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Bike Fit - Basic

Comfort, Safety And Efficiency Begin With Fit

Bike Fit Area LeftBike Fit Area Right

How well your bicycle fits you determines a lot. It can mean the difference between comfort and pain, fast and slow, safe and unsafe.

Proper fitting starts with selecting the right size bike frame. Most of our bikes are not one-size-fits-all, but rather, come in different frame measurements to help you obtain the best overall fit. Frame size is usually measured along the length of the seat tube (the tube which supports a bike’s seat and seatpost). While measurement standards vary a bit between different manufacturers, we can help you determine the ideal range of sizes that would offer you your best match to your body type and riding style.

What does body type have to do with fit? Well, have you ever heard someone say, “He’s a tall drink of water” or “She’s all legs”? The point is: Each of us has a different body style. And this has to be taken into account when fitting for a bike.

What's Your Riding Style?

How does your riding style relate to proper fit? Let’s say you want to cruise the bike paths on a bike that lets you sit upright where you get a good view of the scenery. That calls for a different frame size, bike type and fit approach than, say, a time-trial racer who needs to be positioned for optimum aerodynamics and speed.

Better Bike Parts Can Be Adjusted

Beyond frame size, other components of a bike also contribute greatly to a good fit. Take seats, for instance. What's the best height for your bike seat? How far forward or back of center is your correct seat position? The tilt of the seat is also adjustable. Other factors to know more about include: stem length and height; crankarm length; and, what width and shape of handlebars work best for you.

No Matter Where You Bought Your Bike, Great Fit Starts Here

We love helping our customers get the right fit. And if you didn’t buy your bike from us, worry not. Just bring your bike in for a complimentary review of the fit basics so you know what changes, if any, you might want to consider. We look forward to seeing you.

Utilizing high-speed video analysis and extensive work in bio-mechanics, Chris Burnham has fit over 800 athletes ranging from beginners to professionals and honed our skills to find solutions for your unique fit needs.  We do not fit riders into a generic, cookie cutter position.  Instead we seek out the best, unique position for each rider utilizing on and off the bike assessments, high speed video analysis, and computrainer technologies. For more info on Chris and his bike fitting, please visit his site at: http://burnhamcoaching.com/bikefitting/

Throughout our bike fit process we also push beyond the big bike-fit picture and start to analyze how position, posture, and technique changes with higher intensities to provide the rider with an optimized position for their unique goals. Through our bike fit process we also give athletes a path to increase performance by increasing mobility or strength to make further gains on their cycling technique.

Check out the link below that covers the Specialized Body Geometry fit process:


Chris Burnham
USA Cycling Power Certified Level 1 Coach
www.burnhamcoaching.com
831.869.0677