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

Sunday, January 27, 2013

LATEST TRI FIT

Meet Geoff, He has been involved in Triathlon for only 6 months and will be doing his first full Ironman this August at Mt. Tremblant, Que.

Geoff was referred to me through BeginnerTriathlete.com and his objective was to optimize his position for Comfort and Power.

Geoff's current position as you will see in his Before Fit video (see below) had some issues very common with triathletes in general.

1:  Geoff"s torso is compressed. ( notice how curved it is ).

This causes your diaphragm to be restricted, which prevents you from taking full deep breaths.

2:  Geoff's sacrum is rolled back, very indicative of a person who slumps in a chair while at the computer.

Posture is very important on the bike, This poor posture causes the compression of the torso as mentioned earlier, restricts your ability to look down the road causing neck pain, disengages your glutes, drastically affecting the power and efficiency of your pedal stroke.

This also causes your centre of gravity to be too far back on the bike, causing a poor handling front end which can be very unnerving on fast descents.

3:  Saddle too far forward.  this causes loss of power,
 
Yes, we want to be further forward than what we would typically be on a road bike to open up our hip angle a bit and take pressure off the hamstrings so that we can run faster, sooner when we get off the bike, however too far forward cause loss of power and the we lose the ability to efficiently use our hamstrings at all, putting excess pressure on the quads.

Effectively we end up pushing the pedals back instead of down.

4:  Not enough leg extension

This decrease pedal efficiency especially coming over the top of the pedal stroke where most cyclists have a major dead spot

5:  Arms too stretched out

Causes the rider to hold themselves in position using upper body strength
You need to supported skeletally on the aerobars so that you can relax the upper body and put all of your energy in to your pedal stroke.

These are just a few of the issues that can be resolved with a proper bike fit.

Watch Geoff's After fit video and listen to what he has to say, I couldn't have said it better myself.

Have a great race at Mt Tremblant Geoff


GEOFF BEFORE FIT

                                                              GEOFF AFTER FIT

Thursday, January 24, 2013

FITT 1ST GOING TO RACE ACROSS AMERICA ( RAAM ) IN 2013

I have some exciting news to announce.  Peter Oyler, a well known Canadian ultra endurance cyclist will be competing in the RACE ACROSS AMERICA (RAAM) this June in the SOLO division.

This is a 3300 mile race that Peter hopes to complete in 10 days,  YES that's 10 DAYS

I am very excited to have been chosen as part of Peter's 6 man/woman crew to help him accomplish this incredible goal.  My main responsibilities as his bike fitter and head mechanic will be a challenge indeed, and I am thoroughly looking forward to it

As a bike fitter, it is a rare opportunity to observe and engage in a challenge of the human body and spirit of this magnitude.

The race starts is California on June 11, 2013 and finishes in Annapolis, Maryland

For more information visit  www.raceacrossamerica.org  and  http://www.peteroylerraam.com

STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES AND REPORTS
  

TORONTO SPRING BIKE SHOW MAR 1 -3

The Spring bike show is just around the corner and although it is -15 deg C out there most cyclists minds are well in to the 2013 season, planning races and well in to off season training

Possibly this is the year you are going to get that dream bike you've been saving up for

If so, you will want to make sure that you buy the right one for you. Consider a size cycle fit, and make sure all your hard earned cash is effectively spent

Just a reminder that NOW is also the best time to get a bike fit done on your existing bike, if your bike is not feeling particularly comfortable on the trainer.

The reason why you felt pretty good on your bike last Fall and now not so much so is that cycling on the trainer is a very static activity, constantly pushing on the pedals, no ability to coast and no wind to cool you down.

In this type of situation all the flaws in your position and pedal stroke are AMPLIFIED

Ever notice how your saddle feels comfortable for a 6 hr ride outside and after an hour and a half on the trainer you are wondering if this is the same saddle.

Most of us will be outside hopefully in just another 8 weeks, That's 8 solid weeks of muscle memory building

MAKE SURE ALL THAT HARD EARNED MUSCLE MEMORY IS IN THE RIGHT POSITION ON YOUR BIKE!!

Here's to another GREAT cycling season