Why a professional bike fit

When a rider is fit properly they are able to hold their most aerodynamic position on the bike for at least the duration of their event. They do so while producing the most power for that duration their fitness dictates they should. This is all accomplished while safely navigating the course, including while feeding. This should be accomplished without any discomfort during or after the ride, except for a general, non-isolated feeling of fatigue due to effort…not pain. 

     Ever so slightly less important is for the rider to be fit upon the bike so that when running immediately after, they are able to do so at a similar pace to what they are capable of without the preceding ride. 

     New riders stand to benefit the most from a professional bike fit. Doing so enables them to focus on improving as quickly as possible, avoiding the injuries that plague poorly fit riders. They become more fit, being able to more quickly generate a higher power output as they don’t have these injuries and can train & recover quicker and more often. They can ride more confidently because a well fit bike handles safer. New riders go faster at their optimal power output because they can hold their aero position longer and more comfortably. Riders that are forced, due to poor fit, to hold the base bar when it’s as safe to be in the aero bars aren't benefiting as much as they could from their super sleek aero bikes. 

     Experienced riders should have their fits checked by a professional fitter with a good reputation if they feel they have not achieved their goals with their current fit, have reached a performance plateaus on their bike splits, or if they struggle to run as well as they would expect off the bike. A truly experienced fitter knows when to tweak a fit to generate a bit more power or to reduce drag, or even to spare the more run specific muscles to help improve a run split. 

Schedule a professional bike fit with Mike Monastero and prepare for the next season here: Bike Fit.