Bike Fit

Do you ride a bike for fun, exercise or competition?  Are you suffering from different aches and pains that might be related to biking?  Do you have a new bike that needs to be fit to your current body?  Are you hoping to ride more and go faster this summer?

If any of these statements sound like you, make sure to read this and learn more about Bike Fit!

Rusty Wallman, MPT, ATC, Owner and Stephanie Winters, ATR, CPT of OSR Physical Therapy attended a Clinical Bike Fit Certification this past weekend in Kirkland, Wa.

Stephanie, Paul (Bike Fit founder), and Rusty

As humans our bodies are very asymmetrical.  Bikes on the other hand are very symmetrical.  It is no wonder that a lot of us at some point will suffer from injury or pain as we try to put our asymmetrical bodies on symmetrical bikes.  When you buy a bike there is a lot to consider, cost, size, weight and the list could go on.  After you buy that bike it's a matter of finding the right fit!  There are a lot of things that could be adjusted on the bike which makes that challenging.

Looking at the above problems and possible solutions makes it hard to know where to start.  That's where a Bike Fit Pro comes into the picture.

In the past we have all looked at bikes, sizes and thought it was easy to know where to put the seat and handlebars.  After the Bike Fit course it was soon discovered that there are a lot more variables when it comes to biking.  Pain can be caused by so many things on and off the bike so it is not only important to have a proper fit but also home work exercises and stretches to aid your riding.

A full Bike Fit can take 2-3 hours.  Your Bike Fit Pro will go over your history, watch you ride, perform flexibility and strength assessments and adjust your bike as necessary.  Some Bike Fits can be easier and other can be quite complex.  The Bike Fit Pro will make adjustments from the side, front and rear of your bike.  There are some circumstances where new equipment will be recommended for you to purchase to get the most of of your riding experience.  

The Clinical Bike Fit course was more in depth than most Bike Fitting courses.  Bike Fit also takes into account anatomy, injuries and limitations where most other bike fitting is based on a computer and numbers. 

If you are interested in learning more about Bike Fit, having a Bike Fit performed or talking with a health professional about your injuries and limitations when it comes to biking give us a call at 952-873-7400.  A bike fit is truly a great way to prevent and minimize injury while increasing performance when it comes to biking.