Bike Fitting by Peter White

www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm
Good article on bike fit with good argument/method for fore/aft saddle position.
cheers Iain C

With regards to crank length, the article ignores the plasticity of muscles.
We all know that muscles change their shape depending on the type of
exercise that we demand of them (compare the shape of body builders with
marathon athletes for an obvious example). Muscle plasticity is not limited
to fibre types and to muscle thickness, but the muscle length and the
position of attachment to the tendons and bone also changes with exercise.
Over a period of weeks or months, the leg muscles will adapt to provide
optimal performance on your usual bicycle, so that crank length may matter
very little. Changing your crank length from 175 to 170 mm, or the reverse,
may be equally unpleasant in the short term, until your muscles adapt. Long
term perfomance will hardly be affected. Intensity of training and fitness
are much bigger factors.
So, just keep cycling and don't change your bike settings too often.

Mike



"iarocu" wrote in message
om...
www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm
Good article on bike fit with good argument/method for fore/aft saddle
position.
cheers Iain C

To illustrate that point, I raised the saddle on my mountain bike by about
one inch since I was getting groin ache and a pain in my right knee evey
time I went out on it. I made this change last Tuesday. I have been right
as rain since then. Amazing difference.

Slim




"maf" wrote in message
...
With regards to crank length, the article ignores the plasticity of
muscles.
We all know that muscles change their shape depending on the type of
exercise that we demand of them (compare the shape of body builders with
marathon athletes for an obvious example). Muscle plasticity is not
limited
to fibre types and to muscle thickness, but the muscle length and the
position of attachment to the tendons and bone also changes with exercise.
Over a period of weeks or months, the leg muscles will adapt to provide
optimal performance on your usual bicycle, so that crank length may matter
very little. Changing your crank length from 175 to 170 mm, or the
reverse,
may be equally unpleasant in the short term, until your muscles adapt.
Long
term perfomance will hardly be affected. Intensity of training and fitness
are much bigger factors.
So, just keep cycling and don't change your bike settings too often.

Mike



"iarocu" wrote in message
om...
www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm
Good article on bike fit with good argument/method for fore/aft saddle
position.
cheers Iain C

"iarocu" wrote in message
om...
www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm
Good article on bike fit with good argument/method for fore/aft saddle
position.

Thanks for the link. Having suffered a lot with aching wrists I found the
bit about seating of interest. When I checked my bike (which is a little
unusual in having a 74 degree seat tube), I noticed that my saddle was as
far forward as it could be. Moving it back has definitely improved things.

Tim

On 19 Aug 2003 03:31:02 -0700, (iarocu) wrote:

www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

Ah, I thought you meant the BBCs disability correspondent, the
excellent - er - Peter White.

See also http://www.wrenchscience.com

Guy
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