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

Monday, January 27, 2014

FITT 1ST Custom Sizing Cycle fit

This client came in to me to have a sizing fit done for a Custom bike.  The client is 6' 6" tall with a 97 cm inseam, he has relatively long legs for his height , with a shorter femur length than average. He also has longer arms than average.

Unfortunately there are no bikes currently available on the market that would fit him so he needed to go Custom.

Here are the details of his new frame based on the results of the sizing cycle fit.

As you can see, he looks quite comfortable.



This procedure takes about 1.5 hrs to complete.

Effective Top Tube Length : 66 cm
Head Tube length : 28cm
Seat Tube Angle : 74 Degs,  This is steeper than normal to accommodate shorter femur length
Head Tube Angle :  75 Degs  Also steeper than normal to prevent bike from having too long a wheelbase  
Seat post setback :  26 mm for better comfort and compliance
Stem Length :  130 mm +/- 6 Deg for proper handling
Stack Height : 1.5 cm spacers

If you are looking for a new bike this Spring, whether it be custom or not, We can guarantee the perfect fit before you go out and spend your hard earned dollars

Call 416-346-9696 to book your sizing cycle fit today.  " Get FITT before you Commit "

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Effect of Cadence on Aerobic capacity and Power output during racing conditions.

I read a very interesting article in the Journal of Sports Exercise Medicine today that I thought everyone would be interested in.

Here is the link  Effects of Cadence on Aerobic Capacity and Power during Race conditions
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Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Todd Reichert's Knee tracking analysis

An important part of Todd's original bike fit was a complete foot analysis, Several pertinent details were discovered about Todd's feet that would need to be corrected in order for him to transfer maximum power to the pedals in his bid to set the new HPV land speed record.

Todd had high arches that were not being supported correctly in his cycling shoes. As a result when he pushed down on the pedals he was pronating quite dramatically resulting in a lot of inward (medial) knee movement on his left leg. This was causing considerable power loss to the pedal.

On top of this Todd's feet had a tendency to spread under load taking his foot further out of the desired neutral position. Todd's foot analysis also revealed that he had varused forefeet.

The decision was made that Todd could get much better power transfer, with a lot more comfort and stability by having some custom insoles made for his shoes.

I took all the neccessary measurements and sent them off to eSoles to have a pair of Power beds custom made for Todd.

Two weeks later they were in my hands and I brought him back in to be fitted.

Here are the before and after videos of Todd's knee tracking, In the before videos, Todd's feet are unsupported. In the final videos, Todd has eSole Power beds in his shoes as well as In The Shoe (ITS) varus wedges.

These changes will go a long way in helping Todd put maximum power to the pedals in his World Record bid.


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Wednesday, January 8, 2014

FITT 1ST joins AEROVELO team in bid to set HPV Land Speed Record

Meet Todd Reichert, he is the primary athlete and ergonomics design lead for AeroVelo, a team of Applied Science and Technology graduates and students from the University of Toronto that have grown quite a reputation for working on some pretty interesting human powered vehicles (HPV's). That's him piloting the helicopter in the video.

This past summer they succeeded in building and flying a human powered helicopter to capture the 33 year old outstanding Sikorsky prize. You may have read about them or seen them in the news. 

This coming year their target is to break the current human powered land speed record of 133.8 km/hr on a level road in a streamlined recumbent bicycle and they have asked me to help them accomplish that.

The first step was to get Todd in to the studio and get him properly fitted on his road bike which he uses for about 50% of his training. This was completed on Nov 12, 2013

Next we met at AeroVelo's Design Lab on Nov 21 to talk about the building of the recumbent test rig that they will use for building the prototype of the actual recumbent bike that will be used for the record challenge. Topics discussed included back position, BB height, Q Factor ( pedal stance width ) and crank length, just to mention a few. 

The challenge is coming up with the right combination to fit the body in to the smallest aerodynamic shell possible while generating the largest power possible.  This test rig is now in the process of being built

Stay tuned for ongoing updates, however in the meantime take a look at AeroVelo's record challenge in 2011



For more INFO visit the AeroVelo Website
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After the ICE STORM of Dec 22, 2013

Not too many people have been riding outside lately with temps falling to - 25 C in Toronto with wind chills in the -35 - -40 C range.  Holidays are over and it is time to get on that dreaded trainer for the next 3 months.

None of us like the indoor trainer, but unfortunately there are very few other options if we want to keep our base fitness till the Spring

There will be a lot of muscle memory building in your legs over the next 3 months and any flaw in your pedal stroke or position will be amplified when you are on a trainer.

 Be sure you are building muscle memory in the correct position by having your bike fitted now rather than in the Spring

 If you are one of the really hearty types and refuse to come inside. There is always the Fat Bike !!

Happy NEW YEAR and lets make 2014 a banner cycling year

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