Colorado Multi Sport

Thought we would give Look a break and switch gears. We like this web page showing our FFMD (Fore Foot Measuring Device) and our original goniometer off the bike.
http://coloradomultisport.com/about-us/fitting/what-to-expect-from-a-fit/
Check it out. If you are looking to spice of your web site this one is cool to see.
Colorado Mutli Sport has been a customer for a long time. We would like to say thanks for the support.

Keep LOOKing even at other pedals like Shimano and Speedplay

More marks on the inside - but is this exclusive to LOOK. Nope, you will find this on others as well.

Shimano road is made from tougher material and may not show it as easily but you will find this. Speedplay may show it on the sping in an X series pedal and inside the circle of the cleat on the base plate. Just as with LOOK the wear marks will be more often near the outer edge.

Remember to check out George Hood who is still pedaling. World Record in progress for Gunnar Hotchkin Memorial Fund http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hood-s-guinness-world-record-attempt  Don’t forget to send him a note – info on the link above.    Host facility – http://www.urbantrigear.com/

World Record in progress for Gunnar Hotchkin Memorial Fund

BikeFitter Bernie Conway called me this morning about a cyclist with some knee discomfort/pain but he is in the middle of his ride…..a world record attempt.

Outer knee discomfort – one look at this video and an immediate suggestion came to mind. What do you think we suggested? Watch him pedal live now.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hood-s-guinness-world-record-attempt

As of our last look we have not seen the change but we will see if he eventually give the suggestion a try.
In the mean time we want to wish George Hood all the best in his attempt and fund raising efforts. Don’t forget to send him a note – info on the link above.

Host facility – www.urbantrigear.com

LOOK - under the front toward the inside

A small wear mark. Are you looking here to see the uneven wear?

Pedals can tell a story.

In all bike fits you should check for wear, particularly wear on pedals. On Keo pedals one place to check is  the bottom. Rotate the pedal and look under the front area of the pedal. You will usually notice wear toward the inside. See the gray area on this left black Keo pedal.

Why? Most people have a varus fore foot and the inside of the foot is higher than the outside of the foot. When you clip in this natural tilt is forced flat but the foot likes to fight back a bit to try and be more in its natural position – result on the pedal is usually a wear mark of some sort that shows the foot is not in its desired position.

This particular pedal and many others like it show the need to add a wedge. A more even wear is desirable at this area when you do a bike fit.

BikeFit Pro Education Classes are almost completely full

Just letting everyone know there is only one scheduled class left in 2010 with space available. This is our clinical education class Dec 4-5.  Click here for more information -  http://bikefit.com/schedule10.php

If interested in adding a date before the end of the year there is little space left to do so. Act fast if this is an interest and we will see if we can squeeze in another date.

For our Green & Red Level BikeFit Pros we are offering a special on our new laser. Regular cost is $149.95. For the rest of October you can purchase it for $115.00. Must phone in your order and mention this blog post.

Being a BikeFit Pro has is privileges. This is just one small example.

Our new Self Leveling Laser for front and side view

Front view – knee over tow alignment
Side View - saddle fore/aft of each leg (never use plumb bob again)

Our new self leveling laser. Just set it down and turn it on. Projects vertical and horizontal line. For more information     http://bikefit.com/prodtools.php

Speedplay Information Pad.....what is this?

So how do I send my customer or patient to the local Speedplay dealer and make sure they get the correct length pedal spindles?

Get your Speedplay information pad ......available soon

more on 20mm pedal spacers

What is the issue with using them with pedals that are put on with an allen wrench as opposed to pedal wrenches?  Is it that you cannot get a tight enough contact between the pedal and the spacer?

I hope these pictures help in understanding why you need a pedal wrench. There is one other spacer I have seen with a thru hole that allowed room for a 6mm allen key to pass but the problem is all the pedals we work with require an 8mm allen key so the hole is not really useful.

SPECIAL - Good for October 18-20, 2010 - mention this blog and recieve $5.00 off an order on a set of 20mm spacers. Limit one set per person

No 20mm pedal spacers on carbon cranks...well most carbon cranks

Why do you not recommend 20mm pedal spacers with carbon cranks?
Thanks for the question. To be honest it is not so much that BikeFit recommends this but rather some manufactures do not support this.

This is a tough one for us to hold back with our actual thoughts but we will….for now.

This is what a few companies have told us. I may not have this word for word so do not hold us accountable to exact wording but here is a synopsis of a few conversations.

Use of 20 mm pedal spacers – what we think

Zipp –    Voids warranty
FSA-     Voids warranty on ALL their cranks … and they said they will void warranty even if you use a longer pedal spindle – now I did not get a range or what they actually consider a longer spindle as not all pedal widths are the same – most are close but again not all are the same
Truvativ – waiting for an update
Specialized – says they are OK if you use a 20mm pedal spacer on their carbon cranks.

So guess what I ride? I love my Specialized Tarmac S works with carbon cranks.
Right side - I go back and forth between a ½ inch longer spindle (Speedplay Zeros - which I actually pay for) or I use a regular length spindle and a 20 mm pedal spacer.
Left Side -I use a ¼ inch long spindle..

Hope I get to ride a Specialized for a long time!

Lower saddle on the track

Why do we see lower saddles on the track?

To preface this reply I need to mention this question came in reference to 6 day track cyclists.

In general - the shorter the track the lower the saddle. Also the higher the bars but that is for another topic.

Why? One reason is the smaller gears being used which also goes with the higher pedal cadence.

Even some so called experienced track cyclists have not ridden on a very short and steep tracks and really cannot answer this question. In a overly simplified explanation - Pedal harder on the straight s and easier thru the bends (turns) is the technique.  

The smaller gears and higher cadence allow for less pressure on the knee and therefore the cyclist tend to get away with a lower saddles and yet fewer pains/discomforts. A bigger gear combined with a low saddle would predispose cyclists to potentially more stress at the knee.

A new blog that brings up the topic is http://www.kingbikefit.blogspot.com/

from Auburn - more re-cap

This in from one of the fits in Auburn - Jeff also joined us on our pre "Has Been" day ride. Jeff was a tough fit and ended up with 2 LLshims and a single stack on one side in addition to his Cleat Wedges.

Paul

Thanks so much for taking the time to do a fit on me. I really enjoyed the time spent while you were doing the “fit” and the ride with you and the other guys at the shop afterwards. I rode 62 miles Saturday, 35 miles Sunday and another 35 on Monday, the fit feels great. Saturday I tried to make myself sit forward on the seat (you had said I sit way back off the seat) and by the time I got home from the ride it felt more natural, so Sunday and Monday it really felt good! Also I’m able to ride in the drops and on the hoods with a lot more comfort, and no aches or twinges from the knees either; I even noticed my cruising speed seemed faster.

Thanks again.

Jeff Dorminey

Montgomery, AL

Speedplay - Bike Fit Systems - Andy Pruitt - Cleat Wedges

Nice article on one of our favorite products, the Pro Fit Case by Speedplay which includes our Cleat Wedges, the only product not branded Speedplay in this case. Speedplay has advanced the world of bike fitting far beyond any other pedal company. You will also see mention in the article of our largest individual purchaser of Cleat Wedges over the past 10 years, Andy Pruitt. Congratulations to Andy for using our product and being mentioned as one of the world’s best known bike fitters.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/07/bikes-tech/speedplay-the-little-pedal-with-the-big-presence-in-the-tour_128526

Here is a photo of Paul and Richard the owner/founder of Speedplay talking about his award in 2009.

As we have said for years, proper bike fit begins at the pedal. Thank you Speedplay for also listing several of our top customers in this ad - click here www.labici.com.cn/cn/ad/ProFitAd_BicycleRetailer3.pdf 

Happy Pedals

general re-cap

4 Bike Fits Auburn AL - October 8th

Average # of wedges required was just over 2 per foot.

Left 2 varus Cleat Wedges - 1 single stack
Right 2 varus Cleat Wedges
Left foot lined up wider than right

Left   2 Varus Cleat Wedges –
Right 3 Varus Cleat Wedges, 2 LL shims (3mm) and 1 single stack
Left foot lined up wider than right

Arrived with 2 BG shims per foot
Left   2 ITS Wedges
Right 2 ITS Wedges
Compared BG shims and ITS wedges back and forth – cyclist preferred the feeling of the ITS Wedges.
Need to add a Cleat Wedge or two (if two then reduce the ITS by one). Cyclist was using Crank Brothers cleats and pedals and we did not have a shoe shield to be able to put a Cleat Wedges under the sheild.
Stance width was about equal

Left  2  Varus Cleat Wedges
Right 2 Varus Cleat Wedges
Slightly wider left stance

3 of 4 cyclists displayed wider left stance
ITS was preferred in back and forth comparison.
2 cyclists required a shim

Do your fits compare to this?

Connection of Excellence - Speedplay - AGAIN!

Adjustability: Winning for the 2nd year in a row, Speedplay continues to stomp the competition with their Pro Fit Case. Start with a pedal system that has the greatest range of adjustability. Cleats provide adjustable fore/aft, medial lateral and rotation from fixed to free floatation. This case then boasts additional fore/aft extender plates, world famous cleat wedges, leg length shims, stainless steel protector plates and every screw you can image for working with Speedplay cleats and pedals…The icing on the cake - 5 different spindle lengths.

Paul here with Richard Bryne the man behind the infamous pedals. – photo from 2009.

BG Saddles

Hey Paul, 
Noticed you mentioned a few times that the BG saddles from Specialized are often the saddle of choice for your fits. Are there any particular models that you like or seem to be using the most?
Thanks! Matt

Matt,
I have had luck with several models if not most of them. They simply offer many good fitting saddles in several varieties. It is rare we are not able to help someone gain comfort with the Specialized line of saddles. Sorry if that is not specific enough for you but it is what we experience.
Paul

The BikeFit Tour – South East

Friday – BikeFit Demos – Auburn, AL.
October 8th at “The Bike Shop” in downtown Auburn, AL
Friday afternoon is an easy group ride with many of the “Has Beens” starting at 2pm
Fit schedule – 9am fit, 10:45 am fit, 2pm ride, 4pm fit
If you would like more information e-mail Brian@BikeFit.com
No charge to watch and ask questions – come join us.

Connection of Excellence – for the feet!

Super is right!  They aren’t the world-leading insole for nothing.  Their cycling insole has features beyond most people’s understanding.  Built into the design is more thought and energy than any insole on the market.  This includes a heel support with a slight varus tilt- perhaps the most overlooked part of the foot in bike fitting today.  Superfeet also had the insight to design their insoles to work perfectly with the world’s leading in-the-shoe wedge, BikeFit ITS.  Super indeed!

What can we say the Best working with the Best!

Nice FIT!

Connection of Excellence 2010 for brake levers goes to SRAM

Give SRAM a hand! This 2-time winner just can’t be out-done. Racers and riders alike spend the majority of time with their hands on the hoods of their brake levers. So why not make the hoods the most comfortable place for your hands to be anyway? Invented by SRAM, the adjustable reach feature allows riders of all sizes to adjust their brake and shift lever position. Thanks to SRAM for “making the leap.” SRAM- still the best.

Cleat Wedges - rumor has it something "Big" is coming soon

Biomechanics of Human Gait “When the Feet Hit the Ground…..Everything Changes”

I had a treat today of being able to sit in on a couple courses about feet. I was quite surprised to see some of my own information/literature referenced. The kicker happened when the instructor held up a Cleat Wedge and an ITS Wedge – without hesitation she said the Cleat Wedge is most likely the better solution for most feet…...I had to say to myself I agreed. After all we have known that for years.

With that…..drum roll…….it looks like a Big One is coming on board with that same idea/solution. I hope I am not jumping the gun as I have not seen it myself but I believe real soon Cleat Wedges will be reaching an entirely new world.

Stay tuned.