Riding someone else's wheel

OK I was a great wheel sucker but I won a lot of races. So I draft into this one.
Steve Hogg on Speedplay check out this link...... but does he mention BikeFit cleat wedges are included in the Pro Fit Case....? Read for yourself and see.

http://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/blog/2011/04/road-pedals-which-are-best/
And is that Specialized getting some props here...... ;-) To be honest I never have an issues with Specialized shoes. In fact most of their products I like.

Swifty - being lazy and sucking a wheel
But in all seriousness check out Hogg's blog - read and learn!

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

take a look at this cleat

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/bikes-and-tech/clothesline/clothesline-comparing-300-shoes-bontrager-rxxxl-vs-fizik-r3_170563/attachment/9o5b7354

Notice the dark mark on the outer part of the inner circle. Just a typical sign of a foot not wanting to be flat with the pedal.

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.

7 bike fits – Dec 4-5 Clinical BikeFit Pro Green Level Education 2010

Brook -
Left 5 degree varus 1 VV1
Right 10 degrees varus 1 VV1 & 1 Cleat Wedge - 20mm pedal spacer

Terri -
Left 7 degrees varus 1 ITS wedge
Right 0 neutral 1 ITS wedge

Tucker -
Left 9 degrees varus 1 VV1 & 1 ITS wedge - 20mm pedal spacer
Right 10 degrees varus 1 VV1 & 1 ITS wedge - 20mm pedal spacer
Plus – Superfeet

Jeff-
Left 4 degrees varus 1 Cleat Wedge
Right 7 degrees varus 2 Cleat Wedges

Anna
Left 16 degrees varus 3 Cleat Wedges – ½ longer spindle
Right 19 degrees varus 4 Cleat Wedges – ½ longer spindle

Dena
Left 18 degrees varus 2 Cleat Wedges & 1 ITS
Right 19 degrees varus 2 Cleat Wedges & 1 ITS

25 total Wedges – all varus
3.6 wedge per cyclist – slightly below average
4 – VV1 Cleats were used (SPD users)
6 – ITS Wedges were used = 24 percent of total wedge use – higher than average
15 – Wedges used were Cleat Wedges
7 fits = 14 feet – all feet needed wedges
5 feet needed longer spindles (3 of 7 cyclist would not fit properly with most pedal systems)

Not enough Cleat Wedge

Not long ago we talked about pedal wear and how to see if more wedges are needed. We mostly focused on Look style pedals because for that system you look more toward the pedal for signs of wear. Here is a Speedplay cleat with Cleat Wedges and yet it was not enough. How can you tell? Look at the wear mark which is shown more on the out side (lateral part) of the cleat. If the fit is even between the shoe/cleat/pedal you will not see uneven wear like this.

This foot clearly does not want to be flat and needed just one more Cleat Wedge. Note ITS (In The Shoe) wedges do not always help this situation. This foot was a great example to compare ITS vs Cleat Wedges. No matter how much ITS went inside this shoe the foot did not meet the pedal flat until we went with Cleat Wedges. If you are unsure which wedge to use your odds are significantly better if you use Cleat Wedges only.

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

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

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.

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.

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!

Who besides Speedplay has their product in this kit?

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/07/bikes-tech/speedplay-the-little-pedal-with-the-big-presence-in-the-tour_128526

The little pedal that not only could but DID.

Longer lefts?

During bike fits, we note the cyclist’s need for longer/shorter pedal spindles or need for extenders. At first we did not think it was that big of a deal. However, the need for longer/shorter spindles has become beyond note worthy.

Literally, we are finding AT LEAST 3 of every 5 cyclist’s stance width requires a spindle width longer or shorter than a standard width pedal.

To track this data even more closely we are noting the need per foot being fitted. In other words 5 bike fits would = 10 feet.

We have recorded as high as 9 of 10 feet needing longer or shorter spindles in a weekend of bike fitting (5 bike fits). That means not one cyclist fit on a standard pair of pedals.

While tracking this information, we noticed the left foot needs to be placed more laterally than the right foot to be accurately placed under the knee. At times, we move the right foot in and the left foot out by changing cleat position. Sometimes, we use a shorter right spindle only. In most cases the left spindle needs to be longer. We are starting to gather a LOT of right pedal spacers and we are now asked at least once a week if we sell “left” pedal spacers only.

What does that mean? One day you will not just buy a pair of pedals but be sized for the correct width pedals (per foot). What is the only pedal manufacturer to address this issue? What pedal companies do you wish would figure this out?

To read more  - http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/06/news/coaches-panel-why-do-knees-often-track-asymetrically_120495

Your bike fit numbers -

Cycle Logic - Prince George, Canada – June 10-11 2010

No Valgus in this group of 5 cyclists
CW=Cleat Wedges
NO ITS (In The Shoe) Wedges were used.
IMPORTANT NOTE! Remember MOST of the time the Cleat Wedge is the solution, not in the shoe wedge. If you are not already on board with this I promise your satisfaction from your customers will go up considerably when your fits reflect more Cleat Wedges as the solution.

John   
Rt                     Lt
varus 10°         varus 11°
1 CW               1 CW
1/8” shorter     Standard
Spindle             Spindle

Dave
Rt                      Lt
varus 6°            varus 6°
1 CW                1 CW
1/2” longer       1/8” longer
Spindle              Spindle

Sully
Rt                    Lt
varus 12°        varus 12°
2 CW              2 CW
½” longer       1/8” longer
Spindle            Spindle
1 stack

Doug
Rt                    Lt
varus 17°        varus 13°
4 CW              3 CW
½” longer       ½” longer
Spindle           Spindle

Karim
Rt                    Lt
varus 14°        varus 5°
3 CW              2 CW
½” longer       ½” longer
Spindle           Spindle

Average Cleat Wedges per cyclists – 2 per foot
5 cyclists = 10 feet and 9 feet needed a longer or shorter spindle
In other words only 1 foot used a standard pedal spindle.

That means NOT ONE cyclist fit with a standard SET of pedals.
All 10 feet needed at least one wedge

4 of 5 cyclists needed a short stem.

Are your averages close to this? To be honest this is a little low on the cleat wedges compared to our overall average but is a little higher on the need for different spindle widths.

Shoes – one cyclist had two pairs of shoes - SIDI and Specialized BG Shoes – Both shoes required the same number of wedges per foot. You may think the BG shoes should use less wedges. I used to think the same but I am finding that not to be the case. Next time you fit someone with a combination of shoes and one brand is Specialized try the same number of wedges for each brand – see for yourself what you find.


If you are not close to this theses figures chances are likely you are missing something.

Average number of wedges

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?

5 cycling magazine editors were all recently fit with Speedplay pedals at Sea Otter

Here are some of the initial numbers from the cleat/pedal fits. This is a direct reflection of the variance between the 5 fits and the ability of Speedplay and the use of cleat wedges to meet the individual needs.

5 bike fits performed = 10 pedals used
6 pedals needed different length spindles (60 percent)
9 cleats received cleat wedges (90 percent) – No ITS Wedges.
Shorter spindles – 5 (50 percent)
Longer spindles – 1 (10 percent)
3 Received Superfeet insoles.

Without Speedplay Pedals only 40 percent would have been fitted properly. In other words any other pedal system in the world would have netted only a 40 success rate.

Without Cleat Wedges only 10 percent would have been fitted properly. This combination is the best way to fit more cyclists properly.

Four needed shorter right spindles. It is more common we see the left longer than the right so this was not surprising.

This group was fairly typical regarding how many needed different length spindles and wedges. We see the same ratio in our fittings and education classes.......not a good sign for any other pedal.

Atypical of this group was that more often we find longer spindles are needed. This group as whole needed shorter spindles but again the left to right ratio is common.

We share this information not to impress you but the impress upon you the importance of cleat wedges and proper spindle widths. We hope you are able to experience the same success.

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

Fitting Specialized BG Shoes

I recently visited Jake Mestre, a friend and racer on the University of Nevada Reno Cycling Team for a bike fit. Jake just got a new replacement Cervelo and wanted to have his position dialed in for max power; I told him that our fits are dialed in for max comfort which leads to max power. Jake rides Specialized BG shoes and when I saw him riding I noticed that his knees where way in close to the top tube. The handy FFMD gave the the indication that Jake could benefit from having 1 or 2 wedges placed under his shoes. When he took off his shoes what did I find? A 1.5mm valgus wedge in there, but wait the FFMD indicated he was a varus!!! Was the Specialized valgus wedge placed in there to offset the 1.5mm of varus that the shoes have? Was the previous fitter's idea to bring back the foot to a 0 degree tilt without even measuring the actual fore foot tilt?

Once the wedges were placed under his soles, he got back on the bike and voila`, the knee was tracking pretty much perfectly. Unfortunately due to Jake's size 47 shoe, going for a shorter Speedplay spindle length is not an option as the width of his shoes offer no clearance between the inside of the shoe and the crank arm. We were able to fine-tune the tracking by moving the cleat outwards to allow the foot to come further in and get even a better alignment.

Furthermore this adjustment changed his fore/aft position on the saddle - he moved backwards, which allowed us to move his saddle forward on the rails and made his reach even better. Before the bike fit Jake was contemplating moving to a 120 stem, but now he did not have to. With this slight move forward his arm/shoulder/back angle was a nice 90 degrees vs 92-94 before hand.

While placing 2 wedges is a drastic adjustment for someone that pedals in a completely different fashion, a short adaptation time will be key to make sure that his body gets used to the new foot/pedal position. Keep you eyes open if you are going to be competing against Jake in any of the collegiate races out West or during the 24 Ore di Feltre in Italy this summer.

What? A a side view from BikeFit at F.I.S.T.

Checking rotation on Speedplay Zeros at the SlowTwitch compound....and not a single dog in the photo.

Since I went to Auburn I was just excited to post this one with Matt wearing his Auburn sweatshirt, WAR EAGLE!

F. I. S. T. - a Rare View

Earlier this month I had the privilege of teaching again in Valeyermo, CA at the FIST Certification course. If you do not know where this is do not feel like the Lone Ranger. If you ask 20 people in the Los Angeles area ( even cyclists and triathletes) where it is, at best one might have an idea. NO ONE knows where this place is. However once you get there it is a getaway worth the visit.

Dan Empfield has invited me to teach foot/pedal interface several times at his F.I.S.T. Bike Fitting classes. Interesting that the most important part of the education he leaves for the last day ... . Dan Empfield was the founder of Quintana Roo bicycles, the first triathlon specific bicycle on the market! He knows a thing or 2 about bicycle design and fitting, so being able to teach part of his TT/bikefit curriculum focusing on foot/pedal interface is an indication of the importance that Dan "Slowman" Empfield bestows upon his fitters.

Here is a rare glimpse at where the teaching is done at the compound. Check out the gang all looking at the front view; a laser resting on a Speedplay case ... need I say more?