A bike fit for road AND gravel?! - Full Bike Fit

[@RK01]

A visit to James is money well spent. I had my bike fit done at his shop and really wish I had done it way sooner, highly recommend.

[@IEDProductionsI]

Litte tip, Turn the camera's white balance to a fixed setting, the video changed colour at 7:31

[@LukeMichaelJames]

I missed a clip! My bad. This one was going crazy with the WB in camera. The videos will get noticeably better when it comes to this soon. We’re still 4-5 weeks until those videos come out though, bear with us!

[@WhiteVaille]

@@LukeMichaelJames Congrats on the new hardware?? 👀

[@jakethesnake1976]

After watching so many bikefit James videos I bought a 133 slr boost; felt awful 😂 Swapped for a 155 s-works mirror Romin and it's perfect 👌

[@lojeda]

Awesome video, take care of your white balance it shifts at 7:12 and 7:32. Technical information it's precious thanks for sharing it

[@FarOut-n6b]

I think ive watched too many bike fit videos. Within 90 seconds i had spotted the pointy toes and rocking hips and diagnosed excessive saddle height before James even said it lol

[@E.T_rode_bikes_As_well]

Can i book a checkup? Can pay in energygels or spare innertubes

[@HarishChouhan]

lol. I do that when I see other riders

[@billincolumbia]

Same!

[@robertpoll27]

Interested to hear your opinion on gravel vs. road position (what you would do differently) and how you'd make a compromise in a one bike for both situation (assuming a gravel race bike, so more-or-less endurance road bike geometry fit-wise). I'm in this situation and just transferred my old road bike setup (which has been super-comfortable for years) and it's working pretty well, but interested in your opinion as maybe I could make it even better.

[@insquares]

I'd like to hear as well. Since my road bike fit is "racy", on my gravel bike my bars are 1-2 cm higher and the reach is shorter. My bar width is the same. I think the position can also depend on the gravel type, etc. Where I am, lots of gravel is very rough with lots of climbing. If the gravel is smooth and fast, then the bike position could be closer to the road bike position.

[@OutThere42]

@@insquares exactly, depends on the gravel or combination of surfaces that you ride. I ride it a route that includes some rough trail as well as road, so the final fit is a compromise with higher stack and shorter reach for when I need to sit up on the bike and other times, I’m down in the drops and pushed back on the saddle. I’m almost at the point that I have a different saddle and seat post and wheels and tires to change if I were doing mostly gravel/trail versus mostly Road

[@CatManDoSocial]

Thanks James! Love these videos. Can you please address the inherent saddle discomfort issues that come up with static indoor training? I can usually go an initial 20 minutes in the saddle petty comfortably but then need to stand every 5-10 minutes after to ward off numbness and general discomfort. (Not pain) I always think that I should be able to stay seated for 20-30 minutes at a time without problems but am I just being completely unrealistic and expecting too much from any saddle and perfect fit? Thanks so much as always!

[@jasonhurst2491]

I've tried several saddles indoors and outdoors and have been riding both in and outdoors for over 10 years. If I've been off the bike for a while I might feel the need to stand occasionally or adjust my position after an hour or so indoors. Can last a bit longer outdoors as you are always moving around a little outdoors to steer and balance and that movement provides some relief. Once my butt gets used to riding again after a solid week or two I can go for a few hours or more without noticing the saddle much at all before I deliberately seek some relief. Currently a Pro Turnix Performance 132mm on the road bike and a 130mm SQlab 612 Ergowave on the trainer bike, but have had a Turnix on there as well not too long ago. The Turnix is my favourite though. As James often says, it's more common that your overall position is off than the saddle being the source of 'saddle issues'. You should never experience numbness. No matter how long you are on the bike. Numbness is a symptom of blood flow restriction and/or nerve compression in the perineal region. General discomfort is usually a symptom of excessive soft tissue pressure in the area around the discomfort. Needing to stand to seek relief after only 20 minutes would seem to be a red flag that something is wrong. It could be the saddle, or your overall position, or even the padding in your shorts if you use padded shorts or bibs. Whatever the cause, it needs to be addressed so that you can enjoy your riding. While off the bike try to feel the pointy bit at the back your sit bones left a right side. When you get on the bike see if you can sense where they are resting on the saddle. The rear of your sit bones should be well back on the saddle. Roughly back where the saddle is widest, although different saddles have slightly different sitting positions. If your are too far forward on the saddle, for whatever reason, your pelvis won't be supported as you'll be on the narrow part of the saddle. Instead of your weight being supported by your skeleton via the sit bones, it will be supported by soft tissue between your sit bones in that very sensitive area. That's when blood vessels become restricted and nerves get compressed. If your current saddle doesn't have a cut out then maybe try one with a cutout if you can borrow one to test. Cut outs don't fix everything though which is why an experienced bike fitter is worth a visit to help identify what the underlying cause might be.

[@CatManDoSocial]

@@jasonhurst2491 Thanks, Jason. I appreciate your input. I've been riding since 1986 and I've never been able to be very comfortable on the bike. I've had a few good fits over the years but it's always the same. I've even been to fit camps and wanted to be a fitter for a while. Everyone has different physiology for sure and I think I am someone that just struggles with being in the saddle for a long time, regardless of fit. But I never give up and keep hoping something will help.

[@birdergirlrs]

Love getting your input. It helps me make better decisions about my bike/gear. If I ever get back to London I would love to schedule some time with you.

[@kimwalton2873]

Thanks for the videos. I learn much more from your videos Jame''s than my local bike shop!

[@Adrian-515mm]

What was the colour change on video at 7:34? Can't have been different film stock - unless you lads are *really* old school 🙂

[@brettalexander3028]

Thank you James, another gold standard video.

[@OutThere42]

I agree, the taper of the rear of the saddle both rearward and downward isn’t quick enough in the rear of the saddle hits the back of the thighs.

[@shewh0rn]

But but but... what are the differences in fit between gravel and road? How would you set that bike up if it was being ridden strictly on gravel, or strictly on the road? If there are differences, are you just aiming right down the middle in terms of whatever different setup you'd have?

[@starlitshadows]

James, I'm curious. Is shortening crank length solely a raise in saddle height or does fore/aft need adjusted as well?

[@Joedufeu1295]

Great Video! Would be great to see video post fit and how the information gathered is used for to select bike to purchase or amendments made to existing bike

[@axuh382]

Question: Is there difference with road and gravel fit or is the industry trying to make things seem more complicated than they actually are? Quick research on google implies gravel fit should be little bit shorter and taller. I could see an argument in handling perspective but at least personally most of my gravel routes are kinda tame but steep sometimes.

[@derekhobbs1102]

I told my podiatrist about the G8 inserts, and they'd never heard of them, despite being here in Australia.

[@andreemurray7039]

James should you only one brand of saddle as 2 of my bike have different brands ?

[@paulawright6868]

Oo one for the weekend ❤️

[@brianpurcell9058]

Nice job James 👍👍🚴‍♂️

[@phezter]

I still don't know if the fit is the same for gravel and road

[@simonsepic]

One day i may have to pay you a visit, ive dealt with foot pain for a long time and i not only point my toes when riding but when i saw an osteopath he referred ti me as a toe walker. So i often wonder if ky pain is something to do with how i walk in daily life.

[@matthewlewis2072]

"Small changes" = new cranks 😮

[@lenkiewitcz]

and new saddle, shoes and G8's...ching ching..

[@logictd567]

Did you put him on a 130 mm saddle?

[@jerocalvo8541]

which shoes are the ones recommended here please? I need to get myself something that could place my cleats back forward as well

[@Bikefitjames]

I believe it was a lake MX333, best bet though is to book a shoe fit with us, we offer in person and virtual

[@jerocalvo8541]

@@Bikefitjames thanks! will have a look into it!

[@MrJhockley]

"most saddles are too wide", "most people need arch support". i'd love a video that looks at the unusual people that need a wider saddle and don't need arch support. I feel like i fit into these bunch of oddities.

[@markusseppala6547]

I wish they made the Selle Italia SLR endurance in all black and with carbon rails, it would be the perfect saddle.

[@Cycle.every.day.]

Agreed , i fill in the non-black writing/logo with a black sharpie or permanent marker, no-one has ever spotted it, you need to touch up once or twice a year.

[@markusseppala6547]

@@Cycle.every.day. I've thought of doing that but I'm a bit scared it wont look good

[@naromsky]

When's the mic fit coming

[@LukeMichaelJames]

We have now switched to lav mics but those videos will not be out for a while yet. You’ll have to deal with the boomy room for a while longer I’m afraid

[@zbigniewnykiel]

Can I put one question? I have road bike TCR and gravel from polish brand. Is it possible that two bikes have different q-factor? Thanks for the video!!!

[@Omnis2]

Of course it's possible. Just measure it.

[@jered2177]

I need the cheaper version of that saddle

[@PedalToProgress]

Would love to watch the riders wallet get thinner and thinner as the video goes on 😅 However all of it seems like a great set of improvements 🙌🏻

[@marcopitta8518]

What's the brand of the adjustable insoles?

[@leerichy6489]

G8 Performance Pro 2620. I find them very good.

[@RutraKaisor]

I give thumb up, watch later 😅

[@thedownunderverse]

What shoes are those?

[@Alex-bh4um]

More G8s out

[@Cycle.every.day.]

I've always thought rule of thumb is your gravel saddle height is 10mm lower than your road saddle height and your mountain bike even more so (20mm lower than,road,10mm lower than gravel)

[@vanw1554]

May I ask why? I assume you have dropper on your mountain bike

[@jetBlue083]

The one and only @otherroutes !