Today I spent the morning in the bike fit studio of my friendly neighborhood bike shop where I bought my Lemond Versailles about 5 years ago. Michael who runs the studio on a free lance basis spends about half his time building high end custom bikes and the rest running the studio. He also races cyclocross which I had never heard of before.
He looked at my bike and gave me "Wo Dude." I then learned his theory why the Versailles was an odd but really interesting bike (will explain later if anyone cares) kind of like the Saab of bikes (he meant that in a good way).
Once he got down to business he spent nearly 2 hours interviewing and measuring me to find out injuries, strength, flexibility, riding habits, my running, etc. I warned up on the bike on an indoor stand for a good 20 minutes while he observed and then he videoed me for another twenty minutes or so and began to fiddle with the existing equipment and made various suggestions for adjustments and replacements but nothing expensive.
The big item was that he convinced me to finally switch to clipless peddles (actually the Shimanos that are a flat peddle on one side and step ins on the other sides. He adjusted the seat a tiny bit and suggested a narrow set of handle bars so it would be easier to ride with my elbows bent for shock absorption.
I pick up the bike tonight and then come back for a 30 minute followup in a couple of weeks so I can get used to the new positioning and bars. We will discuss some aero bars at that time.
It was $125 for the nearly two hour session and the followup plus about $120 for the pedal set, bars and some cushioning tape. Seemed like money well spent. Hopefully the beginning of more power, aerodynamics and efficiency. Will let you later tonight or tomorrow AM after a spin on the lakefront path.
Do tell w/r/t the Saab analogy!
ReplyDeleteMy understanding about the LeMonds (as the owner of a LeMond Reno from 1997) is that LeMond has his own theories about frame geometry. In particular, he favors a long top tube, again to create a forward riding position. I got a similar "whoa" from my friend the bike fitter, who recommended a shorter stem to make the bike more comfortable. I'm currently working through that shift on the road bike. I was planning to blog about it shortly. Right now, the verdict is that the bike is more comfortable, but slower, though after a good ride this morning, I'm not so sure. This is the steel bike on which I rode a 20.1 mph 40k a few years back. I was waiting until I'd gotten the fit right, and could take it for a reference ride in Prospect Park.
ReplyDeleteOh, and clipless pedals make a huge difference. The Shimano SPDs are a good gateway drug.
ReplyDeleteThose are the pedals I bought.
ReplyDeleteTook the bike out for a 12 mile spin tonight. Seemed 20% easier.
Will post separately on his theory of Saabs and LeMonds.
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