|WHICH KIND OF SIZING?

 

BIKE SIZING: Bike sizing aims at deciding on the adequate frame and calculating the optimum sitting position. It is a very useful tool when buying a new frame or bicycle. You should bring along your cycling wear as well as your shoes. The way of measuring is the same as applied in a bike analysis and just as accurate.

After a short interview as to the intended use of the bicycle and possible complaints of the cyclist, the person is fully measured up.

This consists of measuring total body length, inner leg length, shoulder width, arm and torso length, difference in leg length (upper and lower legs), and the position of the feet.

In case of asymmetrical anomalies, additional measures are taken.

Bike sizing can be done for all disciplines, but each discipline needs a separate calculation. The necessary document is made available for a small additional price.

Nowadays custom made bicycle frames are not readily available, but a sound and clear measurement scheme is a useful tool when choosing a standard production frame. The measures on the scheme are valid for all frame brands within the chosen discipline.

"Fine-tuning" of a newly bought bicycle is also possible. It is referred to as an "after-analysis".

The after-analysis aims at adjusting slight imperfections and examining in depth as well as getting rid of the physical problems which surfaced during the measuring.

If necessary additional and adapted measurements are taken.

BIKE ANALYSIS: The aim is to thoroughly analyze and to enhance the bike and the cycling position.

Attention is given to the shoe, cleat and foot position.

An interview should make clear what problems, discomforts, and complaints are encountered during cycling. The interview is followed by the measuring of the current cycling position and by frame measurements.

Vital parts such as saddle, pedals, cranks (length), handlebar, shifters, etc. are checked for aberrations. Discomforts and problems may already become visible by pre-analyzing the material.

The next step is a cycling test with light warming up, analyzing the body and the most important groups of muscles. The observed anomalies are carefully recorded to be used later on for an in depth analysis during the sizing and the calculation of the cycling position.

This is followed by measuring the morphology: total body length, inner leg length, shoulder width, arm and torso length, difference in leg length (upper and lower legs), and the position of the feet.

We have our own program to calculate the cycling position and the frame measure.

The cycling- and shoe cleat position are adjusted according to the calculated data.

Dan volgt een definitieve fietsanalyse, met aandacht voor een optimale zitpositie, maar vooral geconcentreerd op de afwijkingen en klachten.

Last but not least there is a final bike analysis. Special attention is given to an optimum sitting position. Anomalies and complaints are fully taken into consideration.

On basis of this analysis a comprehensive and clear scheme is made, specifying the new cycling position and custom made frame geometry adapted to the cyclist full body length. The scheme can later on be used when buying a bicycle. (see: bike sizing)

The resulting change of position, sometimes merely by millimeters, sometimes by centimeters, should not necessarily cause adjustment problems. Adopting the new cycling position is not a long or gradual process.

During the first trainings with your new cycling position, you should ride in a leisurely way, knowing that adjusting sometimes doesn't take more than fifteen minutes and complaints will disappear spontaneously.

To change the position over a number of training sessions would provoke too many adjusting problems and is utterly unnecessary.

Take care though, sometimes the physical anomalies and problems can be of such a nature that bike fitting offers no guarantee that these complaints will completely disappear, but a well adjusted cycling position will make these complaints certainly more bearable!