7 Reasons To Get A Professional Bike Fit
When it comes to cycling, the right fit can make all the difference. I always say that bikes are symmetrical but people aren’t, so if you want less pain and more performance it makes a lot of sense to get a professional bike fit.
Let's talk about why this is so important and what it can do for your riding experience. Here are 7 reasons why you should consider a professional bike fit.
1. Enhancing Overall Comfort
First and foremost, comfort is critical. You wouldn't wear running shoes that don't fit because they would be uncomfortable and inefficient, so why settle for a bike that doesn't suit your body?
A professional bike fit tailors your bike to your unique physique and riding goals. There are a wide variety of ways in which we can help you dial in your ride to the point where your body feels comfortable, and that will open up a whole new world for you. Trust me, you'll feel the difference on those long rides.
2. Preventing Injuries
Injury prevention is another big reason to consider a professional fit. Whether you’re someone who has had recurring injuries in the past or you just want to make sure you don’t get them in the first place, bike fits are a great investment in your health.
When your bike is properly adjusted, it reduces the risk of strain on your muscles and joints and overuse injuries, like knee pain or lower back discomfort, can be mitigated or eliminated completely. A little tweak here and there can save you from a lot of pain down the road. Bike fits are all about keeping you on the bike, not sidelined by injury.
3. Diagnosing Saddle Discomfort
Saddle discomfort is one of the most common complaints I hear from cyclists. If your saddle isn't right, every ride becomes a battle, and it can make you want to ride less or not at all. During a bike fit, we take a close look at how you're sitting on the saddle in relation to what your body should be positioned for the type of riding you do.
Sometimes it's a matter of adjusting the tilt or moving it forward or backward, while other times we might need to explore a different saddle shape altogether. The goal is to find that sweet spot where you can ride comfortably in a seated position for hours. When you can do that, you’ll be shocked at how much more you’ll enjoy riding.
4. Reducing or Eliminating Numbness
Numbness can ruin a ride faster than anything else, since when you start to experience pain or numbness in your hands or feet you’ll likely want to stop riding pretty quickly. As well you should. Numbness is a sign that something is wrong with the way your body is absorbing pressure, so you don’t want to ride through it consistently.
Fortunately, these issues are caused by an improperly fitting bike and can be fixed. Maybe your handlebars are too low, causing you to put too much weight on your hands, or your cleats aren't positioned correctly, leading to numb toes. Or maybe you need a different type of bar, grip, or pedal all together. During a bike fit we’ll help you hone in on a setup that prevents pain and numbness so you can enjoy the ride more.
5. Reducing Joint And Muscle Pain
Riding discomfort can come from a variety of sources, whether it's pressure on your sit bones, pain in your neck, tension in your shoulders, or an awkward reach to the handlebars. These issues are often overlooked or ignored. Some riders think that the smaller aches and pains they’re experiencing are just part of riding bikes. But they don’t have to be!
By fine-tuning your bike's setup, we can eliminate much of this discomfort and help you feel genuinely good on your bike. It's all about making sure your bike works with your body, not against it. After a proper fit, you'll notice that riding feels more natural and less of a strain. And when that happens you’ll start to expand your possibilities on two wheels.
6. Reducing Fatigue by Enhancing Efficiency
The bicycle has often been lauded as one of the most efficient machines ever invented by humans. It doesn’t take much effort to casually pedal a bike and ride places, but when you’re trying to ride faster or farther or on challenging terrain, improving your efficiency can make a huge difference.
When your bike fits well, you're able to pedal more efficiently, which means less wasted energy. When you waste less energy, you’ll feel less tired since a higher percentage of your effort goes into propelling you forward. During a bike fit we'll help you achieve a smooth, powerful pedal stroke. Over time, this will improve your endurance, so you can enjoy those longer rides without feeling completely wiped out during and after.
7. Improving Overall Performance
Finally, let's talk performance. A well-fitted bike doesn't just feel better—it makes you faster and stronger. By optimizing your position on the bike, you can improve aerodynamics and power output which is important for racers. Endurance minded riders can push themselves to ride harder for longer when they experience less discomfort. And for some, a bike fit can simply be the difference between making riding a regular part of your life and having it stay as a hobby that feels more like a chore.
Whether you're looking to shave time off your rides or just want to feel stronger and more confident on the bike, a professional fit can help you reach your goals. It's about unlocking your full potential as a rider, however that looks like for you. Investing in a bike fit is a decision you won't regret, so just remember, you should adapt your bike to your body, not the other way around.
What can be optimized during a professional bike fit process?
Saddle
The Saddle is one of the most important things to get right when it comes to a bike fit. A bike fitter can adjust your saddle height, angle, and fore/aft rail position using your existing seat, but sometimes we’ll find that there’s an entirely different shape that will suit you better. These seemingly small saddle adjustments can do a lot for your body. Here are some ways that these adjustments can help:
Saddle height: This is how high or low the saddle is. If it's too high or too low, it can put extra strain on your knees or hips. Setting it to the right height helps you pedal smoothly, avoid injuries, and feel more comfortable.
Saddle angle: The tilt of the saddle (forward or backward) affects your posture and balance. If it's angled too far up, it can create pressure in uncomfortable areas. If it’s angled too far down, you might slide forward, causing strain on your hands and shoulders. A neutral angle is usually best for stability and comfort.
Fore/aft rail position: This adjusts how far forward or backward the saddle sits. The right position helps distribute your weight evenly between the saddle and the pedals. It also keeps your knees in a healthy position while you pedal, reducing the chance of joint pain.
Saddle shape: Saddles come in different widths and contours to match different body types. Choosing the right shape supports your sit bones and minimizes pressure in sensitive areas, making long rides much more comfortable.
Shoes
Besides saddles, shoes are where we can make the most gains with the easiest changes. Relatively small adjustments here can make a big difference in how your knees and hips move as you pedal, which could be the cause of discomfort in those areas.
Cleat position: The cleats are the small attachments on the bottom of your cycling shoes that connect to your pedals. Their position (forward or backward) affects how power is transferred from your legs to the pedals. Cleats set further back (toward the heel) can provide more stability and reduce strain on your calves, which is great for endurance rides. Cleats positioned further forward (toward the toes) tend to offer more leverage and power, which is helpful for sprinting or climbing, but they can increase strain on your knees if not properly aligned. Side-to-side alignment (also called "float") is important too—setting it up correctly allows natural foot movement and reduces knee stress.
Insoles: Cycling insoles can make a big difference in comfort and pedaling efficiency. Standard shoe insoles may not provide enough arch support, which can lead to foot pain or even knee and hip discomfort over time. Custom or supportive insoles help stabilize your foot inside the shoe, ensuring a more consistent power transfer. They also help distribute pressure evenly across the foot, reducing hot spots and discomfort during long rides. Insoles tailored to your foot shape can also help prevent common issues like numbness or pain from poor support.
Stem
Adjusting the bike stem (the part that connects your handlebars to the frame) is key to getting a comfortable and efficient riding position. Here’s how different stem adjustments can help:
Stem length: This is how far the stem extends from the frame to the handlebars. If the stem is too long, you might feel stretched out, which can strain your back, neck, and shoulders. If it’s too short, you could feel cramped or have too much weight on the front wheel, making steering tricky. The right length helps balance your body weight and improves control while riding.
Stem rise: This refers to the angle of the stem, which determines how high or low your handlebars sit. A higher rise (more angled upward) gives you a more upright and relaxed position, reducing strain on your back and neck—ideal for commuting or casual rides. A lower rise (closer to level) puts you in a more aggressive, aerodynamic position, which can boost speed but might be less comfortable for long rides.
Handlebars
Adjusting your bike's handlebars plays a big role for both road cyclists and mountain bikers, but the goals for each are different.
For mountain biking, wider handlebars give you better control and stability on rough, uneven trails. They help you navigate tricky terrain with more precision, but if they’re too wide, they can make tight turns harder and strain your arms. In road biking, narrower handlebars reduce wind resistance, making you more aerodynamic. However, if your bars are too narrow, it can affect your control and put pressure on your shoulders and wrists. Our goal is to help you find that sweet spot.
Some mountain bike handlebars also come in different levels of rise, meaning the grips are higher than the clamp area, which puts you in a more upright position. You may or may not want rise for your specific riding style, goals, and physique, but we can help you figure that out.
Grips & Tape
Grip diameter (for mountain biking): Mountain bike grips come in different thicknesses to match the rider’s hand size and comfort. Thicker grips can give you more cushioning and control on rough trails, which helps reduce hand fatigue during bumpy rides. However, if the grips are too thick, they might make it harder to maintain a solid grip, especially if you have smaller hands. Thinner grips offer a more direct connection to the bike, giving you better feel and precision for technical riding, but they might not absorb shocks as well. Some MTB grips also come in various ergonomic shapes that contribute to comfort and control.
Handlebar tape diameter (for road biking): On road bikes, handlebar tape is used to customize the thickness and comfort of your bars. Thicker tape adds more cushioning, which is great for long rides or rough road surfaces because it absorbs vibrations and reduces hand fatigue. However, if the tape is too thick, it can reduce your sense of control and feel. Thinner tape gives you a closer connection to the bars for more precise handling, which is great for racing, but it might not be as comfortable on long rides.
Brake levers
There are two ways to optimize your brake levers. First, you can clamp them to the bars in slightly different spots. Some brake levers can also be adjusted so they can be positioned closer or further out from the handlebars. We’ll help you to find the appropriate position for you so you can comfortably and efficiently brake at all times.
Cranks
Cranks come in different lengths which can be chosen to provide you the best balance of power, efficiency, and comfort. Longer cranks have more leverage but aren’t always the best fit for shorter riders. Here’s where your specific body type and any injury/pain history play a part in deciding what will work best for you.