My First Bike Fit!

[@ericbarfell]

Good to hear it’s helped! I got a bike for years ago and he used my bike to fit it to me hauling lasers and cameras- pretty interesting. He did a great job as well!

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Feeling better changes everything!

[@ZwiftyZwifter]

Great video as ever, Eric. I think that’s something like getting a full oil change on my car. I kinda get how it should be the thing to do, but I’m too damn cheap to do it until the lack of doing it causes a catastrophic problem.

[@ericbarnettcycling]

I was having a lot of pain - to the point where it was affecting my riding. Much better now!

[@ZwiftyZwifter]

@@ericbarnettcycling yeah, pain would be the thing to motivate me to do it. Seems a cool machine too.

[@JMower]

This is great, good to hear that it seems worth it! It'll be interesting to see how you feel after a really long ride, as I guess that's when it'll make the most difference

[@ericbarnettcycling]

I have a few long ones planned in the next few weeks. Did 100 on the indoor bike with it adjusted to the Tarmac and didn't die, which is a good sign.

[@jeffdavis5841]

Watching this I think he missed a crucial issue as you are not sitting square on the saddle...you are off to the right substantially. The first thing of a fit is to look at the riders physiology. Leg length difference, hips squared when standing...rider flexibility. Foot integrity....you look to be riding knees out Eric. May be a good idea to look at shims to square foot up on pedals and the cleat position should be checked and set. The machine is nice but some key things are missed here that should be addressed prior to putting you on the bike / guru. And yes...I am a fitter.

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Thanks for the callout, Jeff - we went into physiology a bit (didn't put everything in the video), but a full-time fitter (that being their only job and focus) would for sure go deeper. If I were more into racing or doing the super-crazy endurance riding that the pros & semi-pros do (or had the budget for it), I'd seek out and travel to a full-time fitter. For a LBS near me, I think Mike did a great job of fixing a lot of the nagging issues I've been having with my neck & back.

[@jeffdavis5841]

@@ericbarnettcycling Hi Eric I just watched your latest KZbin on you goals review. I have to say those are pretty lofty goals and adjustments to them. I really think that these type of mileage and power goals would warrant getting a more complete evaluation on your bike fit (mainly physio aspect). As you probably would agree the key to making those types of goals is staying healthy and uninjured, injury can knock the crap out of your targets! Just like when building a structure its important that the foundation is solid for what you are attempting to build, the same goes here. I won't even allow the person I'm fitting to get on the bike until the physio is complete and adjustments made like, flexibility, orthotics for leg length issues or shims for pronation etc. Do yourself favor and keep your continuity of goals by getting the physio addressed. You'll be able to ride comfortably longer, likely produce more power in your FTP goal and stay uninjured. Also because if you get injured and try to ride through a preventable issue or miss your goals because of injury, I'll be the first on here to say "I told you so!" lol Take care.

[@ericbarnettcycling]

@@jeffdavis5841 eventually I’ll go deeper with the fit & physio. I hit 304 FTP & 3,000 miles with no fit at all. With the LBS fit I’m feeling a ton better than before (except for the indoor trainer, which I don’t have dialed in yet). I do appreciate the advice, and I do intend to take it at some point in the future. I’d like the next time around to actually inform my next bike purchase - kind of take the process beginning to end.

[@AdamJennison]

🙂 here's to many miles of pain free riding.. the difference I felt when reducing the zwift bike stem was huge & the relief instant so I'm glad you've got a good setup now. 😊

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Yeah, my neck and lower back feel much better. It was pretty bad before.