Take this test! Are you a difficult Bike Fit?

Some people are easier bike fits than others. Take this simple test to see whether you're an easy or a tough bike fit.

[bikefitadviser]

I wanted to thank everyone for their input....really interesting to see all the numbers, please, keep them coming. ALSO, thank you just for the respectful replies in general (not just this video). I swear I must have the lowest percentage of trolling comments, which has made this a lot more enjoyable.... Best, John

[stephenmiller]

I'm 83 and my numbers are very close to average (not particularly easy or difficult fit) and have been riding a bike for 3 years that I bought online, largely based on my inseam measurement. It felt "just right" "as assembled" and I've never had to change anything. FYI, I actually managed to break the record for my age group (81 at the time) in a 50 mile ride/race (Firehouse 50 in Cable, Wisconsin).

[kingdempa]

Inseam to height ratio: 43.5%
Ape Index ~ 0.5
Flexibility 3/3

I don't think i've had much issues getting fitted over the years. I've actually become a lot fitter and flexible over the past 5 years. Weird now that i'm actually getting closer to my 40's :)

[jjjr]

I knew I was lucky. 75" tall 32" inseam with 79" wingspan I never understood how everyone was so picky. I can ride 19" to 22" mtb and 56-63cm roadie with out much discomfort. Cleared that up. Great video. Subbed!

[JoelPeck]

I'm 181cm (5'11") - inseam is around 46.5% and ape index is about 7cm.

This suggests I'm a relatively easy bike fit but strangely I always feel that my arms are too short. I'm looking to buy a new road bike (Focus Paralane) and I'm stuck between the 54cm and 56cm frames. The reach feels good on the 54 but other than that it feels a bit too small (with the saddle at the correct height I find the position too aggressive). With the 56 I feel a bit too stretched out (even though this test suggests otherwise).

[dan]

I was surprised. I always thought I had a long torso from what a couple of fitters have mentioned. I just measured and my inseam is 48%, ape index is 3.8 and quite flexible. So, maybe it's my arms instead of the torso that made me not fit my last bike properly (bike reach was too short).

Thanks for the great videos!

[kristenburnham]

Yup. As I suspected. I am a challenge. My inseam is 49.6% and my "ape index" is -1. 😩 Add to that to some long standing scapular weakness from a nerve injury and you have a bike fit mess. This is another reason o should make a fitting appointment. Thankfully I live in Grand Junction. Thanks for the advice.

[ignitione]

So I'm 70.9'' tall, wingspan 72.84", and inseam 33". In centimeters these are 180.2 cm, 185 cm, 84 cm (this is the system I actually measured myself with). Hopefully I'll fit into my still to come Canyon Ultimate size M!

[mjr]

I'm 71, just getting back on the bike after 15+ years as a couch potato.
Inseam is spot on, ape index is a plus 1.5, but the athleticism....forget it. I've been on the sofa so long, my skin has gone chameleon and it now matches the sofa. Which is embarrassing since the sofa is a paisley print.

Not sure what I've gleaned from this, but I do find it interesting from a data perspective.

[pbillings]

Would have been good to look at a 2D graph of inseam ratio vs. ape index and identify the quadrants where you would want to size up or down.

[McSlobo]

Reach is not exactly the same as wingspan. It also depends on your chest width and how flexible your shoulders are. But yeah, this is something to start with.

[laurco]

Great video - reducing complex things and making them simple and understandable is your sweet spot! I'm 47% (82/175 cm) and +4 cm ape. I'd say average flexibility. I've heard a hard time with bike fit. First bike was a 56 cm race oriented and had lots of neck pain. Now on a 54 cm endurance and much better but still some pain after long rides. But still for whatever reason I feel like I could use a shorter cockpit.

[elmoreglidingclub]

Male, 64 yo, probably 6/10 on flexibility scale. Inseam is 47.95%. Ape index is +1”. Bike riding is a huge joy; bike fitting is no joy at all.

Huge appreciation for your videos. All I’ve seen have been a great help. So now, the follow up video to this one will be about how to use your numbers to go bike shopping, right?!

[newhampshirebound]

Your videos helped me pick the right size. The inseam and reach ratio did it. So I went with a smaller frame with proper reach. Saddle height is easiest thing to modify. Really important to get right on a modern trail bike with an already short stem. Good stuff here, enjoying your channel.

[useport]

hey john, for mtb, do you have any videos on how grips and cockpit controls should be set in regards to the wrist extension/flexion? and also where should the grips be contacting my hand and palm(ie base of my palm or mid palm where the wrinkles are located? should i be setting up my cockpit and brake levers when im off the saddle in the attack position? please let me know. thanks for the awesome content as always.

[newtonsantos_photo]

Hi John, your insight about this matter makes a lot of sense. I can take by my experience, where I consider myself a "Square Fit Guy" kkk on a good way, once my main parameters are 49% and Zero. And, I have changed from one brand to the other (local and Worldwide ones) in the last decades with no issues to have my body adapted to the new bike's models. The athleticism also makes a huge difference not only choosing a bike, but in our entire life style !!! Thank you, Blue Skies

[technomama]

inseam: 49% ape index: 2 Thank you so much for this, now I have proof of handlebars being too low in most standard geometries.

[LarsEchterhoff]

Height: 73.74" / 187, 3 cm
Inseam: 36.54" / 92, 8 cm
Wingspan: 76.14" / 193, 4 cm

Inseam/Body-Relation: 49.5% (3.5% above avg)
Ape-Index: +2.4" / +6, 1 cm

Thank you for your channel! As always: Great video with easy digestible information.

[tommorgan]

Great video, I've always had a pretty easy time fitting stock bikes.
numbers are
Inseam 47%
Ape index +8cm
Above average mobility and athleticism.
I look for a bike with around a 73 degree seat angle, 40 cm +- 5 cm of reach, and a stack between 570 to 600 cm, and I'm set, which usually isn't too hard to find.

[cathalkeane-breslin]

Wow John, I'm absolutely blown away! I've watched a lot if not most of your videos by now and I'm just amazed by your diligence! There is no variable of the fit left un-turned, and it seems that you seek for PERFECTION in ones bike fit.

I live in Ireland and have had three bike fits over the last 4 years in the quest for more comfort on the bike, but I'm still not much better. Its really frustrating because bike fits here start at €100 for 1.5 hours up to €200+ for 2.5/3 hours, and this is a big chunk of change for me!
I find that fitters here do assess my flexibility/inflexibility / strengths/weaknesses during the fit, but I'm not sure they actually take them into account. It feels like they just try to fit me into an 'angle window' that is the norm for the average cyclist... which isn't much good for me.
I would LOVE to have someone as meticulous as yourself to spend as long as it takes with me, to get me sorted.

I'm a CAT 2 rider and pretty fit and flexible. I do however have a pretty tight pelvis, am quad dominant, have fairly lazy glutes and
a bit of an anterior pelvic tilt.
I find I have a number of issues on the bike I would love to solve!:
1. Numbness in 'the bits' - I can't remember a time I naturally sat on my sit bones, I always seemed to sit on my gooch. I do try to sit back on my sit bones but it throws me off a bit, and I can't maintain sitting on my sit bones when I need to be 100% balanced on my bike (decent for example - let along a TT).
2. Numb feet
3. Numb left hand - only started recently in the last 8-12 months
4. Lower back pain (right down low) - can get quite sever after a couple of hours, especially when the heat is on in a race. I find I need to get out of the saddle to stretch my pelvis forward over the top tube, which gives a bit of relief for a minute but not much. When its chronic, I get dropped, power goes out the window I'm in so much pain.
5. My left foot is slightly shorter in length than my right, about a half size EU smaller. My left foot has this want to be pulled back to the heal of the shoe every couple of pedal strokes. Its really irritating, puts strain on my knee and left hamstring, and sucks a bit from power output.

With relevance to this particular video, I have fairly long arms and legs compared to my torso - But I'm definitely going to have a look into the %ages and metrics you mentioned.

Thanks for all this absolutely priceless content! Its great to finally have someone giving logical explanations to bike fitting :)

All the best.