Josiah Ng...BikeFit Pro? www.josiahng.com

Josiah adding washer to the left pedal of Leslie Girard's bike 

This weekends class is being taught by Dave Howells of BC BikeFit and Tony Corke of Tacoma Bike shop and CycleFitUS 

Working the SwitchIt

From BikeFit Pro Education class at Mike Fraysse's Sports Resort. The coolest regional training center for BikeFit.  

A video about BikeFit worth watching!

Congratulations to Dave one of our Red Level BikeFit Pros and instructors and his new promo video.
Click here to BC BikeFit's home page

www.bcbikefit.com

Another indicator of an uneven connection to the bike.

Do you remember to take out the insoles and look for wear when you do a bike fit? You might be amazed at some of the things you will see. In this photo it is extremely clear that this person put a lot of pressure on the outer part of the foot. However, in order to produce maximal force you need to have the first and second toe/ray involved.

Keep in mind viewing someone dynamically only, no matter what system is used or how expensive it is, you might not see any indicators of this uneven wear at the foot. You need to also assess the foot off the bike and of course examine the equipment – insole, cleat and/or pedal.

TriFit LA 3 Bike Fits – April 9 & 10, 2011

Erik
Left 4     degrees varus    1 VV1
Right 6   degrees varus    1VV1 & 1 CW
3 degrees of External Wedges   -     Wider left stance

Kris
Left 0     nuetral                1 CWs -1/8 short spindle
Right 2   degrees varus      2 CWs -1/8 short spindle
3 CWs    -    Superfeet

Steve
Left 8       degrees varus       3 CWs 1/2 longer spindle
Right 13   degrees varus       3 CWs 1/2 longer spindle
6 CWs    -    Wider left stance

Total wedges installed = 12 (all varus, 10 CWs & 2 VV1s).
Average number of wedges per person was 4. This is just below the typical average of wedges used in good bike fits.

No one preferred the ITS wedges. We suggest trying both solutions for several fits (probably all fits) and you will be able to see that Cleat Wedges will be the preferred choice by far.

2 of the fits displayed wider left stance width.
Out of 6 feet (3 people) only 2 feet fit on standard width pedals.

Wedges by feel

A question about Cleat Wedges from someone installing them on thier own.

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=84941

Free BikeFit – March 21 (Monday)- time is 8:30 am at BikeFit office in Kirkland, WA

Here is a rare opportunity for a free bike fit. This offer is for a road bike and the cyclist must use SPD mtn style pedals. (2 hole cleats)

This is a $300 offer for FREE – please call 425-821-7237 and talk to Brian or e-mail Brian@BikeFit.com. A credit card will be required to hold the spot and will only be charged if you do not show up.

Are you looking at this in your bike fits?

It is easy to make the side view look good but does it have a solid foundation? Here is typical photo of a BikeFit Pro student working on the foundation. The face belongs to Bill Elkins from the Florida Keys.

Average number of wedges per bikefit this weekend was over 2.5 per per foot. 

Photo taken at Delta Athletics in Covington Louisiana. Special thanks to Ashley Lange for the awesome place to host a BikeFit Pro class.

Clinical BikeFit Pro class January 2011

Location Eastside Sports & Rehabilitation Clinic

www.esrckirkland.com

BikeFit Pro Education class Dec 4-5

Picture - Jeff Fulford PT from Loma Linda, CA

Notice the Specialized saddles near the bike – we showed several models of the saddles throughout the class using the "SWITCHIT" which will be available soon. In the meantime if you would like to see the SwitchIT in action now visit Woodinville Bicycle. Mike Rabas the owner of Woodinville Bicycle also visited the class for an hour to talk about bike shop relationships with clinicians. Woodinville Bicycle is a Specialized dealer.  

Lastly a big thanks to Superfeet who supplies us with the world’s greatest over the counter insoles for all shoes, especially cycling.

4 Bike Fits Nov 14 & 15

Students - Richard Raley and Thomas Cody
Instructor - Tony Corke

David
Left 17 degree varus 3 varus CWs
Right 22 degrees varus 3 varus CWs

Tom
Left 12 degrees varus 3 varus CWs
Right 15 degrees varus 3 varus CWs plus 2 LLshims
Added Speedplay extender plates

Cory
Left 2 varus CWs ½ longer spindle
Right 1 varus CW ½ longer spindle

Beth
Left 1 V V 1 Varus Cleat 1CW
Right 1 V V 1 Varus Cleat 2 CWs

Total Varus wedges 20 – average # of wedges per fit = 5

Wider stance or longer spindles would have been more but one fit was on Keos and the stance could not be properly addressed

No - ITS wedges

Are your numbers similar? If not why?

8 Bike Fits – Oct/Nov, 2010

Jason
Left 11 degree varus 1 ITS & 1 CW & 1mm washer
Right 9 degrees varus 1 ITS & 1 CW
Cindy
Left 11 degrees varus 3 varus CWs - plus one degree wedge under big toe
Right 16 degrees varus 3 varus CWs
Gary
Left 6 degrees varus 3 varus CWs & 2mm washer
Right 16 degrees varus 3 varus CWs
Shawn
Left 9 degrees varus 2 CWs & 2 heel wedges varus (-1/8 spindle)
Right 21 degrees varus 4 CWs & 2 heel wedges varus (-1/8 spindle)
Kim
Left 15 degrees varus 1 ITS & 2 CWs varus
Right 16 degrees varus 1 ITS & 2 CWs varus
Eric
Left 10 degrees varus 2 varus CWs
Right 10 segrees varus 2 varus CWs
Harley
Left 10 degrees varus 1 ITS & 2 varus CWs
Right 14 degrees varus 1 ITS & 2 varus CWs
Dave
Left 15 degrees varus 1 ITS & 2 varus CWs
Right 16 degrees varus 1 ITS & 2 varus CWs

Total wedges installed = 44 (all varus, 40 CW & 4 ITS) average number of wedges per person 5.5
4 heel wedges were used but not tallied in the total
No Leg Shims or Stacks
6 of the fits displayed wider left stance width

Do you use a similar amount of wedges? If not do you know why?

Auburn AL - War Eagle - BikeFit Demos

BikeFit Demos    - Friday October 8th – Auburn Al
The Bike Shop
147 N College St
Auburn, AL 36830

Paul Swift will be doing bike fits most of the day. If you would like to sit in, help out, ask questions or learn more. Drop us an e-mail and let us know. Space is limited.  No Charge. – Brian@BikeFit.com for more info.

Max

Dr Max Testa and Andrew Weber talking about the SwitchIT in our booth at Interbike.

Max is one our biggest cleat wedge customers.

The SwitchIT featured one of the award winning products from Specialized. This is two years in the row Specialized as been recognized for a “Connection of Excellence” Award for saddles.

Going to Interbike?


Receive a FREE Foot/Pedal Interface Assessment by one of our BikeFit Pros at Interbike.
You MUST reserve your spot in advance -
Select one of the times below

Wednesday 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM
Thursday 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM
Friday 11:00 AM (this session is booked) and 3:00 PM

Where - Booth # 406
Bring your SHOES, PEDALS and CYCLING SHORTS.
Please call us to reserve your spot...425-821-7234 or e-mail Brian@BikeFit.com
- credit card is required only to hold your reservation, $100 charge if you do not show

Local Dates for Green Level BikeFit Pro Education courses are now on line

Here is the most recent schedule for local the BikeFit Tour offering BikeFit Pro Education and Training. The following are all Green Level Education courses. For more information click on this link.
http://bikefit.com/schedule10.php

October 31 & November 1
November 14 & 15, 2010
December 12 & 13, 2010
January 16 & 17, 2010
February 13 & 14, 2011
April 17 & 18, 2011
May 22 & 23, 2011
June 5 & 6, 2011

BikeFit Pro Brother Russ on Cross Fit

As we transition into cross season I asked Russ Stevenson to share a couple considerations for us during a cross fit:

"Relative to a road bike - I consider a slightly shorter stem. This will help move your body mass off of your bars a little more. You want the front end to be loose and free, no pressure. Leaving your stem the same as your road could work if the head angle, rake and trail were all much more slack; but that all depends on the bike. I would never tell someone to use the same stem as their road bike if the bike was super steep….. that's a crash waiting to happen.

I would also consider lowering your saddle 5mm or so. The simple on/off the bike aspect warrants that alone...not to mention that in cross the effort is short and very hard. The rider’s body tends to hover on the saddle, never really sitting static like on a road bike. Add in the bumps and obstacles and the body mass is continually up and down on the saddle. Lowering the saddle allows more room to move and absorb shock...which all means a more stable, calm bike.

…..ok and this too... bring your hoods up, especially if you are running a deep bar. Having the hoods flat like many road bikes opens the rider up to sliding forward when things are sketchy. The higher hoods let your hands sit more comfy and take shock better. Look at all the pro's, they all run their hoods sky high. With a compact bar curve, you could flatten them some but still higher than a road bike.

Two hole Cleat Wedges are not always the best for Cross racers with the constant mounting and dismounting. One BikeFit brand only ITS (In The Shoe) wedge may be considered and of course a good insole are the way to go. I have been happy with Cycle Soles as my choice for insoles."

Russ Stevenson - BikeFit Pro - 2nd at this years Elite Road Nats and is a top Cross Racer

Contrast this with another view
http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/08/news/velonews-training-center-how-should-a-cyclocross-bike-fit_136539

And from Mud and Cowbells http://www.mudandcowbells.com/blog/2010/8/31/bike-fit.html

Don't forget to consider the NEW VV1 cleats for SPD compatible pedals!

Twice in two weeks – Sitting Side Saddle.

First, I did not come up with the idea for the solution we applied for this person – but it worked. Steve Hogg (Mr Proprioception) turned me on to this idea when one does not have the ability to feel the center of the saddle. And since I have now seen it twice in a short period of time I thought I would share the following.

Note the photo – sitting off center

We were struggling with alignment on this cyclist. If we address the leg/cleat/foot alignment sitting off center – would we really be helping him? In this case we needed to move ahead in the fit and get him sitting closer to center and then go back to the foundation (feet).

We did first try a Specialized BG saddle by itself because we often have good success getting people more centered with just using a BG saddle. I am not suggestion what you see in this photo is something Specialized supports or does not support. We at BikeFit did this on our own.

Yes this is meant to be temporary and used to help the cyclists know when they are sitting close to center.

FYI – In almost all education classes we offer, we like to show off equipment from other companies in which we have success with at BikeFit. When it comes to saddles no one else comes close to Specialized. Maybe one day what will change but as of right now…second place in saddles is a long way away.

From our recent clinicians class

A photo from our Clinicians class May 15 & 16

Our most recent clinicians BikeFit class hosted by EastSide Sports and Rehabilitation included Jeff Gray from Superfeet, seated on the left. Kristen Disbrow, PT is working on the Saddle as Kit, Director of Education holds the saddle.

Remember our ITS Wedge “ InSide the Shoe Wedge” is designed to work perfectly with Superfeet the world leading insole for all activities. Give the combination a try and see the results.

Keeping up with another BikeFit Pro

http://www.northsoundbikefit.com/
Aaron Mickels who became a BikeFit Pro in 2009 has a new web site.