Bike fit. If you've never had one done professionally, you should!

The school year is winding down and my stress level is winding up. Crunch time for covering material, keeping it interesting, fun and applicable to the real world while 14-15 year old's stare whistfully out the window wishing they were anywhere but sitting in the classroom. I can't blame them, sunshine and 80 yesterday and I couldn't wait to get home for a warm weather run myself. Warmer weather has me craving some ride time too, ride time equates with a comfortable set up on the bike which had taken a back seat to the running for the last couple of years. I finally did something about that last weekend.

Driving out to Sag Harbor, I was really excited. It's not everyday that you get bike fit by an uber P.T. that is currently finishing up coursework for her PhD in Orthopedic Sports Medicine. Most bike fitters are enthusiastic, experienced cyclists that sit through a weekend certification course (in the words of Seinfeld 'not that there is anything wrong with that'). Sinead is a master of manual and sports physical therapy working in her private practice on the east end of Long Island. The difference in biomechanical education is a no contest, oh and she is a former professional cyclist that went to every bike fitting certification course offered in the USA and now uses the Retul system. Experience + education, I can honestly say that there is no other bike fitter in the USA like her. Good ones with many years of experience, yes, but they still aren't Sinead. As an added bonus, when Dave, Marty and I walked into her office we found Susan Roman there as well, Susan is just finishing up her DPT at Stony Brook, and will soon be working with Sinead in the Sag Harbor office. Two pairs of trained eyes, awesome!
Dave was up first:

You can see the biomechanical dots that are picked up by the retul camera and sent to the computer. 

Sinead readjusting straps and markers on Dave to look at the right side profile. His seat was moved up almost 2 cm which alleviated a lot of pressure on his arthritic hip. Stem shortened as well.

Marty and Dave during a brief respite while Sinead and Susan were crunching data in the background.

Marty for the right side view. Susan picked up that Marty was continually readjusting his butt on the seat after changes were made in an attempt to find the old position. It was unconscious on his part, muscle "memory" goes a long way and it does take time to adjust to a new fitting.

Fitting a proper stem length. Susan and Sinead adjusting the  fitting stem.

Marty's computer man pedaling on the screen.

The new fit. Due to a leg injury, Marty's right knee was not tracking correctly. Sinead adusted the seat and the stem simulatneously making him more aero and improving his pedaling efficiency.

Yours truly: stretched out with a huge spinal hump.

After a seat height increase, seat moved back and a change from the factory 100 mm stem to a 70 mm stem.  Noticeably different and noticeably more comfortable!

Sam Cila on the boardwalk at Cupsogue beach during a pit stop. Foggy morning ride!

Riding this weekend was an absolute pleasure. Intervals friday for an hour as part of a brick and my legs felt really fresh off the bike. Saturday an easy ride for an hour. Sunday I spent two hours in the saddle riding with Sam Cila down to the beach. With very little effort we averaged a little over 19 for the two hours (until Sam felt like stepping up the pace for a stretch and I had to push to hang onto his wheel) the miles whipped by in absolute comfort. Before, my neck was sore but that wasn't even my main complaint. I could not take the saddle, the nether regions were not happy, my right hip was complaining and so was my right knee. Now, it's all good! Love my new saddle, love my new fit, love love love riding my bike again. If you've never been professionally fit, I encourage you to check out Sinead's website at www.bikefitplus.com  you will improve your efficiency and performance on the bike. The couple of hours you spend are absolutely worth it and your cycling will improve tremendously!