One of the most common reasons cyclists seek out a bike fit is due to discomfort or nagging pain when riding their bike. There are many reasons why this can occur so we will dive into the main source of pain which relates to your foundation and posture while cycling.
The majority of issues cyclists experience stem from a few areas, with the first being the saddle. Saddle position is paramount in having a strong foundation on your bike. How you sit on a cycling saddle is just as important.
Here are a few takeaways on saddles:
- The majority of cyclists sit on cycling saddles poorly and have never been shown how to correctly sit on them
- Issues can emerge when there is a breakdown in the cyclist’s posture
If the hip is not supported, then the remaining contact points will suffer:
- Feet and hands
- Back, neck, and shoulders
- Soft tissue
- Basically everything
Before we go into finding the right saddle, we need to first address posture. Let's discuss three common postures for road biking.
Posture Example 1:
- Hips rolled back/posterior
- No core engagement
- The spine is holding the upper body up
- Pressure on soft tissue, hands, and feet
- Toes pointing
- Inefficient
Posture Example 2:
- Hips collapsing forward/anterior to much
- No core engagement
- Hips not supported by the saddle
- Pressure on soft tissue, hands, and feet
Posture Example 3:
- Hips rolled forward and core engaging
- The ischium are supported on the saddle
- Weight off of feet and hands
- No soft tissue pressure
Once a proper cycling position is achieved, we can select the appropriate equipment for the cyclist.
Do you experience nagging pain on your bike rides? Contact us to learn more about our bike fitting service or schedule yours now by clicking here!
About Aaron Ross:
Aaron has 20+ years in the cycling industry with 12+ years as a master bike fitter. For 5-years he was the director of technology and general manager of the FASTER wind tunnel in Scottsdale. Aaron has extensive technical experience in aerodynamics and biomechanics and has worked with many Olympians, world champions, and Tour de France riders. Currently, Aaron lives in Laramie, WY with his wife, two young daughters, and three border collies. He is busy bike fitting and consulting cycling brands on product development. Aaron has cycled all over Europe, was a Cat 2 Road and Cyclocross Racer and Pro Level Mountain Biker. He now enjoys riding a fixie, teaching his girls to ride, and taking adventures on his dirt bike.
