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Did you know there are there are lots of professional full-time bike fitters all across Australia? While bike fitters tend to work at the sports and performance end of bike riding, there are lots of steps which regular bike riders can take to make bike riding more comfortable, safer and more efficient.
To be safe, comfortable and efficient, the bike needs to fit the rider. Luckily bikes offer a lot of options to adjust your riding position to maximise comfort and efficiency. A well-fitting bike also reduces the chances of picking up an injury from riding. So what are the options?
Seat height should not feel stretched while pedaling and not cramped either. As a rough guide, when sat on the saddle, you should be able to touch the ground with your toes. The saddle should be fairly flat as you look at it from the side. Moving the saddle forward on the rails will move you closer to the handlebars. Moving the saddle back on the rails will move you away from the handlebars.
The three contact points (Hands, Bottom & Feet) make all the difference when it comes to comfort when riding a bike. The seat and handlebars offer the most flexibility in terms of adjustment for personal fit. Padded gloves and shorts can make riding, particularly longer rides, more enjoyable. Shoes with a stiffer sole also improve comfort and efficiency whilst riding.
The height of the handlebar can be adjusted at the stem. The reach of the handlebars can also be adjusted by fitting a different length or angle of stem or different style of handlebar. More padded handlebar tape or comfier grips can help to reduce jarring on the hands and wrists.
Foot position on the pedals can cause issues if the foot is angled in or out (not parallel to the frame). Keeping feet parallel produces a more efficient and less prone to injury pedalling stroke. Try to keep the ball of you foot over the central axle of the pedal. Pedals with cleats which attach to the shoe are great for keeping feet in position and improved efficiency. However, they can feel restrictive, particularly if you frequently hop on and off the bike.
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