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The Bike Fit Academy

849 members • Free

2 contributions to The Bike Fit Academy
Why do I need to keep changing my fit?
I hesitate to post this, as I may get a bit of a scolding, but here it goes . . . I'm not exactly the brightest tool in the refrigerator, so it may just be that there is something obvious that I'm overlooking. I have this OCD thing about constantly adjusting my bike fit. (This seems to get worse as the years go by. Past few years it's pretty much every ride I'm changing things. YES, I know I shouldn't be doing that, but . . . ) No matter how I adjust it, it always feels like something is not right. I DON'T mean that it causes pain, it's more that a lot of the effort my legs are putting out isn't making it to the pedals. Sometimes the fit feels so far off, it's physically impossible for me to do more than a Z1 effort, even if I had the fitness of Pogacar! (And I know it's not fatigue, because there've been times when adjusting the saddle 5 mm doubled my speed going up a 12% grade, without an increase in perceived effort. Maybe I'm just hyper-sensitive to fit changes?) Often, my pedal stroke is very jerky/choppy. Occasionally, my legs do weird things, like bowing out 20-30 cm from the TT on the upstroke, but, as soon as the down-stroke starts, they violently swing in, nearly hitting the TT. I don't dare mention the number of fit changes I made since I began detailed records in 2008! I've had 5 "pro" bike fittings, every one left me LESS comfortable, and slower. The measurements from them were so different, you'd swear they were for 5 different cyclists! For example, one had a saddle-to-bar reach of 52 cm, another 59 cm. One had the saddle setback 6 cm behind BB, another had it 12 cm. So, I know I won't find an answer by getting another pro fit. (Apparently, the fitters here in the USA are nowhere near the caliber of those in the UK.) The main issue seems to be that I need to keep changing my position . . . in order to stay in the same (relative) position. What I mean is, the most efficient (and comfortable) saddle position is pretty much HOP for height, and KOPS for setback, give or take a few mm. The thing is, some days HOP is 77 cm saddle height, other days it's 80 cm. Some days KOPS is 6 cm setback, other days it's 10 cm. If I didn't know better, I'd think my legs randomly grow and shrink at will, or something! (And, yes, I'm using the same bike, pedals, saddle, etc.) Often, soon after I start a ride, I'm like, "WHAT THE &@%*!?!?!?!", because the position feels so screwed up, it's like I'm on someone else's bike! (Even though at the end of the last ride, the fit felt perfect.) So, I spend most of the ride adjusting things 1 -- or 3 -- dozen times, then — usually a couple hundred meters before the end — I finally get it just right . . . or so I think. Then, on the next ride, once again it's "WHAT THE @^#*?!?!?!?!" So, the whole process starts again. (Similarly, immediately after doing a DIY indoor fit, that fit that felt just right feels horrible riding on the road. Again, I DON'T mean pain-wise, but efficiency/power.) Could such big differences in height and fore/aft on a daily basis indicate something physical is going on? Is it possible that I just need different positions on different days?
2 likes • 12d
During COVID I had an online bike fit with Phil Burt, who had been head physio at British Cycling for 12 years, followed by consulting physio at Team Sky. Although an online bike fit (I sent in front, side and rear videos) isn't ideal, it was only $60! At any rate, Burt talks about the "bike fit window". If you're an office worker, you will likely be a bit stiff coming into the weekend. But at the end of riding on the weekend, you're more flexible coming into Monday. The goal is to find a bike fit that is relaxed enough to accommodate your stiffness, but aggressive enough for when you are more flexible. He also speaks of "micro adjusters" vs "macro absorbers" Eddy Merckx was a famous micro adjuster. He was always fiddling with his position, even during a race! Other riders could be put on a bike that didn't fit them and they didn't even notice the difference. You sound like a micro adjuster, where a slight change in fit can make a big difference in comfort. As you've been to pro bike fitters before, I don't think I'm qualified to give you much advice. But, if you're technically oriented, learn as much as you can about bike fit on your own. You may find that you can do a good job fitting yourself. Burt told me, as my pro bike fitter in person did, that I was already in the bike fit window before I consulted them. So I must have learned something! Phil Burt has a book, simply callled Bike Fit. Online, I have found that the UK Bike Fit channel has provided lots of useful information. There is also a channel named Bike Fit Advisor, with a bike fitter name John Weirath. His channel has tons of information on bike fitting. It hasn't been updated lately, but the old information is still valid. Finally, there is a free program named Kinovea, that allows you to upload videos of yourself riding. You then use the measuring tools in the program to determine any of your riding angles, how inline your legs are, etc. My in person bike fitter actually uses the same program to aid in his fits. I hope this helps you.
outside of foot discomfort
I am getting a pulling sensation with the tendon on the outside of my foot from my little toe to the heel on one foot. Is this due to too narrow a stance width? I believe I have a pelvic tilt with that leg a bit shorter than my other one.
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Perry Middlemist
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3points to level up
@perry-middlemist-1850
Long time amateur road cyclist who has studied bike fit from every source I can find!

Active 21h ago
Joined Mar 13, 2026
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