Having had a Retul bike fit several years ago on a previous bike I knew that they werent cheap but having got sponsorship financial help from Pedal Potential @pedalpotential I decided that it would assist me and my future races to use some of it to have a Retul bike fit.
However, what I wasnt prepared for was how many adjustments had to be made to my bike this time round. I knew that my aches and pains far exceeded previous bike riding training, but my training has increased so I expected to be aching more. Having a physiotherapist as a bike fitter is such a sensible option as they can 'fit' the bike specific to your body 'makeup'. ie I have one leg longer than the other (many people have according to Bianca) which I have known for several years and only thought it affected my running, however Bianca explained that it was having an effect on my cycling too. When I cycled I had to wiggle in the seat to get the full reach on the pedal. This was obviously affecting my back and causing lower back ache. This was only one of many things she noticed being a physio rather than just a fitter. I ended up needing 20mm longer stem, 30 degree shift on the hoods and a 10 degree movement to the bars themselves. Along with several other things that had to be adjusted, I came out of Cycles UK in Basildon some 3 hours later feeling very positive about my future rides. Having done my first bike ride today since the fitting, I can honestly say that it is like a completely new bike and fits like a glove. Over 2 hours and several hill reps today proved to me that Bianca was right when she said the setup made it almost impossible to have total control on bends and downhill as I was hunched up. Today it was like a different bike and felt so comfortable and I felt totally in control. My reach wasnt causing my arms to ache or my shoulders to tense up, I had no numbness in my fingers and my back wasnt aching at all. I also noticed that I wasnt fidgeting in the seat when pedalling too. Bianca mentioned that it might take a while to get used to the new setup due to me needing so many adjustments to it. However, it took literally 5 minutes to get used to and I felt so much better and more relaxed and the 2 hours went so quickly. I cant wait to try the new setup out in a race to see what a difference my times will be as I know it will help massively. I want to thank Bianca for doing such a good job and spending so long sorting me and the bike out. She had so much patience and didnt complain once considering she was 1 1/2 hours over her expected finish time. She is a real professional and knows her stuff - bike fit wise as well as anatomy & physiology wise. She knew exactly what was needed and did all the adjustments herself. I can totally recommend Fit Your Bike UK - it is worth every penny. You can contact Bianca/Fit Your Bike for an appointment on: info@fityourbike.co.uk or 07534993680 or FB- fityourbikeuk Can I also add that Cycles UK staff were amazing bunch too. They were also late shutting up shop as my bike fit went on so long, but stayed even later to spend time rewrapping new bar tape and sorting out my gears and brakes. They never complained once and were friendly and helpful. They obviously enjoy their work and I hope Cycles UK appreciate what great workforce they have.
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