Source: Norco
May 6th, 2010


As a child, getting a bike fit was as simple as standing over the bike. Now I am a little pickier than that. Whether it is adjusting seat position, stem length or handlebar width on my mountain bike, I know where my comfort zone is and how to get there. A bike that fits well is the difference between a three hour epic and a ticket to the chiropractor.

I have been talking with Team H&R Block�s Directeur Sportif Kevin Noiles recently and have come to think that maybe I have not been as comfortable as I once thought? Following this train of thought I picked up my gear and headed down to see Kevin at his shop, La Bicicletta in Vancouver BC. Professional bike fit is something that has emerged over the past few years and is hugely valuable. It takes approximately an hour to complete and you will likely have to book ahead.

The fitting process starts off the bike as a general body assessment. Measurements are taken of your feet, legs, and ankle rotation. This all helps with the positioning of the cleats on your shoes. Wedge and stack shims are placed under the cleat to compensate for any difference in leg length and creates a much more natural pedaling motion. After getting this set up I was also able to get my Shimano Custom Fit Shoes molded properly to fit my feet in the shop's setup oven.

Once my shoes were set it was time to hop on the trainer and start spinning. At first we focused on the seat height and rail position. Kevin measured a good starting point and then studied pedaling position and habits. Everyone has their own muscle memory and it was nice to see that they weren�t necessarily telling me how to pedal, but making more adjustments based on how I already pedal.. There was always a lot of open dialog making sure that the fit was heading in the right direction and any changes created positive results. Kevin used tools to test angles, measurements and brought out the lasers to insure proper alignment while pedaling. The more time we spent in the trainer the more I could already feel the benefits.


In addition to adjusting saddle position, the cockpit is the second area of concern in bike fit. This in mind, out came the box of stems and it was off with the old, on with the new. Kevin took several measurements with each stem, checking not only length, but rise or drop, and spacer locations. With each adjustment, I�d pedal and see if a muscle group started screaming, or relaxing, until finding that sweet spot. Then we adjusted the bars accordingly to relieve pressure points from the hands and wrists. With a few small adjustments and final checks we were finished.

I was completely blown away by how beneficial this service was. When I think about all the little things for my bike I can justify spending money on, I can�t believe it took this long to actually invest in a proper, custom set up for my body and bike. Since the fitting I have been able to get out on the road and have noticed such a dramatic change. I used to find that after a long ride it was my shoulders, neck and an old knee injury that would ache and end the ride. Now I feel that I can focus more on the enjoyment of the ride and spend time training certain aspects, not just nursing my back and feet until the ride finished. I�ve got a new enthusiasm and motivation to get out on the bike. I�m very happy that we have seen a rider�s dream of a winter. The roads are dry and clear, time to get fit to your bike and head outside for a pedal.