Congratulations to our most recent Red Level BikeFit Pros.

The Clinical Red Level BikeFit Pro Class from April 30-May 1

This class was led by Katrina Vogel MS DPT and Paul Swift founder of BikeFit.com

The next Red Level BikeFit Pros

Chris Stott - WA, Thomas Minton - NC, Mike Beretta, CA and Michael Khazalpour - CA

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

Athletic Republic 6 Bike Fits – Feb 19 & 20, 2011

Melanie
Left 10 degrees varus 2 CWs
Right 10 degrees varus 3 CWs
Superfeet          5 CWs

Joseph
Left 9 degrees varus 3 CWs & 1 ITS
Right 15 degrees varus 3 CWs & 1 ITS – needs a shorter spindle
6 CWs – 2 ITS = 8 Wedges

Tommy
Left 6 degrees varus 2 CWs & 1 ITS 3 - 1/2 longer spindle
Right 4 degrees varus 2 CWs & 1 ITS 3 - 1/4 longer spindle
Superfeet      4 CWs – 2 ITS = 6 Wedges

Mark
Left 10 degrees varus 2 CW – wider stance width left
Right 7 degrees varus 2 CW
Superfeet           4 CWs

Katie
Left 7 degrees varus 2 CWs – 1/8 shorter spindle
Right 6 degrees varus 1 CW
Speedplay Extender plates
Superfeet              3 CWs

Kyle
Left mild varus   1 CW - 2 x3mm (6mm total) LLshims -Removed other brand in shoe wedge
Right mild varus 2 CWs -Removed other brand in shoe wedge
Replace other brand LL shims   3 CW

Total wedges installed = 29 (all varus, 25 CW & 4 ITS) average number of wedges per person 4.8 This is close to average number of wedges used in most good bike fits. The use of ITS type wedges is also about average. Remember the CW is almost always the primary wedge
2 – three mm Leg Shims where used
3 of the fits displayed a wider left stance width and only one had more narrower left stance – in general 3 to 4 of every 6 cyclists would have a wider left stance.

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

Tim Tilton from Texas leading the discussing about the previous bike fit in the class.

Clinical BikeFit Pro class January 2011

Location Eastside Sports & Rehabilitation Clinic

www.esrckirkland.com

LOOK - under the front toward the inside

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

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!

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

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.

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.

V V 1 Cleats - just a glimpse of the future...well some of the future is actually now

Great combo cycling/body pump class this morning before my trek to Vegas. Deanna’s class at Woodinville Golds rocks! I am loving my VV1 cleats on my indoor cycling shoes. If you have not seen the VV1 cleats yet now you can in person at Interbike booth #406. If I must say so my self these are innovative and it is the future of bike fitting.

Everyone wants to see and hear more about the SwitchIT but here is another little secret. In 2012 we are toying with the idea of launching a class on customizing your cleats. If you have 1, 2 or 3 wedges or whatever perhaps this will eventually be build right into your cleats – all one piece. Also if you have a leg length issues and you would like to add a few mm or more to one cleat – yes that will be build in as well. Again all in one cleat. Funny how most people think bike fit about the bike….ummm last time I check it is about the connection points.

Only one more spot available for foot/pedal interface demos at our booth - e-mail Brian@bikefit.com

Giving a shout to Cory who is somewhere between Seattle and Vegas in a gray minivan!

Also at booth # 406 - see the latest EXiT fit bike

Imagine using this bike and switching the saddle in 2 to 3 seconds -using NO TOOLS!

Of course tilt is also adjusted without TOOLS in about 2 more seconds.

It will soon be an option and you will imagine no more.  

Only one more spot available for foot/pedal interface demos at our booth - e-mail Brian@bikefit.com

Second Glimpse - see it all in a few days - Interbike booth #406

Soon you will imagine no more and just switch it.

Only a few spots left for a FREE foot/pedal interface assessment - e-mail Brian@BikeFit.com

After hour bike fits – don’t forget about early am hours

Ever consider after hours for bike fits? There are several reasons for this:

1. Most people work all day. After hours is when they can fit this appointment into their schedule.
2. During regular hours, the shop is busy and space is at a premium.
3. Less disruption- I can’t count the number of times I am pulled into a separate customer’s issue during one of my bike fits.
Whatever the reason, consideration for after hour bike fits will arise sooner or later.

Coming from someone that does not own a shop but works with one, setting up appointments before the shop opens has been working even better for us. Typically, we try to start before the shop opens and look to finish just after the shop opens. Sometimes the bike needs to be left for work – for installing a part or possibly (probably) a tune-up. Another issue for us is the purchasing of parts. Our arrangement with the shop is parts are purchased directly thru the shop. It is so much easier dealing with transactions directly rather than trying to cover the part with the client and then with the shop later- less work and hassle for everyone.

Another big reason is responsibility. I do not need to be concerned with locking up after hours. I like to be able to leave when the shop is open and employees are present. It is a much better feeling.

Mostly, I wanted to share with you that there may be other options in addition to late night fits which we may not have even considered. This can also lead to more opportunities. We do this a few times a month and it has worked nicely.

Announcing Indoor Cycling Doc – by Dr Kevin Steele

We are proud to announce another new affiliation with http://www.indoorcyclingdoc.com/

Dr Steele is a long time cyclist and is a major influence in the fitness and cycling industries. To learn more check our Dr Steele’s bio.

Our intro the bike fitting/biomechanics section of Indoor Cycling Doc

http://www.indoorcyclingdoc.com/education/articles.php?cat=bf

and check out our first article/tip

Swifty

Bike Fitting at a mansion!

On the steps of Burn Brae Manor the home of Mike Fraysse’s Sports. This was our first of what I am sure will be many more BikeFit Pro classes.

 Vladi Khlopine, Beth Mason, Barry Miller, Dave Will

Paul Swift, Gene Geeza, Oye Carr, Joyce Pellegrini, Kit Vogel