Fitting your bike yourself – is it possible?
You may be familiar with this: you have fitted your bike with ergonomic grips that are precisely tailored to your riding style. You have determined your sit bone width, found the perfect bike saddle and installed it. And yet – after just one short ride on the bike, you have pain in your neck, back and knees, your hands fall asleep and you don’t feel comfortable. No doubt, this is frustrating. If you’ve invested so much time and money in a bike, it should feel good to ride. For your peace of mind: the out-of-box settings are unsuitable for many people without adjustments. Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem: a bike fit.
Bike fit: Adjustments that really make your bike yours
None of the three contact points on the bike - handlebars with grips, saddle and pedals - should be considered in isolation from the others, because the part that connects these contact points is you. If the saddle position is not correct, this can lead to problems in the hands, just as incorrect handlebar adjustment can lead to back pain. The correct adjustment of the three contact points therefore guarantees you a ride with maximum comfort and the best performance. And it's best not to make blind adjustments or adjustments by trial and error, because an incorrect configuration can not only cause pain, but can also lead to serious injuries.
How does a bike fit work?
A bike fit involves adjusting the handlebars, saddle height (often referred to as seat height), stem and pedal axle to suit your body measurements and intended use. To do this, several measurements are taken on your body, such as your inseam, i.e. your leg length from crotch to the floor. The measurements are then translated into millimeter-precise adjustments of the contact points. This process is extremely important for bike ergonomics, as everybody is different and therefore needs individualized adjustments.
A bike fit with a professional
So, if you want to have a professional bike fit, how do you go about it? You can go to a bike fitter. Your body measurements will be taken and, depending on the level of service, a video analysis will also be carried out. The bike fitter will then adjust your bike (i.e. saddle, handlebars and cockpit), considering your preferences, bike type and riding style. The advantage of this method is that you don't have to worry about anything. You bring your bike to the bike fitter, and they do the rest. As you can imagine, a bike fitting like this is not cheap. A good bike fitting costs around $300 – sometimes even more than $500. If you don't want to spend this amount, or there is no bike fitting lab in your area, then there is an alternative.
Fitting your bike yourself – simply and correctly
You can carry out a bike fitting at home. However, you shouldn’t just open a blog post and make your own adjustments on the fly. We advise you to use an Ergon Fitting Box, mountain bikes and road bikes (i.e. for road bikes and gravel bikes), so that you can carry out exactly the fitting you need.
Riding with clipless pedals
Now that you have completed the fitting, your seat and handlebar position have been customized and your horizontal saddle adjustment is perfectly aligned in relation to the bottom bracket, there is one more important factor that can have a lasting effect on your ride: your foot position on the pedals, which is covered in the Ergon Fitting Boxes. If you ride with clipless pedals, the Ergon TP1 Cleat Tool is a useful addition, as it allows you to quickly and easily adjust your clipless pedals ergonomically and transfer them precisely from one shoe to the other.
Now you know how to do your own bike fit and maximize the fun and comfort on your bike. Whether you’re planning a long tour or just cycling to work – an at home bike fit will make your ride noticeably better.