5 Bike Setup Mistakes You Should Avoid
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- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
- 5 bike fit blunders that James sees most often.
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Bike fit Tuesdays always circle around the same points, yet I'm still learning stuff each time. This is a great public service!
Yes there is always the underlying message to avoid formulaic methods and the importance of getting a good bike fit before buying!
Amazing, had my 56 cm Tarmac sl nicked awhile ago, just replaced it with a second hand 54 cm frame (from a mate). Built up with spare stuff. Its the most comfortable bike Ive ridden. I will pay more attention to James and his bike fit advice from now on as he is spot on advising a smaller frame.
Many folks say: if you wanna be relaxed n comfy on the bike go for a size up. I disagree.
James going to bike shops and doing a "Gordan Ramsey" review of bike fitting, what could be more perfect than that?
Hells Fitting!!!
Except for Gordon Ramsey.
I’m trying to think of a bike fit equivalent of lamb sauce.
I'd finance it on bike fit shark tank
@@RyonBeachner cleat position?
Most CZcams bike fitters: Try to appear serious while spouting complete nonsense
James: Goofs about while spreading true knowledge
Once again proof that the less important something appears to be, the more important it probably is
The big bike issue could have gotten me had I NOT bought my bike from a bike shop. The bike companies would have had me more in a 54 based on height, but the 52 they had on hand, which the guys initially thought was too small, turned out to be perfect because my inseam was shorter. Ordering online would have resulted in a bike that was too big! Good tips!
Got my 1st bike this week in manchester and cant wait. I like that ‘if you feel you are over reaching you most definitely are’ Im definitely over reaching so looking forward to sorting that out
I have found your videos incredibly informative. As I result I totally changed the setup of my 56cm Cannondale Synapse. Two weeks ago I bought a 54cm BMC Roadmachine and I am a very happy bunny.
Sweet!
Can we hear James’ story on starting his own business? It’d be super interesting to hear how people can make a living through their passions!
Yes, I second this. I'd find this interesting
beck lowery 100%!
I second this too! :)
100%
I’m guessing you are all new to this channel? 😉
Scroll to old vids
Watched this morning before going for a short-ish ride (37km) - flipped my stem, dropped the saddle, moved it forwards (also applied some toe-in to my levers) - what a difference. Much more comfortable.
Glad I watched the video, as it'll make Nighrider London much more comfortable next weekend!
Every word a gem. Get the knowledge and expertise for years of comfortable trouble free riding - invest in that before you buy. Riding smiles equals riding miles. Thanks guys awesome video, IMHO the best summary of top practice out there. Bravo.
An absolute legend! Pretty good summarization of the things that you've explained many many times. Keep it up!
I have been lowering my saddle height a few mm every few rides and have been seeing benefits. Bike Fit Tuesday videos are what brought me to your channel. If I was in the UK I'd be bringing him bike fit business.
Something I wondered about was how much bike fitting affects comfort and handling and is there a point where you have to say you need a different sized bike - in the context of a higher saddle height may allow more flex for comfort, and a shorter/longer stem or wider bars may allow more or less control depending upon the use of the bike; such as a gravel bike. Or are these things quite minor.
Love the bike fit videos with James - he is a total star!
Thanks for this channel, very helpful. For me however, the opposite of James's favorite tips was true. I had my saddle put up by 2 cm, my reach extended, and stem "slammed" by 3cm at a bike fit. Oh, just to tick some boxes: Longer stem as well. This did the trick in easing my lower back pain and feeling more comfortable on the bike. Weird, but I guess this just shows how tricky and unique bike fitting is and that basically everybody should get one.
Learnt a good fair bit from these recent bike fit/setup videos, every point has sound reasoning behind it. Made some decent changes on a new bike, all for the better.
Cheers!
I’d love to hear your/James’ thoughts regarding road bs gravel bike set up!
Great video on bike fit blunders and I own a bike from that direct company you're talking about. At 6'5, I got a size XL. I have followed most of James instructions from his bike fit Tuesdays and what he say works! Once I got the seat height and cleat position set, I was good to go. BTW my shoe size is 50. I've tried several shoe sizes less that 50 and returned all of them. Thanks FC and James, keep schooling them!🚲
After going my first year and half without a proper bike fit, I thought the pain and discomfort was part of the process. Had the wrong sized shoes too. Got fitted (and refitted to a new bike) and got the right sized pair of shoes; life is good. I’m such an advocate the first thing I tell anyone asking about road cycling is to get a bike fit AND clarifying that a bike fit isn’t from the guy who sold you the Bike telling you you look good on it. Lol 🍻
Love the energy and passion that you guys bring to your channel. Because of your videos, I've been able to get a bike that fits me properly 2nd time round!
Been riding a gravel bike in a L (60) for the best part of 16 months and ooooh what a journey it’s been. Sizing came about from the old school “height = bike size” chart gubbins. Bike salesman says you’re a large (I’m 5’11 - 6ft on a good day). You think everything is rosy, pedal about on it for 2 mins to check all is good, pay your money and roll out of the store. Oh how wrong was I….
I felt like I was beaten up every time I rode it. You name it, I suffered from it. Numb undercarriage/neck/shoulder/numb hands/hot foot/lower back pain, over stretched. Everything under the sun. Even bought a cut out saddle (helped a little) and changed the stem to a slightly shorter one but alas, it was money poured down the drain. Enough was enough, cut my losses and sold the bike last month before I did any lasting damage to myself. Because of these brilliant BFT videos I've now got a bike that actually fits me (54 (S) endurance bike).
Sweet!
Spot on. At 5’ 10” also, I have consistently opted for smaller frames than most manufacturers recommend - typically 53/54. Thanks for affirming I’m not crazy!
Oh yeah, I'm 6'0" and a lot of manufacturers recommend a 58, my legs are really long and even with a 56 felt like I had to do some straight up yoga on bike, luckily a short stem fixed that....
Hey guys what roadbike size would you recommend me btw im 5'9 ???
Me too, I had a bike fit on my first bike which was a 56-I was advised by the fitter that although I was managing the bike ok it was at the outer edge of adjustment and as I got older and stiffer would be to big. I should add that I am 5ft 9in with 32in inside leg, and was 69 when I had the fit. I am 72 now and ride a 54-with an 80mm stem-bike is very comfy to ride, 100 mile days no problem.
@@K777John ohh i see so soze 54 is good for a 5'9 rider ....because here in the philippines its so hard to find a size 54 up frames they all end up to size 52 because not all asians are tall so i am having a hard time but i found a size 54 frameset from mosso hope to build it soon
I'm 5ft10 and my with my 54 I still feel like I'm stretching or reaching. my saddle is likely a little high and handle bars too wide
It’s interesting that James said he’s 5’10 and rides a 53. I am 5’10 like James and I’ve been riding a 56 for the past 11 years because it was my first road bike that I bought just for a charity ride. For years I’ve slowly changed things out and made small adjustments until I feel I got close to perfect for my size. Couldn’t do it anymore. I went and looked at a 53, took it for a spin, I loved it! It was an 8 year old Wilier so I considered it but then decided on a new bike. Every person in the bike shops when I told them the 53 felt perfect gave me a look and said that’s too small! I ended up getting a 54 because the size runs 52-54-56. So glad I went smaller. Now I need to get my saddle right.
My 53 is seeming to large for me, Im also 5 10, but my Frame has a 54.5 top tube and 3t bars with a 110 stem, so it may just be a reach issue. Can't reach the levers in the drops...
@@DougTheSnowMan my 56 had a 120 stem and I switched it out for a 100 and the problem I ran into is that it’s still a little too much reach, trouble reaching the brakes from the drop and I still have to move my hands back from the hoods. Plus it changes the geometry too much. My plan is now that I got a bike that fits me a lot better I’m going to take the old bike apart and rebuild it with proper components to make it a work of art that will be right at home amongst my other bikes.
Frame size is a bad way of measuring a bike. You can take a dozen 56 bikes and measure their ETT and they will be widely different. It's more important to get fitted on a jig and then compare your ideal measurements to bike geometry measurements (almost always available on manufacture websites). Pick the size and geo that either matches or is smaller than ideal, rather than worry about if it is a 53,54,55 or 56.
@@echtogammut point is that it’s not one size fits all. I bought my bike based on size first and then fit. I took it out for a ride before deciding on it. The bike shops all kept saying 56 and that the 53 Wilier was too small. I said it’s like shoes... not all brands fit your feet the same way and one companies 11 is another’s 10.5. I’m not racing or taking myself too serious so my bike allows me to be fast enough for enjoyment and comfortable enough for the long rides I love to put in.
@@echtogammut Yes, many brands use ETT now but not everyone. It's the only measure that makes sense with compact frames.
1) Saddle height
2) Reach is too long
3) Handlebars too wide
4) Shoes too big
5) Bike is too big
I think I have all these issues 😪
Yep me to! 😒
Number 2 and 4 is my problem I think
Basically, everyone is playing billy big-baws.
At 5'7"/172cm you'd have thought I would have the issue with my size and be wearing the loose t-shirts. But it sounds like everyone has to get over the issue.
Saddle height! I couldn't ride more than 30 miles without huge amounts of pain! After watching a previous video on saddle height where James mentioned catching the top tube with one knee, my problem was solved! Apparently now I'm a mileage monster! A cycling game changer for me! Cheers..
About to fly to London just to have this man fit me
Totally agree with #1. I also shortened the crank. Feels much better.
always enjoy bike fit Tuesday. great advice thank you both.
I've always found it odd that a lot of road cyclists are riding a bike too big (or set up as such) and it's only since I built up a 40 year old road frame last year that I now see your reasons why. Growing up on 90's/00's mtb things were kind of the other way round i.e. size down for maneuverability so I seem to have got my sizing figured out on the road... I like to think :)
James is a legend, I have wasted money on 2 other fits years ago, felt good until putting power down outside over distance. Went to James and never felt so good on a bike. Highly recommend
This I simply the best video for anyone to watch who cycles.......Such great wisdom, as a Osteopath this guys rocks knowledge, stay safe and keep up videos-chaps.
Question for James, if I have already bought a bike that I'm pretty sure is a little big for me (It was the bike I was dreaming about and I found it on offer with a slight scratch for £2500 off list price), is it still worth getting a fit to rejig it and make it fit a little better or will you just tut and tell me off for the entire fit session?
While I'm guilty of 2 of the 5 mistakes on my road bike which I did even know were wrong prior to bike fit Tuesdays and now I'm starting to feel the issues (stem too long bars too wide). I actually had pain in my right knee the other day on my MTB which I solved by raising the saddle 10mm so in conclusion bike fitting is hard and we could all do with a bike fit James to help us out.
Would love to see a video with James where there's a deep dive into getting the right size of bike. This is a problem I've had looking at bikes. I sit right around 6'0", slightly shorter arms. I've ridden everything between 54-58 with varied comfort. So, how do you make sure the geometry is right for you. What do you look for on that bikes geometry chart?
Same here. I'm 6'0" but the majority of my height is in the torso. All the bike shops want to put me on a 56 and if I ever suggest trying a 54 they look at me as if I had two heads. The 55 I ended up with has finally been adjusted (by me) to where I think it fits well, (changed the bars from 42 to 40), but 55 is rare and if I wanted a new bike, I wonder what I would do?
@@marcelnali Firstly, specify whether you are measuring Seat Tube or Top Tube. Effective top tube is almost ubiquitous, but not quite, because with current compact frames its the most limiting measurement. Next, if you are taking an off the peg frame and are between sizes, take the smaller one. Between seat setback and stem length changes it can be set up to fit.
You can't easily make a big frame smaller.
Third option is custom build. Not cheap but not as expensive as some might imagine. The main drawbacks apart from price are the time it takes, and that you have so many choices. So many. Cheers.
@@Nastyhabitz Really argee with you here. I got into riding at the height of the pandemic and supply issues. I was able to find a bike I could actually afford and using the manufactures suggested sizing and being the only size available for that model put me into a 58 and I think I really would have been served better with a 56.
Really helpful advice. Thank you chaps!! I bought first instead of getting fitted, but it sounds like luckily I’ll be ok as I erred on the size of caution. (Do you see what I did there?)
Interesting comment about manufacturers sizing... yes, I've learned a "medium" could be anything from too small to legs swinging free of pedals too large... almost as bad as bottom bracket standards!
Loved to see a similar video with some actual information on how high the saddle should be and without chewing gum
I started off with a 56 frame with 44 bars. I bar tape had warn out on the side of the hoods, so obviously too wide. I know ride a 51 and 40 bars. Reach is still too long so need so sort out my handlebar position and maybe a new stem. Still need to get a bike fit at some point. but from these videos I am noticeably closer!
Another great video well done James love the series and agree completely! One point I’d be interested in hearing is how the hydraulic levers with all brands going disc are affecting reach and sizing? Worth mentioning and driving some click bait lol
My problem was that my bike was purchased for me by a friend. It was a last year's stock, one size too big (I normally ride a 56 and this was a "59" according to Masi), and a final no return purchase. I have managed to make it work perfectly believe it or not. First was a zero offset seatpost, one size shorter stem, and a narrower bar, after all that I have used the advice from James on BFT.....no issues with comfort no matter the mileage ridden. It literally measured out to within an 1/8" to my original bike on reach, but the bar to seat drop was less, but better for me at my age.
Dude - Bike Fit Tuesdays with James are the best. Thanks for another one!
✌️
Last year, I went to a professional bike fitter here in SG before buying a bike. I had a bike in mind but he looked at me, looked at the geometry chart of the bike and said no, it was too big for me. Bummer!
So, I brought up my second choice. He looked at the chart and said I was a size 50 (XS). The bike's designer/manufacturer's chart said I should buy a 52 (S) according to my height. I was skeptical but I ordered the frameset in. When it arrived and I took it out of the box I was shocked at how tiny it was!
The shop built it up and it fits me perfectly! So glad that I went to him now because if I had followed the recommendation...ugh!
James dropping knowledge like corn kernels! Great video, as usual. Cheers, guys! 🍻🍻🍻
Keep preaching boys, some of it will get thru.......eventually 👏
The acromion proccess measure is the last bit of bone before the meat of the deltoid, or a bit before that at the end of the clavicle ? I get either 37cm for the first or 32cm for the latter. And how does this apply to MTB/flat/riser bars?
Completely correct. I'm 6'2" and I'm a medium. Started off as a large. I still have that bike and it is HUGE. Definitely get a fit first. Can't recommended enough so you don't waste money in the long run.
I took James’ advice on a previous video about handlebar width and bought some 38’s. While they felt better at first over time I found I rested my palm too much on the bar where it bends around to the hood and had issues, got some 44 bars out of curiosity and the outside of my hands were more resting and distributed better which I found interesting
Interesting!
I'm 6'3 with a large inseam size (3'1) and had a size 58 bike with standard sized stem. Now I switched to a size 61 Tarmac with a shorter stem and I finally cycle without pain
I’m 5’4”, worked 20+ years in bike shops, and agree 1000% that people get bikes too big. The biggest problem I saw was with shorter riders. Most bike shops have average to tall riders and most can’t relate to smaller rider needs. Most of my fittings resulted in installing a shorter stem and, possibly, shorter reach and narrower handlebars. However, much like the Uber tall peeps, most bike brands don’t do small frames justice.
In the mid-90’s I rode the smallest bike my shop offered… a 50cm Cannondale which had a 525mm TT with 110-120mm stem and big reach and drop bars! Now I’m on a 46cm with a 510mm TT and 80-100mm stem (depending on my flexibility, how I’ve been feeling, etc) and short reach and shallow drop bars.
Also, a lot of shops set up their bikes on the floor with stem in the “7” position. When I had my shop, I had the bikes set up in the most upright position.
I watched this to reassure my decision of buying a 53 frame after considering all the specs of the bike and my experience of 55 frames being too big. Yet, all the guides say that I'm a 55. Including a 'bike fit' that I had prior purchasing my 56 roubaix 4 years ago.
Interesting stuff this, there's so much to consider that has so far slipped me by. I'm 5 11 and usually found 56 was the best fit for me. I have a BMC Roadmachine in 56 which fits pretty nice but I'm not super happy with how it rides, particularly on low percentage inclines, but that's prob more to do with the carbon layup rather than the sizing. Somehow I enjoy my older racer size 58 with a super short stem. Now, after watching this, I'm tempted to try out a 54 or 55 and see how that feels. Scheduling a bike fit is sliding up my list of priorities.
Yeh Im 6ft and nearly went with a bike that I really felt was too big, my feet couldn't reach ground and it was medium and saddle wasn't even raised. Buying one today but will just go with my gut and feel
Very good video. Thanks James
Still waiting for the reach around joke though.
"Your Saddle is Too High Tuesdays"
me too i was riding a bike that was off for me. my chance was when i found that the frame + saddle + saddle height and tilt were right for me (48 + 70cms SH i'm 5'7). at least i got that. but the stem was too short and too low. and my handlebars were too wide. 44 that i changed for 40. my saddle was too far behind too.
so from a 48 frame + -6° 100mm stem + 44 handlebars + saddle too far back >to> 48 frame + 120mm with 35° rise + 40mm handlebars + saddle about in the middle of the rails.
i took the right decision to stop cycling 2 weeks before the fitting to feel more incline to accept the drastic change. if you ride the days before, any small change will be perceived as huge and will make you uncomfortable. which is counter productive for the fitting and the fitter. i wanted to be able to stick to what he achieved for me. i prepared my mind to accept the change.
the thing that jumped into my face when i rode my bike after the fitting was how easy i was clipping the cleats. the pedal was right where it should be and clipped right away. i'm not searching for it like before. the other problem i had was the weird feeling i had in the climbs. sitted i was not happy at all, i couldn't put the ower down.
now i feel like i can put the power down no matter where i am. i really do feel connected. handling in the corners is like papa into mama. my weight is well distributed on the wheels. if you put a scale under each wheel, i'm sure i'd be close to 50/50 balance.
Biggest comfort increases I've had on my bike are 38/36cm bars, the narrower the better - takes all of the pressure off the shoulders and arms. Also ride 2 sizes smaller than 'recommended' as I've always found recommended frame sizes too big. Guilty of 120 neg rise stem however...
Thanks for this, really helpful!
Excessive reach... and saddle (hurting) issues ... I feel my saddle is a comfortable height, but my reach I’m unsure 😐 arms have a slight bend, but I feel weight on my palms. My seat was put back a bit by a bike fitter and to handle hurting issues, I’ve slanted my seat down ↘️, but do I just need to lower my seat?!
I was guilty of a few of these, until i got my bike fitted by a pro...
My saddle went down, my handlebar went down, and my seat went forward. I'm also using a shorter track crank (165mm)
awesome content, thanks so much man!
Made absolutely perfect sense, thank you.
What do James think about the Remco evenepoel hood position to avoid rotating the wrist outwards when holding them?
What if you have 38cm bars but still roll your hands in? Also my hoods measure 32cm center to center after rolling them inwards a bit. But I still lean towards the inside of the hoods.
If your quads are sore after a big effort, and your hamstrings and glutes are not, your seat is too high. The ideal spot is when all 3 muscle groups work/fatigue equally. Agree most people fitted in bike shops are 20mm too high. Have spent the last 30 years thinking I knew how to set my saddle height. Recently went to a highly skilled fitter with back and knee pain, who dropped my seat 22mm. Feels very strange initially, but all my asymmetries, aches and pains are gone and I have more power. I would put cleats too far forward before shoes being too big as a common mistake. There is very little to no downsides to getting the cleats as far back in the shoes as they will physically go. If the seat goes down as well you don't lose the ability to spin a good cadence.
No high amount of RED BULL was consumed before the shooting of this video , James is just naturally this hyper (passionate). He did mine in a different era and a different location and if there is such a thing as perfect then his work comes pretty close. I cannot recommend enough to have a bikefit and although the several changes that can be made (millimetres) but you will feel the difference in the way you are literally moulded onto and around your bike and also the comfort that produces when doing longer rides.
Thanks man! Glad to hear it 🤟🏻
Totally thinking about flying over to England from Canada just to see James unless he does overseas house calls🙂
Yes!! I feel exactly like I’m doing a plank when I ride my bike.
Hey Francis - very informative video... Questions: a fried of mine had a fit and the fitter recommended he go with a size 56 (he is your height) just because it has higher stack (but also longer reach). He rides a Tarmac 54 and looking to go into a Super6Evo size 56.... I am not sure I agree with the philosophy even though my friend trusts the fitter and already preordered the Evo... I reckon that if he is not as flexible to be on a race bike that going for a bigger size (56) just because of the stack, that he should look at an endurance bike geometry... What do you think?
I recently purchased a 56cm Trek Boone. Which is generally a good size for me. 2 issues, First I feel the reach is too short with a 100 mm stem. Not sure I want to go longer on a cross bike. Second my saddle is pushed all the way back. Is that bad for the saddle? Does that mean I need the next size up?
Great channel and helpful advice.
how does "handlebars too wide" apply to gravel cycling? I'm pretty comfortable riding my flared 46cm bars (measured at the hoods) for gravel and still ride 40cm for road
Imagine riding for two decades to finally realize what you instinctively felt about the size of bike someone else said was correct because of your particular height isn’t necessarily true.
Thanks guys for lending confidence to us who for whatever reason choose to allow someone else to dictate how something ought to be done. Sure if everyone functioned optimally with the same gear well this video would not be needed. Cheers!
The other thing about bike fit is that there is a lot of overlap between bike sizes now because of sloping top tubes. I am also 5'10" and I have ridden bikes as small as a 52 (530mm top tube) and a 56 (with a 545mm top tube). A lot of riders have issues with getting the right amount of stack as well... and too many people are chasing the "slammed" look and sacrificing their comfort and power to do so.
These are the only videos in all of CZcams that I watch at 1.0 speed. James is dropping knowledge like, uhhh, a peloton dropping water bottles before a big climb?
Love bike fit Tuesdays and getting bombarded by James 👌
How does road bike fit differ from a drop bar mountain bike? I have a merida reacto ltd and a salsa cutthroat. Should they be set up the same?
I would be interested to know the reason why Fizik shoes aren’t recommended as I’m looking to purchase a new pair of shoes...
A video on what size TT bike you should buy and how wide the base bars and aero bars should be
watching this makes me realize that my bike is more than likely too big and my saddle is probably too high... i sometimes have lower back pain while riding if i push myself really hard when pedaling.
Just found this. Best bike fit I’ve had was James when at Sigma. Came down from Scotland for it
Lots of bikes are bought 2nd hand so just wondering is it possible to make a bike that's maybe very slightly too big usable and comfortable.
Have u any recommendations for a gravel bike around 1000£ ,other than specialised or do u think that is a good option
James is like Martin Lewis the financial guy but for bikes. Gets like 1000 great tips into a minute and it's all understandable 😄
I’m 5’11” and I was fitted for a large Giant Talent 2 with that type of bike and the handlebars would there still be the same problems for me
Always great info. Any trips coming up
Nothing for now!
Great channel!
Might have missed it, but has BFT ever covered proper bike posture?
I got two rules in life: when your tailor is done with your pants measurements, have him add another centimeter to the length and when the guy in the shop is done with your bike fitting, go down one size on the frame.
Great video. I've made all these mistakes over the years and have the knee pain to prove it. If your video spares even a single rider of such pain, your work will have been worth it.
Unfortunately have discovered you and these bikfe fit Tuesdays videos a bit late, but just in time. Have bought a bike from just studying the geometry and wondering whether it would be right size.
Also 5'10, 32.5'' inseam and on many online tools and bike 101 fitting tools of the manufactures the size 56 is recommended. Now I got the bike, and it confirmed my fears, reach to the hoods and levers feels stretched out. The 56 here is actually a seat tube 56 cm and horizontal top tube 56 cm. Luckily enough I can return the bike and will get the 54 cm frame with effective top tube of 54.5 cm. The saddle post drop to bars will be higher, but I will manage that.
Lads im geting neck pain and sliding forword on my saddle while using my aero bars...i have moved my aero bars closer but find my knees now hitting my elbows please help!! 😭😭
Definitely my newly discovered favourite CZcams channel 👊🏾👏🏾✊🏾
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The.industry was pushing wider road bars a few years back now you see truckloads of used 44cm bars on the market. A long slammed stem combines with a too wide drop.bar is like trying doing a press up on a bicycle.
I went for a local bike sizing with an independent bike fitter using a retul rig. After the sizing I was recommended to go for either a size 56 Trek emonda or a size 55 Orbea orca which were the bikes I was interested in. Several months later (after using a cheap Trek emonda 56 with no fit issues) my Orbea orca arrived and after a couple of rides I had leg pain issues. I went to the local bike fitter who made some adjustments but seemed to be having difficulty even though he'd told me what size stem, handlebars and saddle to go with. He ended up adjusting my saddle all the way forward on the rails and I'm still getting leg pain issues now. I believe I was advised to get a bike that is too large for me as it feels bigger than the trek emonda 56. I'm now desperately trying to sell the orca but having no luck unless I'm prepared to lose a significant amount of money. I will never go for a bike fit again, I've not had any fit issues previously when relying on my own experience. So just wanted to point out that a bike fit isn't the be all and end all if you are somewhat experienced and have an idea what you are doing. I was going to order the smaller frame but went with the large one as I trusted what I was being told. Big mistake!
There's lots of bad bike fitters out there - I'm guessing they weren't listed on the ibfi website (i.e pursued further education).
We could do a video on bad fitting practices and when alarm bells should be ringing... Retul would probably be up there!
Bike fit is the be all and end all and can make massive improvements if the fit is carried out professionally, not all bike fitting is created equal. You wouldn’t never have a service on your car again because one garage got it wrong
I really enjoy your channel, great work
thanks Lee!
I so like the no nonsense advice !
Great tips !!! I’m buying an xs frame next year so I can I have a 130mm stem 😊 I’m 165cm
wow i am 5"11 and planning on buying a fixed gear and i am worried about not finding a size 56 frame but when i heard that you are 5"10 and ride a 53 i was relieved a little bit, that said should i go 52 or 54?
We need James and Francis on Alternative Cycling Network weekly livestream!
becoz there is no bike fit 100% to our body and I have short leg, which one better to buy, bike with seat tube fit or top tube fit?
What about this fitting websites that take measures of every part of your body then calculate to give you the right geometry?
Many banging on about James said he is 5'-10'' and rides a 53. Well as he has previously said many so called 53cm frames won't have a damn single tube that measures 53cm. I heard him also say if he was to purchase an off the shelf ..Specialized, Trek etc. he would opt for a small or 52 despite their fitting chart advising 54 even 56. I'm same height and inseam as James and rode far too big a frame in the 80's ..Cinelli 22-1/2'' Bugger all pillar showing. Gone smaller and smaller over the year's until my latest gravel bike a 2018 Diverge I choose a 52. Man it looks like a kid's bike un-built. But experimented with stem length, saddle height and gone down to 170 cranks, cleats slammed back, It just feels right. Can't thank these two guy's enough for their time and passion. I too will get to James next year despite thinking I'm pretty close already.
Same here. I am 180 cm riding a Diverge 54 with 120mm stem and 170mm cranks with cleats almost fully behind. My friends all insisted that I should get a 56 but I feel fine.
Great info/video! Entertaining too!! Thanks!
Thanks John!
I learned to be careful about buying a size too big numb hands the reach was to long. I got messaged and for it but ended up with a hybrid bike that was to big . When I bought my first road bike from another dealer I was put on an extra small and have bought extra small ever since ( short torso long legs😞😞).