cover all you needs (apart from not spending more on bike bits)?

But, and bearing in mind that I know the square root of FA, I'd think that adjusting your cleats would be a cheap & cheerful step towards identifying the problem.

I'd imagine the difference between single and triple cranks to be appreciable, even if your single set-up isn't DA740x/103mm...

It's a touring bike, so yes, it needs a triple. Scotland hills make you acknowledge the existence and need of 22F*23R... :):)

Ultegra on 118 Octalink.
Single speed is sugino75 on 110 bb
So a good 8mm

Fair enough!

The BB isn't the whole story though, you need to measure the actual Q on both beiks and work from there.

Different cranks will have different shaped arms, so it's not necessarily the case that the difference in Q will be the same as the difference in BB.

Yeah I got it as close as I could to the old bike but it's crazy to feel such a small difference. I guess now it's a case of getting my legs used to the slight change. I seem to remember Scherrit saying after my fit to take it easy for a couple of weeks and get my muscles used to the new position, but that was after a much more drastic change.

Ah, ok fair enough!

OK I'll measure up. I've another set of shoes/cleats which I can try.

Anyone have good tips on bike fit for kids? I bought a few giovanissimi frames (at £13 each who could resist!) from px in their sale, but I am not sure which size is suited to which child... (Not mine, a friend's!) the frame for 20", 24" and 26" wheels seem equally tiny!

My left knee has started tracking all over the shop when riding clipped on my road bike. Always used to be spot on. I have been riding my commuter a lot recently which has flat pedals and a slightly different set up overall. Will this correct itself, I only noticed it on one 2 hour ride after a week without using that bike? Cleats are not worn and have not moved on the base of the shoe. My knee hurts now.

This has only gotten worse. My left knee tracks all over the shop, it seems like I really raise my heel at the bottom of the pedal stroke and it seems there is a total dead spot at the bottom too. Moreover it hurts to ride on. Any advice? Was fine with the same fit a month ago. Single pedal drills? New fit?

How long ago was your fit done? These things do change.

Are your shoes worn out?

Have you suddenly upped the distance of intensity you are riding?

Take time off, rest it, ice it. Let the inflammation reduce.

Do some knee strengthening and stabilisation work, so you can better control it (rather than it tracking bizarre 3D figure 8 shapes)