Lets talking getting "fit" on a MTB..

BusyRaeNOTBusty

Have you done it?

How much did you pay (if this is rude, sorry)?

Should I do it? My knees kind of hurt on some uphills but I think that's just "Spring Knees".

sillygoosie

I think I paid $300 for my Retul fitting. I'm not sure if they do mtn bikes. I can honestly say that it made a world of difference on my roadie. Most bike shops treat a woman's fitting very differently than a man's. We are treated as dainty little beings who will be taking our bikes out for 5 mile strolls to pick daisies along the path.

My bike was pretty much set up like this until I went for my fitting. I told them my habits and goals and they rocked my world. I was put in a MUCH more aggressive position which has helped my climbing, endurance, comfort, and most of all, my attitude. It was well worth the cost. Maybe it helped that it was done by this hot little Irishman named Ivan and a hand full of beautiful men from Argentina.

I would love a fitting on my mtn bike but I just don't love it enough to justify the cost. Maybe when I get my gravel bike...

BusyRaeNOTBusty

I think I can get one for relatively cheap through the Dirt Divas (women's club) and Nancy (club leader and bike fitter) is pretty hard-core so I know she would do a good job. I'm just lazy and busy... (but not busty :drinker:) And they didn't do one when I bought the bike because it was a demo and already deeply discounted so he didn't want to give me a "free" fitting.

allaboutthecake

What are your habits? You racing? Live on your MTB? Run major hills & jumps? I'd do it. Pay the money and have it done and be done with it. It sounds like you have a good shop there to work with, so why hesitation? Early in the season. You'll probably be really glad you did in the long run.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

Just trying to find time really.

I am doing my first race on the 3rd. 20 miles.

Would it be a bad idea to get a fit the week before the race? Ya know, like buying new shoes right before a long hike? I messaged the lady and she can't do this week.

jacksonpt

I got fit when I bought my tri bike (included with the purchase), then got refit last summer ($50 for about 45 mins of tweaking - it wasn't a full on fit).

I've never been fit to a mountain bike. IME, position on an MTB is much more dynamic, so fit is much more flexible. If you're experiencing problems like lower back pain, crotch pain, hand numbness, etc then it probably can't hurt... or if you have unusual proportions... but I think it's overkill for most average riders on mtb.

jacksonpt

^^ I say all that assuming that, when you bought the bike, they put you on the correct size with a reasonable saddle and handlebar position.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

Jeremy has stuck me and the bike on the trainer and done all the knee angle measurements, and the plumb bob thing. The shot flipped the stem when I bought it, but that was the extent of it. The handle bars are a similar width to my old bike.

And yeah, the only pain I'm having is my knees when I do a lot of climbing.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

I would not get a fit right before a race and especially if its a Retul fit. I wouldn't change anything right before a race. Your body is used to your position on the bike whether its a good position or now. A fit is going to put different stress on various parts whether its your cleat position, saddle position, saddle height, your back with the stem, and etc. I'd stay away from getting a fit until after your first race. You are going to need time to get used to and comfortable with the new setup and a race is not ideal for that,

That's what I was thinking too. If I do it, I'll do it after the race.

jacksonpt

And yeah, the only pain I'm having is my knees when I do a lot of climbing.

That doesn't sound like a fit issue to me.

mikes99mail

And yeah, the only pain I'm having is my knees when I do a lot of climbing.

That doesn't sound like a fit issue to me.

sounds like it's shoe related.... Does your bike fit person look at fitting shims under the cleats if needed? My lovely wife had a 2 hour fitting and they spent most of the time just for her shoes, they did a lot of cleat angle fine tuning and shim / insole fitting stuff. She no longer has back, hip or knee pain on long rides.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

And yeah, the only pain I'm having is my knees when I do a lot of climbing.

That doesn't sound like a fit issue to me.

sounds like it's shoe related.... Does your bike fit person look at fitting shims under the cleats if needed? My lovely wife had a 2 hour fitting and they spent most of the time just for her shoes, they did a lot of cleat angle fine tuning and shim / insole fitting stuff. She no longer has back, hip or knee pain on long rides.

She probably does. She's done all the fit classes or whatever. I need new shoes anyway, I was just shopping yesterday. Maybe I'll wait to buy anything until after I do the fitting.

I decided to do it but not until after my race because she agreed doing it before the race was a bad idea.

sillygoosie

And yeah, the only pain I'm having is my knees when I do a lot of climbing.

That doesn't sound like a fit issue to me.

sounds like it's shoe related.... Does your bike fit person look at fitting shims under the cleats if needed? My lovely wife had a 2 hour fitting and they spent most of the time just for her shoes, they did a lot of cleat angle fine tuning and shim / insole fitting stuff. She no longer has back, hip or knee pain on long rides.

She probably does. She's done all the fit classes or whatever. I need new shoes anyway, I was just shopping yesterday. Maybe I'll wait to buy anything until after I do the fitting.

I decided to do it but not until after my race because she agreed doing it before the race was a bad idea.

Definitely buy your new shoes before the fitting so she can adjust them properly.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

Hrm. Okay. I'm having issues with shoe shopping.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

So I did it today

- My seat was too high
- My seat was too far back
- My cleats were too far back on my shoes
- My stem is too long causing me to have to force myself to keep my elbows bent. A short stem will but me in the correct position naturally.
- A wider handlebar would be good.
- I need orthodontics for my feet because my knees come in on my pedal stroke. I also need a different level of support on each foot because my arch is flatter on my left foot.

Also, my right femur is slightly longer than my left, so currently the seat is adjusted to the left but we can switch it to fit the right if we need.

Interesting.

TheBigYin

why do you need false teeth in your shoes ??

or did autocorrect clobber "orthotics" :laugh:

other than that, it sounds like quite a typical list for someone who's never had a proper fit on the bike before, and who's aware they're having problems.

I'm sure you'll get sorted.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

why do you need false teeth in your shoes ??

or did autocorrect clobber "orthotics" :laugh:

other than that, it sounds like quite a typical list for someone who's never had a proper fit on the bike before, and who's aware they're having problems.

I'm sure you'll get sorted.

I bet it was the spell check on firefox and I didn't pay close attention to which one I picked.