What is a bicycle fitting?
Bicycles come in many different sizes, shapes, colors and are sometime made for a specific discipline of cycling – and they also have different geometries (handling traits). People are also wildly different. At Full Moon Vista we realize that you are unique, and we want you to know the joy of riding a bicycle that fits not only your dimensions but also your needs and abilities like a finely tailored garment.
Is your bicycle adapted to you, or are you adapting to your bicycle? Have you ever needed to cut a ride short on a beautiful day because your hands were getting numb or your lower back was getting sore? Do your knees ever feel a little cranky after you ride? Does your bike’s steering feel twitchy and unpredictable? Do you want to make the most of your current fitness level and equipment, but you feel like something is holding you back? If you answered yes to any of these questions then tuning your bicycle and riding technique to be in perfect unity will make your next ride a more enjoyable experience.
There’s much more to a properly fitted bicycle than the frame size. Your bicycle is an incredibly adjustable machine, but the frame’s size only gets you in the ballpark of a good fit. An accurate bicycle fit takes many factors into account including your personal dimensions, cycling goals, flexibility, experience, previous or current injuries and riding style.
Properly fitting your bicycle to you is one of the most important services that we provide at Full Moon Vista. We believe that riding a bicycle that fits you like a glove is more important than the brand or model of bike that you ride. We feel so strongly about the benefits of a properly fitted bicycle that we provide a free fitting to customers who purchase their bicycles from us.
Lastly, our philosophy at Full Moon Vista is that bike fitting is half bike and half rider. What this means is that a riders technique, form and posture play an equally large role in the entire process. Riders are rarely taught correct technique, form and posture, so within our fit session with you, we will advise and explain as needed. There are many times that a bike fits great, but the rider needs some help. To summarize, to achieve symmetry between the rider and the bicycle, everything needs to be reviewed and addressed (not just adjusting bike parts).
How it Works
Our fitting process begins with an interview to determine your physiological & riding history and athletic goals. We particularly want to know about any previous or existing injuries you may have that could potentially affect you on the bike. We want to know about all of your aches and pains – and the good parts about your riding experiences as well.
When your fitting session begins we’ll set up your bicycle on a trainer and have you warm up. If you’re relatively new to cycling, your fit specialist will explain the operation of your bicycle, including braking, shifting, and steering controls, and how they relate to your fit on the bike.
There are three points of contact between you and your bicycle: pedals, saddle, and handlebars. Your fit specialist will assess your position and form on the bike throughout the session, adjusting the contact points as necessary and proceeding based our on our expertise and your feedback.
Along the way, your fit specialist will make specific recommendations with explanations and suggested riding practices that will help reinforce the technique and form that is achieved with the fitting.
One of the most important things you will notice is that the session is interactive from start to finish. This is why we believe that there’s no reliable way to arrive at a reasonable result using a mathematical formula or the latest “professional fitting product”. You are an integral part of the fitting process as much as you are an integral part of your bicycle when you’re riding. We know of no formula that could possibly express your unique situation!
Post-fit Evaluation
We invite you to return for a free re-evaluation of your new position within 60 days of the original fitting session. As you ride in your new position you’ll find that your body evolves. You may be using muscles that you didn’t use before and your flexibility is likely to change too. We may be able to alter your position in ways that were previously inappropriate for you.