So I recently went through 2 days of bike fitting torture. Trek "requires" its dealers to attend bike fitting seminars. I chose the Virginia local to do my time, great 3 days at the Dulles Airport Marriott. Not to be a know-it-all but 35 yrs in the business and over 1000 fits somewhat qualifies me as a bike fitter. I have to say I learned some and realized I knew a lot, but now I have a cool certificate that states I'm a Level 1 fitter. The most important thing I learned is how important hamstring and back flexibility is to cycling. Another cool thing is now I know how to measure it to help in fitting. I also learned a bunch of cool new words to make it sound like I actually know what I'm doing. I'm actually looking forward to the Level 2 seminar to expand my knowledge (probably in some other nondescript hotel near an airport).
The head guy in Trek's fitting service is a guy named Michael Sylvester he set up Serrottas fit program and runs a fit studio in bike land Portland, OR the cool thing is he only does fits, no bike sales no tune ups fitting only. I need his job. We've had similar life paths, he's 3 yrs older but started fitting back in the early '80s with the Fit Kit which was a product of Bill Farrells mathematical mind. My brother bought the 17th FitKit and I was trained how to use it. A few things came of my seminar, the Fit Kit is a sizing system, the system I use Bikefitting.com is a sizing system, what I do after the sizing is fitting. Mike Sylvester still uses one part of the FitKit, the R.A.D. cleat rotational device. I still have a set. He states" baring none this is the only way to adjust the rotation of the cleat". Interestingly enough he is a full believer in full or partial float cleats, ie; Speedplay. Something to think about if you're thinking about changing pedals systems.
that's all for now, come by and we'll talk fit:)
a new thing, botn or botd; beer of the night or beer of the day
botn; Magic Hat H.I.P.A.
Biomechanics is complicated but it eventually makes a whole lot of sense and can be explained to almost anyone, eventually. Hamstring flexibility allows greater hip flexion without as much (if any) spinal flexion so that you can keep your back from rounding as you reach for the bars, especially the drops. Spinal flexion under load (an eccentric contraction of low back muscles) can lead to low back strain, usually of the lumbar multifidi (muscles). That's why planks and other lumbar extensor endurance exercises are so important.
ReplyDeleteThat kind of strain can cause minimal to excruciating and debilitating pain, depending on the degree of strain. So for LBP prevention, flexibility of hamstrings and the low back is essential. I don't think there is a sport out there (I used to think it was running, but running extends the lower leg further than cycling) that tightens the hamstrings as much as cycling.