Keep the count coming

On a recent trip to France I had the opportunity of fitting 3 cyclists and make recommendations on a 4th cyclist.

Rider #1.
2 wedges left foot, 3 wedges right foot - measured everything with the Look Keo Fit System and after the wedges had been placed the rider can now use a gray cleat while before due to "excessive rotation" could only ride with a red cleat. Right cleat was moved in about 1mm to get better tracking. Other changes were raise and moved forward seat (original leg extension just about 30 degrees) and flip stem. For the first time he felt that his big toes were making contact with the soles of the shoes.

Rider #2
1 wedge left and 2 wedges right foot. Did not measure anything with the Keo Fit System. Seat was raised and moved forward (original extension a little shy of 30 degrees). During his 45 minute ride during lunch hour he noticed a much improved pedal stroke and improved comfort in his shoes.

Rider #3
With the FFMD I recorded 15 degree varus left and 20 degree of varus on the right food. Started out with 2 wedges left and 3 right and the knee tracking was much improved. Other changes were also were to raise the seat and move forward. Double checked for cleat rotation with the Look Keo Fit System and his number showed much less rotation after the fact which was very visible by looking at the rider from the front.

Rider #4
The recommendation is to start with 1 wedge left and 2 wedges right and then build up if needed after that. This rider uses Keo Quarz pedals on his road bike which is his training bike as he races MTB on week-end and wants to have the same set-up for his shoes.


In this picture we can really see why his right knee does not track correctly. He also complains that after 2 hours he starts getting pain on the outside of his knee/leg.


This frontal view depicts very well what 10 degrees of Varus do to the pedaling mechanics.


Summary:

Fits: 3 +1

Wedges Used: 13 +3

Average Wedges per rider: 4

Average Wedges/rider on Left: 1.25
Average Wedges/rider on Right: 2.5

new on VeloNews - The coaches panel

Kit and I are now on VeloNews at The Coaches Panel

Here are a couple links for you

- Bow legged rider

- Fixing a 'dropped hip'

- Leg length discrepancy

and more

Hope you enjoy

Cory the 2009 Cross King at the office

Cory (above in yellow shirt at InterBike) let them have it yesterday in Bend, OR at USA National Cross Championships - B Group/Non-Elite men U23. Silver hardware will mean a certain upgrade for 2010 in Seattle.

Elite

http://www.elitebicycles.com/blog/news/perfect-fit-part-1/
One of our best customers is writing about bike fit. You might find it interesting.

David, the owner/founder of Elite Bicycles is often brash and very confident with himself but I like him and he goes the extra mile to serve his customers.

Shalom

2 bike fits today - what are you averaging

December 8^th and 2 bike fits

8 cleat wedges - average 2 per foot

(Remember we are the original company to make the inside the shoe wedge – most of the wedges we use are CLEAT WEDGES – if you are using more inside the shoe wedges than CLEAT WEDGES you are on the right track with the WEDGE but most likely falling a little short)

1 pairs of 20mm pedal spacers

1 Left Speedplay ¼ inch longer pedal

2 new saddles (average cost over $100 each)

2 new stems – both shorter

So what kinds of pedals were fit today? Obviously Speedplay was one. The other pair allowed a set of 20mm pedal spacers to be installed. That would rule out any pedal that threads onto the crank with an allen key only. This pedal allowed a pedal wrench to be used.

Think about this for a second - 4 pedals and 3 of them needed to be longer.