Morphological positioning: why should we do one?

Our important point: This article and video were produced before COVID-19. We are respecting social distancing guidelines. and the health measures for positioning.

During a training session at the shop last winter, I told Yannick that I hadn't had a bike fitting in almost four years, since I bought my bike. Surprised, he told me that after a certain number of kilometers ridden annually—in my case, nearly 5,000—it's a good idea to have your bike fitted every year. And for a multitude of reasons: to reduce or even eliminate certain pains, optimize overall comfort, improve performance, or reduce the risk of injury.

Even if you don't ride thousands of kilometers a year, proper positioning will help cyclists of all ages, disciplines (mountain, road, or hybrid) and abilities reduce numbness in the hands or feet, back or neck pain, joint pain, irritation, and buttock pain.

Here's how positioning works

It all starts with a full analysis Your cycling experience, your level, your injury history, and how you feel during your rides all play a role. What's truly surprising is that sometimes, after adjusting your bike fit, you realize you were experiencing discomfort, believing it was normal. Before making changes to my long-standing bike fit, I had shoulder blade pain and my hands were numb.

Subsequently, the positioning with dynamic adjustments It begins. It's called a dynamic fitting because you pedal your bike (which is placed on a training stand). The idea is to replicate the movements you make when you're in the saddle, allowing you to assess the improvements as you go! Essentially, the bike fitter wants to adjust the bike to the three points of contact of your body: the saddle, the pedals, and the handlebars. Therefore, the first adjustments involve the height, setback, tilt, and choice of saddle. The second set of adjustments concerns the alignment of the hips, knees, and feet, as well as the position and cleat (shoe) adjustments. Finally, the stem length, handlebar height and width, and the positioning of the shifters are adjusted.

After 4 years in the same mold, I got a complete fit overhaul at @MagliaRosaVelo . Here's a one-minute summary of my body shape. pic.twitter.com/8GYQhiQ3Js
— On Two Wheels (@surdeuxroues) June 30, 2020

During this stage, you may need to change certain parts to achieve an optimal starting point: the saddle, handlebars, stem, cleats, insoles, or cleats. Personally, I changed my handlebars to ones better suited to my body type, my frame from the cat and since then I no longer have numbness in my fingers and I am no longer rusty in the shoulder blades after 100 km.

In short, I went there to be more powerful, more aerodynamic, and the desired effect was quickly felt. If you've never been fitted, or if it's been a while since you last had one and your approach to our wonderful sport has changed, you probably don't know what you're missing. Go get fitted again, or go back. To learn more about the options, come... here

Jean-Philippe Guay | surdeuxroues.org

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Sur Deux Roues is a Quebec-based blog for Quebecers interested in learning more about road cycling, fat biking, cyclocross, and urban cycling. With over 16,000 unique visitors per month, data verified by MRP data, Sur Deux Roues is a niche blog that connects with a community passionate about their favorite sport: cycling.

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