Accuracy of fit kit?

05-20-2004, 09:42 AM

Hello,

How accurate is the fit kit system? What are the suggested
measurements based on? What changes would there be for different types
of riding like commuting, recreational, racing or touring?

I was told the reach from the seat to the handlebars on my new bike
should be about 2 centimeters longer. It's already a longer bike than
I am used to so it felt long at first but now it feels fine. My
commuting bike is shorter and it feels fine most of the time except
sometimes when I'm pedaling hard it might be nice to stretch out a
little more.

I'm just wondering what people's thoughts are.

Thanks.

05-20-2004, 08:34 PM

> How accurate is the fit kit system? What are the suggested
> measurements based on? What changes would there be for different types
> of riding like commuting, recreational, racing or touring?

The Fit Kit is a great starting point, and allows a skilled person to
shorten the amount of time it takes to properly size somebody by a
considerable amount. But it's just a starting point, and needs to be
confirmed by on-bike observation (preferable of somebody actually riding a
bike; I've never been a fan of putting a bike on a trainer, since I've found
people often "perform" for you, trying to adapt to what they think I want to
see, instead of relax... but that's just me).

What I'm really looking for is someone's ability to completely relax while
riding. I look for things like an arched back (especially the lower back),
which indicates possible problems either with the reach to the bars or
saddle discomfort. A bend in the arms, rather than rigidly straight, is
very important. The angle of the back? I could almost care less, in most
cases. I'm more interested in somebody being comfortable than aero; if
they're comfortable, they're going to ride more. If they're more aero,
perhaps they might be a bit faster in some situations, but if riding's a
pain, they might find other things more fun to do.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"Chris Hansen" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:6902ac92.0405200942.6914756d@posting.google.c om...
> Hello,
>
> How accurate is the fit kit system? What are the suggested
> measurements based on? What changes would there be for different types
> of riding like commuting, recreational, racing or touring?
>
> I was told the reach from the seat to the handlebars on my new bike
> should be about 2 centimeters longer. It's already a longer bike than
> I am used to so it felt long at first but now it feels fine. My
> commuting bike is shorter and it feels fine most of the time except
> sometimes when I'm pedaling hard it might be nice to stretch out a
> little more.
>
> I'm just wondering what people's thoughts are.
>
> Thanks.

05-20-2004, 08:34 PM

> How accurate is the fit kit system? What are the suggested
> measurements based on? What changes would there be for different types
> of riding like commuting, recreational, racing or touring?

The Fit Kit is a great starting point, and allows a skilled person to
shorten the amount of time it takes to properly size somebody by a
considerable amount. But it's just a starting point, and needs to be
confirmed by on-bike observation (preferable of somebody actually riding a
bike; I've never been a fan of putting a bike on a trainer, since I've found
people often "perform" for you, trying to adapt to what they think I want to
see, instead of relax... but that's just me).

What I'm really looking for is someone's ability to completely relax while
riding. I look for things like an arched back (especially the lower back),
which indicates possible problems either with the reach to the bars or
saddle discomfort. A bend in the arms, rather than rigidly straight, is
very important. The angle of the back? I could almost care less, in most
cases. I'm more interested in somebody being comfortable than aero; if
they're comfortable, they're going to ride more. If they're more aero,
perhaps they might be a bit faster in some situations, but if riding's a
pain, they might find other things more fun to do.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"Chris Hansen" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:6902ac92.0405200942.6914756d@posting.google.c om...
> Hello,
>
> How accurate is the fit kit system? What are the suggested
> measurements based on? What changes would there be for different types
> of riding like commuting, recreational, racing or touring?
>
> I was told the reach from the seat to the handlebars on my new bike
> should be about 2 centimeters longer. It's already a longer bike than
> I am used to so it felt long at first but now it feels fine. My
> commuting bike is shorter and it feels fine most of the time except
> sometimes when I'm pedaling hard it might be nice to stretch out a
> little more.
>
> I'm just wondering what people's thoughts are.
>
> Thanks.

05-20-2004, 08:34 PM

> How accurate is the fit kit system? What are the suggested
> measurements based on? What changes would there be for different types
> of riding like commuting, recreational, racing or touring?

The Fit Kit is a great starting point, and allows a skilled person to
shorten the amount of time it takes to properly size somebody by a
considerable amount. But it's just a starting point, and needs to be
confirmed by on-bike observation (preferable of somebody actually riding a
bike; I've never been a fan of putting a bike on a trainer, since I've found
people often "perform" for you, trying to adapt to what they think I want to
see, instead of relax... but that's just me).

What I'm really looking for is someone's ability to completely relax while
riding. I look for things like an arched back (especially the lower back),
which indicates possible problems either with the reach to the bars or
saddle discomfort. A bend in the arms, rather than rigidly straight, is
very important. The angle of the back? I could almost care less, in most
cases. I'm more interested in somebody being comfortable than aero; if
they're comfortable, they're going to ride more. If they're more aero,
perhaps they might be a bit faster in some situations, but if riding's a
pain, they might find other things more fun to do.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"Chris Hansen" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:6902ac92.0405200942.6914756d@posting.google.c om...
> Hello,
>
> How accurate is the fit kit system? What are the suggested
> measurements based on? What changes would there be for different types
> of riding like commuting, recreational, racing or touring?
>
> I was told the reach from the seat to the handlebars on my new bike
> should be about 2 centimeters longer. It's already a longer bike than
> I am used to so it felt long at first but now it feels fine. My
> commuting bike is shorter and it feels fine most of the time except
> sometimes when I'm pedaling hard it might be nice to stretch out a
> little more.
>
> I'm just wondering what people's thoughts are.
>
> Thanks.

05-20-2004, 08:34 PM

> How accurate is the fit kit system? What are the suggested
> measurements based on? What changes would there be for different types
> of riding like commuting, recreational, racing or touring?

The Fit Kit is a great starting point, and allows a skilled person to
shorten the amount of time it takes to properly size somebody by a
considerable amount. But it's just a starting point, and needs to be
confirmed by on-bike observation (preferable of somebody actually riding a
bike; I've never been a fan of putting a bike on a trainer, since I've found
people often "perform" for you, trying to adapt to what they think I want to
see, instead of relax... but that's just me).

What I'm really looking for is someone's ability to completely relax while
riding. I look for things like an arched back (especially the lower back),
which indicates possible problems either with the reach to the bars or
saddle discomfort. A bend in the arms, rather than rigidly straight, is
very important. The angle of the back? I could almost care less, in most
cases. I'm more interested in somebody being comfortable than aero; if
they're comfortable, they're going to ride more. If they're more aero,
perhaps they might be a bit faster in some situations, but if riding's a
pain, they might find other things more fun to do.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"Chris Hansen" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:6902ac92.0405200942.6914756d@posting.google.c om...
> Hello,
>
> How accurate is the fit kit system? What are the suggested
> measurements based on? What changes would there be for different types
> of riding like commuting, recreational, racing or touring?
>
> I was told the reach from the seat to the handlebars on my new bike
> should be about 2 centimeters longer. It's already a longer bike than
> I am used to so it felt long at first but now it feels fine. My
> commuting bike is shorter and it feels fine most of the time except
> sometimes when I'm pedaling hard it might be nice to stretch out a
> little more.
>
> I'm just wondering what people's thoughts are.
>
> Thanks.

05-20-2004, 08:34 PM

> How accurate is the fit kit system? What are the suggested
> measurements based on? What changes would there be for different types
> of riding like commuting, recreational, racing or touring?

The Fit Kit is a great starting point, and allows a skilled person to
shorten the amount of time it takes to properly size somebody by a
considerable amount. But it's just a starting point, and needs to be
confirmed by on-bike observation (preferable of somebody actually riding a
bike; I've never been a fan of putting a bike on a trainer, since I've found
people often "perform" for you, trying to adapt to what they think I want to
see, instead of relax... but that's just me).

What I'm really looking for is someone's ability to completely relax while
riding. I look for things like an arched back (especially the lower back),
which indicates possible problems either with the reach to the bars or
saddle discomfort. A bend in the arms, rather than rigidly straight, is
very important. The angle of the back? I could almost care less, in most
cases. I'm more interested in somebody being comfortable than aero; if
they're comfortable, they're going to ride more. If they're more aero,
perhaps they might be a bit faster in some situations, but if riding's a
pain, they might find other things more fun to do.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"Chris Hansen" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:6902ac92.0405200942.6914756d@posting.google.c om...
> Hello,
>
> How accurate is the fit kit system? What are the suggested
> measurements based on? What changes would there be for different types
> of riding like commuting, recreational, racing or touring?
>
> I was told the reach from the seat to the handlebars on my new bike
> should be about 2 centimeters longer. It's already a longer bike than
> I am used to so it felt long at first but now it feels fine. My
> commuting bike is shorter and it feels fine most of the time except
> sometimes when I'm pedaling hard it might be nice to stretch out a
> little more.
>
> I'm just wondering what people's thoughts are.
>
> Thanks.