RIDE LONGER, RIDE STRONGER, RIDE FASTER, RIDE SAFER, WITH COMFORT

At FITT 1ST we are passionate about the sport of cycling and believe that in order to enjoy this wonderful sport to its fullest, you need to be comfortable above all else. Whether you are a weekly commuter, a dedicated charity rider, serious recreational club rider, elite or professional athlete, road or mountain, it all starts with finding the best position possible for you. Once you are comfortable, then and only then can performance be optimized.We believe that a person’s bicycle when fitted correctly should feel like an extension of their own body, the perfect union between Rider and Machine. You should feel comfortable, safe, balanced, strong and always in control.

K Scott Judges B Sc. ( Founder / Owner )



Contact Info: Tel: 416-346-9696

Email: fitt1stbikefitting@gmail.com



FIT STUDIO AND PERFORMANCE LAB LOCATED AT:

1450 O'connor Dr. Building 2, Unit 105 Toronto ON M4B 2T8

Go to this link for Directions::

https://www.google.com/webhp?source=search_app&gws_rd=ssl#q=1450+o+connor+drive+building+2



WHAT MAKES A " FITT 1ST " BIKE FIT DIFFERENT

"Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I’ll remember. Involve me and I’ll understand”

Confucius

We at FITT 1ST want you to understand your bike fit, that's why we take the extra time to actively involve you in all aspects of the procedure. This way we establish quality communication and feedback.

Our fitting process was developed by the leaders and pioneers in this industry, taught at the SICI Institute to the TOP FITTERS IN THE WORLD. Although our system uses well established scientific criteria as its base we add a very “Rider Centric “ component to our fit procedure by establishing a thorough personalized profile of the rider themselves.

There are no “quick fixes” if a bike fit is done correctly, and that is why our fits are very comprehensive.

Whether you are a pro athlete or a daily commuter, the process remains the same and is equally important for all.

By the time your fit is complete you should not only feel totally satisfied with your new position, you will also have a much greater knowledge and better understanding of how your body and your bicycle work together. You and the bicycle become one. This is how the cycling experience is maximized.


Full FITT Procedure

Step 1: Interview

The fit begins with an extensive interview to establish a personal blueprint of the uniqueness you bring to the bike.

We will gather information about your life off the bike that relates directly to your comfort, efficiency and power on the bike. Lifestyle, fitness level, riding experience, prior injuries, surgeries and current physical concerns all play an important role in determining your ideal position.


Step 2: Foot Assessment

This is a very important aspect of the bike fit and absolutely essential for any rider who uses a clipped in pedal system. The interface between the foot, shoe, cleat and pedal is where it all begins. This is where all your power and efficiency originates.

This is also the source for the majority of foot, knee, hip and sometimes lower back issues that we encounter. Foot size and shape, degree of pronation, arch type, length and height, forefoot and posterior foot varus and valgas and metatarsal support are all evaluated here.


Step 3: Flexibility and Postural Assessment

Everyone has a unique body structure, determined by genetics, how we live our lives, and even what we do for a living. A person who sits in front of a computer all day will have a much different range of motion and flexibility than the fitness trainer, even if they were born identical twins. Chances are they would not be comfortable in the same position on the bike as well. Postural alignment, leg length differences, pelvic asymmetries, spinal flexibility, hamstring flexibility, and hip flexion range of motion, IT bands and internal hip flexors will all be assessed.


Step 4: On Bike Assessment

Everything we do on the bike is to ensure that the bike fits you. It makes more sense to change a stem, saddle position or handle bar position than to force one's body into a position that is unnatural. This process will result in a position that accommodates all of your natural bio-mechanics, removing excess pressure on all your joints.

Foot stability, cleat alignment, ankling pattern, knee tracking, pelvic angle, upper body alignment, arm and hand positions will all be optimized to ensure that you will be riding safely and comfortably for your current skill and fitness level. We will be asking for your feedback continually through this phase.


Step 5: Evaluation and Recommendations


We will do our best to adapt your existing equipment to you. However there may be changes that we will recommend to you. A new handlebar with shallower reach and drop to accommodate your arm and hand position, a different saddle that fits your body and riding style better or something as small as adding a wedge to one of your cleats. Any one of these small changes can make a world of difference in your ability to enjoy, perform well and ride safely on the bike.

If your bike is just the wrong size and or geometry for you, we will tell you so, and give you advice on what manufacturers makes, models and size would be a much better fit for you and your style of riding.

All of your data will be recorded, so that you will have a permanent record of all the key bike measurements.


To book a fitting contact:


or call Scott Judges at 416-346-9696

Thursday, December 22, 2011

WEEKLY " FITT " TIP............... CRANK SIZE "THIS IS ONE INSTANCE WHERE SHORTER CAN BE BETTER "

There has always been an ongoing debate on what size crank arm is best for you,

Some people have mathematical formulas so you can calculate crank length, some have charts,

I won't list them all here, since depending on which source you use you come up with a different size.

Not much help is it  !!

Then you have the people that say that crank length should depend on what type of pedalling style you have.

If you are a faster cadence SPINNER, you should have smaller size cranks to help you spin faster using less energy and if you are a lower cadence MASHER you should have longer cranks to generate more leverage and therefore power.

In all honesty I have tried crank sizes from 170 mm to 175 mm and have a hard time distinguishing any difference in power generation or my ability to turn the pedals faster. 

It is just too much of a subtle differance for me to feel it.

Track sprinters of all sizes and heights with Quads like Godzilla sometimes use crank lengths in the 165mm range and are generating 1500 watts over short distances with a cadence  in excess of 200 rpm's

Just as an aside, Sir Chris Hoy, one of Great Britain's best track sprinters of all time can leg press 631 kilograms 5 x in a row. Thats over 1388 lbs. Now you know what I mean by Godzilla quads.

Ever ask yourself... Why they aren't using longer cranks?

Most crank length formulas use a function of Inseam length in cm's as part of the calculation

For example :

crank length (mm) = Inseam (cm) X 1.25 + 65  ( Not my formula by the way )

For a person with an inseam of  81cm  (typical of someone who is 5' 8" tall) the suggested crank length would be...

81 X 1.25 = 101.25 + 65 = 166.25 mm

Typically most people this height are using 172.5 mm cranks though

WHY?

Most people this tall, are usually riding bikes somewhere in the 52 - 54 cm frame size range and 172.5 mm cranks is the standard size cranks that come on these size bikes from every Manufacturer.

Why?  Who knows

One important question rarely addressed however is....

How does crank length relate to an individuals leg anatomy ?

For arguments sake, lets take 2 people that both have an inseam length of  81 cm.

These people would typically be around 5' 8" - 5' 9"

One has a femur length (upper leg) of 42 cm and a tibia length (lower leg) of 39 cm
The other has a femur length of 40 cm and a tibia length of 41 cm

Should both these people be using the same size crank??

The answer is NO THEY SHOULDN'T

WHY?

The answer lies in the knee and hip angle at the top of the pedal stroke for both cyclists

Both these people having the same total leg length would have the same saddle heights to achieve equal extension at the bottom of the pedal stroke as long as they have approx. the same flexibility

Good extension at the bottom of the pedal stroke would result in a knee angle between 145 -148 degrees for most average cyclists. Can be up to 155 degrees for pros and elite cyclists.

Now lets come around to the top of the pedal stroke

Would both these cyclists have the same knee angle and hip angle at the top of the pedal stroke?

The answer is NO,

The person with the longer tibia will have a more acute (tighter) knee angle and hip angle than the person with the longer femur.

For good efficiency through the top of the pedal stroke, we typically need a minimum of 70 degrees of knee angle or more, preferably 74 - 75 degrees if possible for smooth transition over the top.

The person with the longer femur would typically have that.

The person with the longer tibia however may only have 65 degrees of knee angle at the top of the pedal stroke making transition through the top quite difficult resulting in having to raise the hip to bring the leg through,

IE Rocking in the saddle

We can't raise their saddle any more or they will be overextending, so what do we do

The answer lies in crank arm length

The person with the longer tibia would benefit greatly by having a shorter crank 

WHY ?

A shorter crank would open up the riders knee angle and hip angle at the top of the pedal stroke making for a smoother transition.

Here is how it works

For every 2.5 mm shorter your crank length is you would have to raise your saddle height by the equivalent 2.5 mm to maintain the same extension at the bottom of the pedal stroke.

When you come around to the top of the pedal stroke, your foot is also 2.5 mm lower in relation to your hip than the longer crank would be.

To make a long storey short

For every 2.5 mm shorter your crank is you gain 5 mm of knee and hip room at the top of the pedal stroke..

This means that if the cyclist with the long tibia's uses cranks 5 mm shorter than the cyclist with the longer femurs he can achieve a 1 cm (approx. 4 degrees) less acute knee and hip angle at the top of the pedal stroke allowing for much better efficiency than with the longer cranks

This change would give the cyclist with the longer tibias (lower leg) a knee angle of 69 degrees instead of 65 degrees with the longer cranks.

Combine this with moving the cyclist with the longer tibia's' saddle forward  a little more in relation to the cyclist with the longer femurs ( this further opens hip angle) and we will be able to match the knee and hip angle at the top of the pedal stroke for both riders


YOU SEE...  SHORTER CAN BE BETTER,

Even if you have longer femurs than tibias, you may want to cosider slightly shorter cranks if you have trouble coming through the top of your pedal stroke efficiently.

For the cyclist with the long tibia's it is IMPERATIVE, for the cyclist with the long femurs it's a BONUS

These are some of the important subtleties of a professional bike fit.

Any questions or to book a fit.... Give me a call