The Importance of a Proper Bike Fit
Why should you consider a professional bike fit? Largely for three reasons: comfort, injury prevention, and power output.
Comfort and Injury Prevention
In the past, bike fitting consisted solely of mathematical formulas and rules-of-thumb. Little or no consideration was given to the fact that each human body is unique and changes over time. Sadly many riders never move beyond mathematical formulas and rules-of-thumb that are still so prevalent today. Back pain, neck and shoulder pain, knee pain, foot pain, hand and genitalia numbness – all remain a part of the sport. Ill-fitted cyclists risk burn-out and serious long-term injury. Today, smart cyclists know that discomfort on the bike is unacceptable.
Power Output
So what about power output? At one time, we viewed cycling as a pure endurance sport. Serious cyclists put in long miles and gave little thought to power output. Increasingly, though, cycling is being viewed as power-endurance sport. Because affordable technology allows nearly all cyclists to measure their power output easily, cyclists, in the last few years, have given it much more thought. But you may ask “How will a professional bike fit increase my power output? And if I’m truly comfortable on the bike, might that decrease my power output?” A professional bike fit not only provides comfort, it oftentimes increases power output – sometimes immediate and dramatic. Sure, you may lose a bit of that aerodynamic position, but your increased power output will enable you to ride faster. You’ll use the right muscles. You’ll increase your oxygen intake. The physical and mental energy you previously gave to your aches and pains, will instead be directed towards maximizing power output.
Unique Bike Fitting Qualifications
Noble Chiropractic is excited to be able to offer professional bike fitting to the cyclists of western Washington. Trained by bike fitting guru Michael Sylvester, Dr. Noble complements Michael’s system with chiropractic training. The human body is a complex structure. Proper bike fitting requires detailed knowledge of this complex structure, particularly the biomechanics of the body’s musculoskeletal system. Through years of training, chiropractors like Dr. Noble understand the entire body’s musculoskeletal system (not just the back and spine as some may think).
At which seat position does the hamstring muscle work most effectively? Is one leg shorter than the other? Why does this rider experience recurrent knee pain? Are the muscles in this rider’s legs and back flexible enough to maintain this position comfortably? A proper bike fit requires that these questions be asked. A chiropractor knowledgeable in the sport of cycling, such as Dr. Noble, can answer them.
