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Bike setup.


The Brown Hornet's picture

By The Brown Hornet - Posted on 03 January 2013

A mate at work just bought a new roadie and had the setup done at the shop. They used laser levels etc etc to make sure the saddle position, stem length and all the other malarky were "right". Now this was a bit more than the "knee bent at bottom of pedal stroke" thing but less than a full on bike fit costing a few hungy.

I've always dialled in my ride by how it feels, but after smashing google on the subject I now have a boggle. It seems that getting your bike fit dialled in by someone who knows what they're doing can have coniderable benefits to your riding. The problem is which one? A few shops I've spoken to swear by KOPS (Knee over pedal spindle), while some other people in the know say it doesn't hold water.

So has anyone had a bike fit done? Or what technique do you use for working out frame size, stem length, saddle height and fore/aft adjustment etc etc?

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ChopStiR's picture

When I bought a roadie I was told by the shop assistant my shoulders should be perpendicular to the handle bar. If I was reaching forward the frame/setup was to big and if my shoulders were past the handle bars the frame/setup was to small. Apart from that I always set me seat to have a small bend in the knee at full stroke.

The Brown Hornet's picture

What about using the Knee Over Pedal Spindle thing to work out your seat fore/aft distance Tim?

ChopStiR's picture

I have no idea. I've just winged it every time and have no idea if its a good spot for me.

DigDig's picture

JP the knee over spindle and knee bend are the most important 1s.The reach set up and width of the bars are comfort and control issuses.

Only time I had a full bike fit up was with a custom frame so it was long time ago[frame shifters pre SIS].It was done on a stand my seat cranks and handle/stem.Top tube and seat tube were adjustable.

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