The Number One Mistake Cyclists Make (with Bike Fit)

Expert Bike Fitter Neill Stanbury explains some common occurrences that happen when first setting up your new bike, or when you're looking to buy a new one. These tips will allow you to be more comfortable on the bike and choose the correct setup.

#cycling #bike #fit

[davekashuba]

You totally miss the point of road cycling. It's not about fun or enjoyment - it's all about having the bike that looks the coolest.

[tommyrq]

This is very good information. Seat height is a complicated thing. The most common thing I see on very inexperienced, let’s call them recreational riders (just riding around a park, etc.) is too LOW a saddle. But among new, aspiring and more serious road riders he is absolutely correct. But it’s also a combination of seat type, cycling shorts, seat setback, cleat position, body physiology, etc. That’s what these RCA videos are very good at showing us. But nothing replaces the fact that you must both get in the ballpark on saddle height AND ride miles. Ride miles. Time. And experiment. But not too much. I’ve seen a LOT of “fiddlers” who are constantly changing bike position. They are almost always uncomfortable. Going to a really good bike fitter like this helps get you in the ballpark, but it’s up to you to RIDE (a lot), experiment (not too much) and converge on a good position. Your body will adapt within limits (the ballpark) but once you’re in the ballpark, RIDE. Big kudos to this RCA series—you’re watching a very good bike fitter with a developed philosophy. Not typical! 😊

[Pastamistic]

Thanks to this channel and Neil's fitting content I fixed a 5 year old knee problem that I've barely been managing all this time. I would get a deep dull knee pain in my right knee about an hour after I finished riding. Never hurt during a ride no matter how long or how difficult it was. After checking leg length discrepancy I needed a 5mm shim under my right cleat. That felt great but I noticed I was still chopping my knee at the bottom of the pedal stroke as Neil describes. I dropped my saddle 5mm and it feels great!!!

Now I feel intuitive glute and hamstring engagement, less weight on the handlebars, I don't constantly slip forward on the saddle anymore, I have no problem holding up my torso in the riding position if I let pressure off my hands, and best of all is zero knee pain after a ride.

[gerlachsieders]

From personal experience, I tend to agree with Neil. I have visited many bike-fitters in the past, they all raised my sadle way to high based on 3d-models and angle-programs. I remember always having extreme sadlepain, overstretched legs and muscle soreness. Fortunately, my last bike-fitter lowered my sadle approx 15mm, pedaling feels so much smoother and controlled now, sadle-sores are gone too! All the best, Gerlach Sven

[geothunder]

I read Greg LeMonds book when I was 13 and have always thought his perspective on saddle position was interesting. Using high tech data for the time Cyril Guimard and French physiologists came up with a formula for bike position, all of Guimards Tour winners used it, LeMond, Hinualt, and Fignon. Basically, foot flat thru the pedal stroke, slight knee bend, saddle high and slammed back. Another interesting note is that LeMond encouraged tinkering with your position, he called it micro adjusting. Trying things out millimeters at a time until you have no discomfort in your position. LeMond was also an early advocate of using shoe wedges and addressing leg length discrepancy.

[marksIItimewarps]

A lot of roadies almost never use the drops and this can have a bad influence on bike fit, particularly stack height. If you tweak your aggressive riding position on the drops, you still get a more upright position on the brake hoods for riding in a more relaxed position from time to time.... But many will tweak their aggressive position on the brake hoods which doesn't give them any option for a more relaxed riding position because nothing on the handlebar goes higher than the brake hoods. I think sometimes they're doing this purposefully for the looks. But I hate riding with them, they may look fast, but require so many stops to stretch off the bike.

[Caleketa]

I had always some soft tissue issues on my right side. And tried saddles etc. But since i saw your'e video of saddle position i began at the beginning. First of all the correct setback. Then i did the heel to the pedal position and as you mentioned dropped the saddle 15mm. So, after 2 weeks of riding, everything felt just fine.👍

[sreckosvalina]

I watched one of your videos just before covid and dropped my saddle 25mm after riding for 7 years without any issues. After riding in the lower position for about a month and 700kms later i started to get front knee pain rising from out of a kneeling position or getting up from a chair at work. I can't say for sure the lower position caused the issue but i highly suspect it. I had knee x rays and ultrasounds and nothing showed up which makes me even more suspicious the extra pressure in the patellafemoral joint from a lower saddle caused me a chronic soft tissue injury somewhere in the patellafemoral joint . After more than 3 years my knee is only now starting to get a bit better so i would warn anyone watching these videos to be very cautious about riding with a saddle not high enough.

[MattRose]

Just lowered my seatpost by 1 cm due to some hip pain after a long ride on the smart trainer. Also leveled the saddle, I really didn''t do that after putting the bike on the trainer. And it instantly felt better!

[laramiegrinde]

These videos have helped me so much! I've ridden now for three years and now I get tired out but I'm never ever sore or hurting anywhere at all. It's pretty crazy but I can climb for ages and my quads feel great. But I got there after HOURS of tweaking things but it was a fun learning experience and I love fiddling so it was worth it to me!

[dantelobue]

Would be great to make a video about ankle angle and finding out what is best and how that effects saddle height

[MichaelBoogerd]

I must be in the 20% - had a bike fit and the saddle was extended a good few mm and the stem was replaced - 100 to 120mm... I was surprised as saddle was already quite high... then again, i went into the bike fit asking for an improved aero position (at the compromise to comfort getting very aggressive) but felt really awesome, no back pains, just comfortable on regular road bike. Then bought an aero bike, dialled in the same saddle height, stem length etc.. but the stem was slammed - made the overall reach just a few mm longer and i struggled to ride it - lower back pains, discomfort on longer rides, always riding on nose of saddle... suffice to say i went back to the old bike where position allowed for a much smoother ride, pain free, and more efficiency (power control was better). I'd advise when getting into the market for a superbike, with aggressive geometry, definitely ask for some test rides.. definitely worth finding out if the bike actually is worth it for you (physically).

[PedroPrego]

The problem with getting a frame with a correct geometry is that if one searches for something with a higher stack, one has to go for the endurance range. And when on that endurance range (which is actually starting to disappear in favor of the all-round gravel segment) frame creep up on weight, chainstays increase by 10-20mm, front wheel goes away into the horizon.

I have never seen an industry that is so out of touch with clients needs. And people simply just continue to buy these.

[derekhobbs]

When I last was on the market for new bike, I tried a Focus flat bar bike, but I could tell immediately that it was too aggressive for my body. The ho hum entry level road bike I ended up with is much friendlier.

[TheAntoine]

I think it's good to have a few spacer under the stem (10-15mm), it gives you a room for adjustment if you get more flexible for example. From a structural/stiffness point 10mm of spacer do nothing bad. Then 30mm is less pretty for sure.

[danielhertercasagrande]

Between 16 and 25 years old I was racing in winter time we had the saddle lower than in sommer (Winter Training was mostly jogging)

[robertherd]

The tips on fitting the bike are great but I need some tips on fitting all the bikes in my garage! N+1

[gregknipe]

this has been a great series, a great service to cyclists, not just the dying breed of road cyclists
; ),

[sapinva]

It's easy to fit if you use old school methods. Raise your saddle too high on your fixed gear bike, find a steep hill, lower the saddle until you are comfortable at 150-200 rpm. For set back, put the saddle all the way forward, then move it back until you can pedal with your hands off the bars without face panting. For stem length, go longer until your low back is flat.

[militaryminedid]

So true... coincidentally I just put my BH G7 Pro up for sale as well. Being a bit older and no longer racing, I needed something a little more comfortable where I'm not in that aggressive aero position (neck and shoulder pain started creeping in recently). I picked up a BMC Roadmachine with a higher stack and simply loving it. Good video!