http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/cyclingnews-fitness-q-and-a-may-4-2010
Hit the link above and scroll down - notice the number of wedges Hogg mentions he uses.......are you anywhere close to this?
We fall a bit short but our average is increasing. We used to be around 4 wedges per fit. Today we are closer to 4.6 or 4.7 wedges per fit.
What is your average number of wedge per fit?
Showing posts with label cleats wedges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cleats wedges. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Orthotics - where is the value?
Last week I met with Anthony who called the office looking for someone to fine tune his bike position as he kept experiencing knee pain in spite of a previous bike fit. Interestingly enough is that he recently got a new set of orthotics and was instructed to do so for his cycling shoes every year.....to address his knee pain. On his last visit to the doctor's office, the saddle height was changed (+5mm), however the 9 year old issue of knee pain still persisted. I was skeptical about tackling this fit because he had been to a Bay Area doctor that helps many cyclists with the fit issues and he had seen by one of the Bay Area's most experienced fitters (and most expensive) both of whom could not solve his issue. Furthermore this bike fitter also taught at Serotta's SICI ... the pressure was on!
As you can see in the photo knee over tow alignment was completely off and neither the doctor nor the previous fitter measured his feet with the FFMD (http://bikefit.com/docs/FFMD.pdf ) or a similar tool! Once I saw his initial position on the bike I knew I had my work cut-out for me.
With a 17 degree and 9 degree (L/R) varus measurement and one knee tracking to the inside and the other outside of the toe line I was glad I had my Speedplay pedal kit available. His tracking was so bad on the right leg that the laser did not even come close to the patella and his knee was not stable at all throughout the pedal stroke. In addition Anthony displayed lot of inward heel rotation which had forced him to install 20mm pedal extenders a few years back. Lastly Anthony rides Specialized BG shoes which should help with their varus built into the sole ...
After close to 2.5 hours of work these are the major changes made to Anthony's fit:
Right Shoe: 2 ITS wedges, 4 cleat wedges, removed the 20mm pedal spacer and set him up with a + 1/4 pedal and moved the foot as far in as possible.
Left Shoe: 2 cleat wedges, a 3mm leg length shim and -1/8 pedal.
Seat position: brought seat forward about 8mm
Hoods: moved R & L hood inward about 10 degrees.
Handlebar: moved handlebar up a few degrees so the hoods/bar created a straight line/contact area for a more neutral wrist position!
Since Anthony was going to go for a ride the following day I gave him a few pointers in the event he would experience some discomfort with the extreme (but necessary) changes made. We are not always sure how the nervous and muscular systems will respond.
Here is what he had to say after the first ride:
"The bike fit is amazing. My bike has never felt this comfortable under me. I had no knee pain. It's the first time in a long while that my speed was entirely dictated by leg fatigue, instead of in part by knee pain. Thank you so much for an excellent fit.
My buddy and I did about 33 miles around Old La Honda, Skyline, and Page Mill. Came up to about 3400 feet of climbing. We pushed pretty hard."
The moral of the story is threefold: never be afraid to tackle a bikefit that was previously done by published experts in the field, never assume that an orthodic is the correct way for someone to adjust fit issues and use as many wedges as needed to get the tracking under control.
I have also realized that many BG shoes I have fitted in the last few months do not appear to have the varus tilt that is claimed. I am still wedging the BG shoes as if they were just plain neutral shoes; maybe their manufacturing tolerances are off because I certainly cannot explain the need for some many wedges on a shoes that supposedly is built to account for 1.5mm of varus tilt.
During my follow-up visit this week we will attempt to remove the custom orthodics and ride with the cycling specific SuperFeet ... Stay tuned!
TOTAL WEDGES USED: 8
Andrew
As you can see in the photo knee over tow alignment was completely off and neither the doctor nor the previous fitter measured his feet with the FFMD (http://bikefit.com/docs/FFMD.pdf ) or a similar tool! Once I saw his initial position on the bike I knew I had my work cut-out for me.
With a 17 degree and 9 degree (L/R) varus measurement and one knee tracking to the inside and the other outside of the toe line I was glad I had my Speedplay pedal kit available. His tracking was so bad on the right leg that the laser did not even come close to the patella and his knee was not stable at all throughout the pedal stroke. In addition Anthony displayed lot of inward heel rotation which had forced him to install 20mm pedal extenders a few years back. Lastly Anthony rides Specialized BG shoes which should help with their varus built into the sole ...
After close to 2.5 hours of work these are the major changes made to Anthony's fit:
Right Shoe: 2 ITS wedges, 4 cleat wedges, removed the 20mm pedal spacer and set him up with a + 1/4 pedal and moved the foot as far in as possible.
Left Shoe: 2 cleat wedges, a 3mm leg length shim and -1/8 pedal.
Seat position: brought seat forward about 8mm
Hoods: moved R & L hood inward about 10 degrees.
Handlebar: moved handlebar up a few degrees so the hoods/bar created a straight line/contact area for a more neutral wrist position!
Since Anthony was going to go for a ride the following day I gave him a few pointers in the event he would experience some discomfort with the extreme (but necessary) changes made. We are not always sure how the nervous and muscular systems will respond.
Here is what he had to say after the first ride:
"The bike fit is amazing. My bike has never felt this comfortable under me. I had no knee pain. It's the first time in a long while that my speed was entirely dictated by leg fatigue, instead of in part by knee pain. Thank you so much for an excellent fit.
My buddy and I did about 33 miles around Old La Honda, Skyline, and Page Mill. Came up to about 3400 feet of climbing. We pushed pretty hard."
The moral of the story is threefold: never be afraid to tackle a bikefit that was previously done by published experts in the field, never assume that an orthodic is the correct way for someone to adjust fit issues and use as many wedges as needed to get the tracking under control.
I have also realized that many BG shoes I have fitted in the last few months do not appear to have the varus tilt that is claimed. I am still wedging the BG shoes as if they were just plain neutral shoes; maybe their manufacturing tolerances are off because I certainly cannot explain the need for some many wedges on a shoes that supposedly is built to account for 1.5mm of varus tilt.
During my follow-up visit this week we will attempt to remove the custom orthodics and ride with the cycling specific SuperFeet ... Stay tuned!
TOTAL WEDGES USED: 8
Andrew
Friday, March 5, 2010
An ITS Wedge story – skipping to question number 4
from an ITS Story below
4) I noticed on your website you endorsed the Specialized BG saddle. What do you think of the Specialized BG footbed insoles. Are they better than the cycling Superfeet. I use Superfeet in my shoes and sneakers. I like them. But I went with the BG insoles because of the metatarsal button thing.
Phil,
At BikeFit, we have had good luck with the BG saddles and often recommend them. I was able to consult on some saddle designs ten years ago. The company had some distractions, though, so you did not see a lot of them in the market. Some of the features I helped with input on at that time are similar to some of the things you see in the BG Saddles today. We really do like to let people know about products that work well in helping them find more comfort so you will hear us talk about Specialized saddles.
Our experience is not just limited to saddles. For example when it comes to foot beds/insoles we’ve also had good luck with other companies like Superfeet. Our ITS wedge is designed to fit perfectly with them. I have not had/seen any issues with the BG insoles. I have seen a few people switch but most have stayed with the BG insoles if they already had them. If they feel good, stick with ‘em.
4) I noticed on your website you endorsed the Specialized BG saddle. What do you think of the Specialized BG footbed insoles. Are they better than the cycling Superfeet. I use Superfeet in my shoes and sneakers. I like them. But I went with the BG insoles because of the metatarsal button thing.
Phil,
At BikeFit, we have had good luck with the BG saddles and often recommend them. I was able to consult on some saddle designs ten years ago. The company had some distractions, though, so you did not see a lot of them in the market. Some of the features I helped with input on at that time are similar to some of the things you see in the BG Saddles today. We really do like to let people know about products that work well in helping them find more comfort so you will hear us talk about Specialized saddles.
Our experience is not just limited to saddles. For example when it comes to foot beds/insoles we’ve also had good luck with other companies like Superfeet. Our ITS wedge is designed to fit perfectly with them. I have not had/seen any issues with the BG insoles. I have seen a few people switch but most have stayed with the BG insoles if they already had them. If they feel good, stick with ‘em.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Compare for yourself
I get a lot of questions about Steve Hogg and why he suggests the BikeFit Wedges and Hogg Shims.
The link to the article below has been sent to me a few times. First – Steve Hogg does not work for us. We are friendly and have agreements and even some disagreements (but not about what you would think we might disagree about). We do sell his Leg Length Shims.
We at BikeFit have been working with the foot/pedal interface a long time and have been addressing things that are still often over looked in bike fitting. We have refined our approach to this area and are more than willing to show others how we do it. Our information is not considered confidential, it is for all to see and use. You may forward and or print our emails and share our tips with anyone. I ask if you make money off it you remember us…that is all.
Why does Steve go further and why does he have the opinions he does? I am not the one to answer that question. I will say I have yet to disagree with his approach to Wedges of Shims. Whereas I absolutely disagree with John Howard and his use of wedges yet both are featured on our web site.
So if interested in comparing our Wedges or Shims with others send me an e-mail about the situation you are working on and we will send you some samples for you to try and see for yourself what happens. Please share your findings with others when you do.
The articel most recently sent to me by several fitters
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/cyclingnews-fitness-q-and-a-december-4-2009
Swifty
The link to the article below has been sent to me a few times. First – Steve Hogg does not work for us. We are friendly and have agreements and even some disagreements (but not about what you would think we might disagree about). We do sell his Leg Length Shims.
We at BikeFit have been working with the foot/pedal interface a long time and have been addressing things that are still often over looked in bike fitting. We have refined our approach to this area and are more than willing to show others how we do it. Our information is not considered confidential, it is for all to see and use. You may forward and or print our emails and share our tips with anyone. I ask if you make money off it you remember us…that is all.
Why does Steve go further and why does he have the opinions he does? I am not the one to answer that question. I will say I have yet to disagree with his approach to Wedges of Shims. Whereas I absolutely disagree with John Howard and his use of wedges yet both are featured on our web site.
So if interested in comparing our Wedges or Shims with others send me an e-mail about the situation you are working on and we will send you some samples for you to try and see for yourself what happens. Please share your findings with others when you do.
The articel most recently sent to me by several fitters
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/cyclingnews-fitness-q-and-a-december-4-2009
Swifty
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