James did a bike fit for me a couple of years ago... and I can confirm a similar experience. My original fit was quite a way off of being perfect, and James made some major changes to my position. The impact of these changes i noticed instantly in the studio. Being put back on my original bike at the end of the session was a real shock to the system! I did an FTP test both before and after my fit and went up +45W to 305W, with around 10% less heartrate stress across the second test. Not only was it more comfortable being on my bike, I noticed a massive improvement in my endurance and power transfer. I've not looked back and would recommend James' input to anyone who rides a bike! Thanks so much!
@@janstrecha6442 Quite a few changes in combination, to be honest, rather than one in particule - as I mentioned, my pre-fit position was far from good - and all the changes indiviudally were quite big changes: Saddle height and reach were drastic (40mm+- each). Bars went 4cm narrower, which let me get in a more comfortable position for longer (went in with hand numbness and saddle sores as symptoms) and the most interesting one for me was cleat position slammer right back towards the middle of my foot, and 5mm shorter cranks - my natural cadence went up about 10rpm instantly. Most engagement change because of all this was in my upper legs, I began to use both my quads, glutes and hamstrings in combination, rather than just my quads. (I think) Genuinely pound-for-pound the best purchase I've ever made in cycling.
Reminds me of my first bike fit (fit first, buy later) After much conversation and measuring and fitting and a computer search. The fella looked over the tops of his glasses to tell me what bike would fit me. In one word. "Custom"😅
As others will have mentioned, frame size was based on horizontal top tubes, predating Burrows and Giant's sloping top tubes. Centre of bottom bracket to centre of horizontal top tube or top of the lug so different brands did not equate exactly, but close to abut 1cm. Doesn't mean much now but it might be mildly interesting to try measuring CoBB to spirit level and comparing with stated frame size
Another Great Fit James! With the power she produces, a custom bike is a no brainer for her if she can swing it. So much great knowledge and results instantly!
Great video again James, I admire your ability to politely and professionally deliver the verdict that somebody's precious and very expensive bike is too big! I self-admimistered some arch support insoles to my cycling shoes within the last week or so after watching one of your recent videos, and I'm noticably more comfortable on longer rides as a result.
I have been a cycling fan for years, but I love the technical stuff. I worked for zipp years ago, making tooling for wheels. In the late eighties and nineties, lots of new things came along. One thing that i was thinking about the other day was the egg-shaped chainrings. Why did they disappear, and with more technological stuff, could we make them custom to each cyclist's requirements. They did relate a smoother stroke. My brother still has them on an old bike. I think they did relate to cadence, like the faster the pedal rate, the rounder they needed to be. I was thinking of getting into building custom frames, but without all the fitment skills you have, i might get half-baked results. I did get a feeling that the ladies were missing out on getting what they needed to get going like the should in the sport.
James, you were made for RUclips. Not only are you an expert at your craft , your personality is delightful. Hoping your channel explodes. Also, thanks for sharing your craft with us. America has plenty of excellent fitters, but boring ass personalities.
The G8 Performance website has information about expected life of the insoles. Can't remember the exact time frame, but inspect the arch supports at around 12 to 18 months depending on use. You can compare to the other arch support sizes supplied in the box to see if it's flogged or not. I've managed to get over three years our of the right arch support, but the arch in the foot is fairly strong. Got less than 2 years out of the left one, but that arch is weaker and flattens under load so it would be squashing the support every pedal stroke.
@@wrx-9rr701the last time I checked, G8 don't sell arch support pieces separately. Not even to their dealers. I was given a replacement arch piece for my left insole by the bike fitter at my last fit. They had spares because some customers don't take all pieces with them after the fit. G8 really should sell arch pieces as the insole beds last for many years. Or at least facilitate an exchange program where you can swap with customers who never use the size you need.
Yet another great video, the featuring of women and also Giles has meant I've shown these videos to the Mrs about how important the correct size bike is l, let alone the fit, I'm able to visually show her how different adjustable aspects of the bike affect how your ride and your comfort on the bike, many thanks again!
Are you sure you don't have a hot powermeter on a rig? It is quite hard to understand how would she get 200W+ boost to standing sprint power while she barely interacts with anything but the bars... I doubt that a bar swap could yeild that kind of result even if the bar was way too wide/narrow/whatnot.
@@pascaljanietz156 200W from a crank length? Doubt that, especially when you consider that when you are standing you open up your hips how you want, since nothing is limiting it
I'm guessing that the bike being stationary might have something to do with it. Sprinting can be scary and being on a safe, stationary rig might reduce some of that timidity.
It seems that reach is also quite a lot shorter. All those things together might put her in a position where she could sustain higher power output for longer, mainly thru comfort
Thanks again for sharing the info and the why's do and don't.. it's helping me dial in. Yeah handlebars too wide here too and hoping it helps my reach slightly so second change coming up soon! Already went to a shorter crank and change was worth it as my hips are not as flexible in my 50s. They made a nice improvement.
I was recently asked by a friend about 2nd hand road bike. He assumed that, since we are similar height, we'd want similar sized bikes. But a good comparison is my son and me: same height, 180cm; my legs are nearly 40mm longer than mean for our height, his are about 40 cm shorter than mean, with, of course, similar differences to torso length. It's a huge difference and the discrepancy is behind him being a very good competitive swimmer and me just being a strong but slow swimmer whose legs tend to sink. Since 1970s, I had a 22.5" Reynolds 531 frame = c 56cm for today's SystemSix, Roubaix, and Orbea urban bike. By chance, around 2001, I was riding from East Ham to Barkingside and saw a bike shop (prams etc as well) with a white Raleigh road bike in the window at a time when Raleigh had stopped making road bikes. It was all aluminium, including forks and weird: an incredibly long top tube compared with small frame. I asked for it to be held while I came back with the car, bought it, it might have been custom made for my son, as shown when I paid for him to have a bike fit (old days when formulae were from Richard's Bicycle Book and Lemond method). Later, I replaced the forks with carbon to make it comfortable enough to ride on anything that wasn't dead smooth. Can't remember the frame size but it was a lot less than 56cm! Fact is, he simply couldn't ride my bikes; I could ride his but very uncomfortable. Same heights, very different bike frames and set-ups!
love how the FTP went up 40 W , test took 20secs, moving the saddle back helped with more power when sprinting off the saddle, i can go On and On, time and money spent indoors on the fitting jig , a shorter TT will bring that front wheel into the Bottom Bracket
If you know Top Tube length you need, than is easy to pick frame size. Just test couple of bikes on group ride and see what fits, note down TT + stem length. Buy first bike 2nd hand to test size.
I just really like/love watching your bike fit videos. Coz 1 day, I WILL get a bike that fits me . . . I got into cycling an bought a 54cm road bike . . . But after watching a lot of videos, I should of bought 50cm/52cm bike as I'm 5ft8"
I also made the same mistake. Got into cycling at the start of this year and bought a 54cm bike. I'm also 5ft 8 and I've never able to get comfortable on the bike 😅
I'm 5'8 and very recently swapped from a 50cm Trek Emonda S5 to a 52cm Trek Emonda SL6Pro ... and these are the two sizes both work for me .. arguably the 50cm slightly better, but Trek now use the (awful) seat mast solution, and getting on a 50cm is a challenge. Incidentally I went for a bike fit with James years ago fearing my 50cm was too small, and other than footbeds, cleat position and stance, my actual bike position was near perfect .... when you look at any manufacturers 'ideal size chart' they are all rediculously large ... put me on a 54cm most of the time, and the reach on a 52cm is just about short enough ..
As much as I love cycling . . . Even though the bike is a bit too big. I would definitely love it sooooooo much more if I had a bike that fitted me. I'd have to look for a 2nd hand bike as the issue is the price of bikes from reputable shops
Filling in the details are important to me. Dimensions of customers go a long way to help fill in those gaps. WHY is there no stock frame that would fit her?
I might be in minority here but that position might generate more power but is not aero or fast, move the saddle all the way forward, rise it a little bit, reach will reduce by few cm's, ride with torso parallel to the TT bar and you will find that bike to be the perfect size, sometimes is not just the size but what type of bike .
I wonder if what she would lose in wind resistance would be made up in power with no speed loss and maybe speed gain. Especially for a non-professional rider?
Well done. I'm sure it's tough to fit someone and then say, "it's impossible to get your bike to fit you". I'm in a similar situation. My TT bike has an integrated seatmast with a topper. It's as low as it can go and my hips are still rocking. I need to lower it about another cm. I ordered some 165mm cranks, but I still think it might not be enough. I have an ISM saddle, but I'm wondering if there are saddles that have lower stack heights? (the distance between top of saddle and rails). Would I be able to gain a bit of height there to get a bit lower?
I've got a few saddles and their stack varies by about 2cm. Thick bib shorts can also raise stack height. Flatter saddles and relief channels can reduce saddle stack. I've got relatively short legs to torso and very long arms. I prefer a very long reach but means buying a larger bike and puts my saddle near the lowest limit. Shorts cranks have helped. I'm 5ft 10 and now run 165 but i feel 160 wouldn't be a problem. You could put shims under the cleats to raise stack but this could destabalise the ankle a little. ISM saddles are sat on different to most saddles. I think the perching on the prongs creates quite a low stack interaction with the saddle. If the fit or body flexibility is off it can destabalise the hips and limit extension at the bottom of the pedal stroke. There still might be a biomechanical method to explore to raising saddle height or the bike may be too big :(
Old Selle Italia Flite Titanium saddles from de 90's are much lower than most modern saddles I've compared them to. I own both a 90's original flite and one made more recently and the new one is a lot taller in it's stack height.
If the rider is sitting properly on the saddle and can generate power effectively, besides improved aero dynamics, what is the benefit of lowering the handle bars? How is a 7cm drop better than a 1 cm drop? Does it help with long climbs? Short climbs? Or is it just good for flat road riding??
Mainly performance improvements. Improved aero and lower center of gravity improves handling and sprinting out the saddle. The rider seemed to really know their power numbers so i'm guessing they are into racing.
It also has to do with balancing your weight on the bars. The combination of reach and drop should reduce the pressure on your hands and resulting numbness. The more efficiently you can use your core to support your upper body weight. Then you can sit properly on the saddle with less pressure on the front. Aero improves when your upper body angle gets shallower. Also engaging your glutes more. If you look at the 100m sprint. The runner starts in a crouch position that generates huge power to accelerate. Then as peak speed is achieved they are more upright.
Yes, a lower bar and longer reach most definitely can help you on the climbs by giving you more leverage as you dance on the pedals. You can more easily "hang" of the bars and just shift your weight on the pedals, as opposed to pushing down. When seated, a longer stem can help balance your weight over the pedals, because you can also use that extra distance to pull on the bar and scoot forward. But you have to be comfortable in the saddle for that.
lowering handle bars don't necessarily get you to be more aero either. its a combination of factors. for example, if your ideal aero position is in the aerohood positions (arms bent at 90*, forearms parallel to the ground, hands on the hoods), some people may need to even raise their bars slightly to meet this criteria.
@@MrJhockley I'm just trying to find a balance of decent climbing and fast on the flats. Lowering the stem too much for me is not helpful in climbing. Cheers anyway.
I'm riding completely twisted on my saddle. I don't know how to tweak any part of the bike for fixing it. Where should I start? How can I contact you? Thanks!
Nice video! Custom is the answer! James, at 8.29, do you prefer to measure reach from lever hood to center of the seatpost.saddle or to the nose of the saddle? Cheers!
You touch on the topic briefly But could you make a video explaining how handlebar drop/torso angle and saddle setback affect muscle recruitment and power? There is so much vague info out there. It seems a lot of videos gloss over these bike fit topics. Any info is greatly appreciated
@@paulgrimshaw8334 Na it will be a custom bike built to her bike fit recommendations, if you can affor d a S-works you will have money still left over after a custom
@@talonlan And what happens at the beginning of the season… or after a really long ride… or a bit of age related weight gain? Back to the bike fitters? Because bodies do change depending on the time of day, season, year etc. You see where I’m going with regard to setting expectations of perfection here..l A great deal of this starts to look less like sport and a lot more like OCD once one crosses a certain threshold.
@@paulgrimshaw8334 Those will be minor adjustments that can be done via stem length/rise and seat set back. The point is that the actual geometry of the bike will be more specific to her actual body shape, and I don't think she is going to have a growth spurt anytime soon.
I was just looking at your website but can't see bios for any of your bike fitters. Am I being an idiot and missing where I can read up about each one or do you not have any info on them please?
@@Bikefitjames I saw the fitters on the website but just didn't see anything to allow for an educated decision as to which person might best suit me. By that, I am sure they all are amazing bike fitters, but personality, background etc play a role in the rapport all change the feel of a session. Obviously, if you want to give me a £150 token for making such an amazing suggestion, I'll 'upgrade' to yourself 🤣🤣
Question for you James.... 🤔 Possibly too lengthy for the comments section? Buuut would you say that setting up the position for someone racing crits is the same as the position for someone doing sportives / more lengthy stuff? Also.... MORE importantly... 🤔 Why is it that every time I watch one of your videos i think I probably NEED a new bike and / or new shoes?! 😂🤷🏼♂️
This is why I don’t refer to bike fit as a product to have, but a process to do. I actually refer to my bike fitter as my position coach. I don’t just have appointments with him. I also report to him after rides about how I’m feeling
@@Bikefitjames thanks for your answer james, i know that, i'm 5ft 3in (160 cm) and it's really difficult to find a bike that ""fits"" me. I thought that it was normal to , i don't know, find a bike that is too short in stack, too long in reach and had to put a shorter stem o something. im from Argentina and the bike catalog it's really bounded, as i told u, im 5ft 3 and using a xs giant tcr and sometimes i feel its to long in reach. its a pain in the ass (and in my low back)
@@Bikefitjames thanks for your answer james, i know that, i'm 5ft 3in (160 cm) and it's really difficult to find a bike that ""fits"" me. I thought that it was normal to , i don't know, find a bike that is too short in stack, too long in reach and had to put a shorter stem o something. im from Argentina and the bike catalog it's really bounded, as i told u, im 5ft 3 and using a xs giant tcr and sometimes i feel its to long in reach. its a pain in the ass (and in my low back)
For me as a non-native english speaker, sometimes you're talking quite fast. Have you considered using a lav mic (or two) to improve the audio and speech intelligibility a bit?
I take in James' info better because of the speed he speaks because it's snappy and to the point , if someone is droning on saying more than they have to i drift off.
I really enjoy watching these bike fittings, but I'm not a native speaker of English and it would help me a lot if you used clip-on microphones to hear better. Otherwise, great videos, maybe most of the viewers are here because they aren't completely happy with their sitting position either XD
Surely your fit is just related to your current level (lack) of flexibility. Most road bikes are just to far stretchered out for beginners as they are designed for racing come with a 15 degree layback seatpost. Switching to a 0 degree seatpost goes along way to making bike far more comfortable for beginners.
@@0-60.tests.with.Passengers Yes, that’s certainly part of it. @seanbarman raises a very good point that is often overlooked… there’s no silver bike fit bullet that makes a fit ideal when riding on the bar, on the hoods, in the drops. The angles change, core engagement changes, minor variations in hip angles occur, tension on the hamstrings changes. Combine this with idiotically fashionable stem lengths (popularized by RUclips videos) and you’re left with an entirely predictable series of bi-maniacal (sic) issues. One respondent to this video commented on flexibility in one’s 50s. There’s no inherent reason why flexibility has to decrease with age. Has mine? Yes. But that’s because I don’t work on it nearly enough. Anyone making it a priority would be a human pretzel. It’s easy to blame the bike… splurge on a bike fit to professionally confirm that view… spend more money on a new bike… ride the placebo effect and pick up a few extra watts… then lapse into the same pattern of behaviour until it’s time to do it again… eventually blame age and call it quits by buying an e-bike… then blame the e-bike for declining fitness (or calling it “salvation” for catering to declining fitness). It’s all part of an obsessive compulsive pattern of behaviour that fuels the bike industry… from sales, to service, to professional service.
@@paulgrimshaw8334 100% mate, off the bike mobility and flexibility make a massive difference. I'm 5'11" (short torso, long legs) and I bought a 56 Tarmac in 2022 and after a year of riding had always felt off on it; it always felt too big. Did a bike fit a year ago and the fitter said bike size was fine, just needed to increase saddle to bar drop and do more off the bike exercises to increase flexibility and mobility. I do 3 days a week, full body resistance training (core, legs, arms/back/shoulders) + dynamic stretches/yoga and what a difference it makes! Stems now slammed, I'm on a 10mm longer stem because I have enough core strength and strength in my triceps that they don't get fatigued as easily. I'm able to reach 15cm beyond my feet when sitting down/stretching and it makes all the difference on the bike. The Pro's don't just ride their bikes all day, they do so much off the bike exercise too... I mean have you seen their fits and the crazy setups they use? Yeah suffering in those positions is part of their job but it also helps us mortals, especially in old age, to do off the bike flexibility and mobility work.
I once bought a used bike from Sigma that was supposed to be 48cm but was actually 51cm. Only spotted it when I was rebuilding the bike. So annoying 'cos I'd already seen how so many women end up with bikes that are too long, and I'd already had experience of that. Had to sell it on.
This is NORMAL. The frame size refers to the distance between the center BB to an imaginary horizontal line at the height to the top tube- head tube junction. The downward sloping top tube will always give a size that is different from the measured size, because conventionally, top tubes were horizontal, not sloping. The dimension that should be scrutinized at the time of purchase is really the top tube length and the head tube height. Alternatively, figure out the stack and reach dimensions and use this. Most manufacturers publish them stack and reach on the sizing table and doing the bike fit before buying the bike is the correct way to ensure a proper fit. There's nothing wrong with riding with an 80mm stem. Some professional women must ride with even 70mm, sometimes even inverted up, because the sponsor does not provide any other bike to fit them.
Too much “princess and the pea” going on in the cycling world. People need to toughen up a bit and stop obsessing over eking the last joule of energy out of the bike at freakishly absurd expense.
@@paulgrimshaw8334 Yeah, I disagree. 80 mm stem will negatively influence the handling of the bike, proper crank length demonstrably improves comfort to a pretty large degree, as can handlebar width. Furthermore, the customer who buys top spec bikes, is spending money because they want the best, they aren’t going to knowingly sign up to buy something that doesn’t fit them and then have to “just deal with it.” The unfortunate part of this video is that the client bought a bike before getting a fit, it’s not her just being fussy.
@@RyonBeachner A good many people who buy an expensive bike aren’t buying the best… for them or their riding. They’re buying the most expensive thing the shop thinks that they’ll leave the shop with. It’s a two way ego trip, in which the fitting and customization plays an underlying role to squeeze more juice from the customer in exchange for subliminally making them feel that they’re “worth it”. This is almost certainly the case for recreational riders… people who are not, or will ever be, top tier professional riders. The special deal is rather shrewd. On one level it caters to ego. On the other, it absolves one of whatever physical shortcomings exist. The promise of expense is easier to deal with than training seriously. I challenge anyone to have the same body control or micro physiological needs between rides or even over a long ride. So a certain amount of resilience is needed, otherwise life becomes an endless snake search. This is a phenomenon that affects road cyclists more than any other discipline. Why? Because this part of the industry appears to have convinced people that the bike matters more than the ride or rider. As for an 80 mm stem”… Yeah, whatever. Throwing out a stem length without referencing steerer tube angle, fork angle, or caster demonstrates just how absurd the thing has become. It ignores the trade offs between manoeuvrability and stability… because they’re at opposite ends of the handling spectrum. But someone is always there to create a good story… for a few dollars more.
@@paulgrimshaw8334 That’s highly cynical and smacks of someone projecting their own unhappiness or insecurity onto others who don’t have the same limitations, be them financial or physiological. Along the way, you constructed a flimsy straw man by claiming that “they” (be that James or anyone else) are insisting that the bike is more important than the rider, which no one has claimed. People often buy the wrong bike, it’s unfortunate, however it doesn’t mean that people providing expertise to help them have a more enjoyable and potentially higher performance experience with their cycling are selling snake oil. It also does not mean that anyone who is uncomfortable with their bike, or is looking for more performance is being fussy and should just “tough it out.”
@@paulgrimshaw8334 Except that wasn't the reason for the bike fit. The customer was having problems with saddle sores caused by sitting off to one side. Changing the position was primarily done to improve comfort. The improvement in power was a byproduct of sitting more squarely on the bike. It was quite clearly explained in the video.
YES absolutely, categorically, if you fit after the bike it assumes the bike is right in the first place which, as this video demonstrates is often not the case
Some of the comments from the armchair experts just show a total lack of knowledge, no wonder James doesn't bother replying. There are a lot of people who get their heart set on a particular model and make of bike that sometimes is just not right for them. Not all brands suit all people, integrated controls make it even more important to get the right advice before buying. Well done Laura for having the courage to appear on the show, lots of people have made the same mistakes.
Read your comment back my friend , you've made a fool of yourself because you've had a go at armchair experts yet went on in 2nd paragraph to be an armchair expert yourself. At least we're owning it,you're doing the same only via the gaslighting route
The end summary suggests this may be a "custom bike" subliminal advert. I've a hunch the client is in on it,she may have been told "ignore the doom and gloom regards no bike out their will fit you,it's just to lean the viewers towards custom"
Yeah James most likely have invested in the global custom bike industry so that he gets a roalty of each sold custom bike and thats why he has a big incentive to promote custom bikes. 😂 Or its just because in general really small bikes are pretty rare/impossible to find within the range of "factory brands" you decide which is more likely.
@@KDiiX Well you know that wily cabal of custom bike manufacturers is willing to pay off anyone to deceive the public into purchasing bikes that are made in the least profitable way possible.
Having had a fit with James, I can categorically say that his is the opposite of the experience I had with him. He went out of his way to make my (completely wrong-sized) bike fit me as cost-effectively as possible. Changing out the stem, seat tube and handlebars to get me as close as possible to the best geometry within my very limited budget. I went back a year later once I had upgraded my bike (down two sizes), and again he helped get that to the ideal fit. No upselling, and was entirely transparent throughout. I find your unbased comment a bit unfair, to be honest.
Don't know how much money you have young lady or how much you ride or if you even race on some level but I would spend the money for another fit with another fitter before you replace that frame. I personally don't subscribe to James's fit philosophy and I have been involved in cycling much longer than he has. Shorter cranks, narrower handlebars make sense...possibly a different saddle, but don't throw out that frame. Another option is...find a smaller frame to rent...or ask James if he has another customer with a frame he believes has better proportions you can test before you spend $8K on a new bike. To me, you are not stretched out on that frame with 52cm top tube.
Hi. I commented earlier on this. I had a fit with James a couple of years ago and experienced a big increase in efficiency, as he mentioned., about 15% increase in FTP.
James did a bike fit for me a couple of years ago... and I can confirm a similar experience. My original fit was quite a way off of being perfect, and James made some major changes to my position. The impact of these changes i noticed instantly in the studio. Being put back on my original bike at the end of the session was a real shock to the system!
I did an FTP test both before and after my fit and went up +45W to 305W, with around 10% less heartrate stress across the second test. Not only was it more comfortable being on my bike, I noticed a massive improvement in my endurance and power transfer. I've not looked back and would recommend James' input to anyone who rides a bike! Thanks so much!
What was the biggest change in the fit? Do you think your core was more engaged?
@@janstrecha6442 Quite a few changes in combination, to be honest, rather than one in particule - as I mentioned, my pre-fit position was far from good - and all the changes indiviudally were quite big changes: Saddle height and reach were drastic (40mm+- each). Bars went 4cm narrower, which let me get in a more comfortable position for longer (went in with hand numbness and saddle sores as symptoms) and the most interesting one for me was cleat position slammer right back towards the middle of my foot, and 5mm shorter cranks - my natural cadence went up about 10rpm instantly.
Most engagement change because of all this was in my upper legs, I began to use both my quads, glutes and hamstrings in combination, rather than just my quads. (I think)
Genuinely pound-for-pound the best purchase I've ever made in cycling.
She looks like shes gonna cry towards the end 😬 put it up on sale and get a proper one. Goodluck on your future bike Laura!
I noticed that as well. This is why James' work and advice is so important in a world where selling expensive stuff appears to be the priority.
I noticed that too
This is why i wont do a bikefit james session. I can't handle being told i need a different size bike. 😂
Reminds me of my first bike fit (fit first, buy later)
After much conversation and measuring and fitting and a computer search. The fella looked over the tops of his glasses to tell me what bike would fit me. In one word.
"Custom"😅
50W gain! holy smokes. Always fun watching someone who is at the top of their field doing what they do and explain it as they go
880w's for someone that small is really good!! Man I just know my bike fit needs some work...
She's an ex gymnast, so she's going to be capable of packing quite a punch on a sprint 💪
As others will have mentioned, frame size was based on horizontal top tubes, predating Burrows and Giant's sloping top tubes. Centre of bottom bracket to centre of horizontal top tube or top of the lug so different brands did not equate exactly, but close to abut 1cm. Doesn't mean much now but it might be mildly interesting to try measuring CoBB to spirit level and comparing with stated frame size
Another Great Fit James! With the power she produces, a custom bike is a no brainer for her if she can swing it. So much great knowledge and results instantly!
Great video again James, I admire your ability to politely and professionally deliver the verdict that somebody's precious and very expensive bike is too big! I self-admimistered some arch support insoles to my cycling shoes within the last week or so after watching one of your recent videos, and I'm noticably more comfortable on longer rides as a result.
I have been a cycling fan for years, but I love the technical stuff. I worked for zipp years ago, making tooling for wheels. In the late eighties and nineties, lots of new things came along.
One thing that i was thinking about the other day was the egg-shaped chainrings. Why did they disappear, and with more technological stuff, could we make them custom to each cyclist's requirements. They did relate a smoother stroke. My brother still has them on an old bike. I think they did relate to cadence, like the faster the pedal rate, the rounder they needed to be.
I was thinking of getting into building custom frames, but without all the fitment skills you have, i might get half-baked results.
I did get a feeling that the ladies were missing out on getting what they needed to get going like the should in the sport.
James, you were made for RUclips. Not only are you an expert at your craft , your personality is delightful. Hoping your channel explodes. Also, thanks for sharing your craft with us. America has plenty of excellent fitters, but boring ass personalities.
On topic of the worn-out G8 archpiece: How low would you expect them to last? How do you see if they are still intact?
There are plenty of shops selling the G8 but no one seems to sell arch pieces separately
The G8 Performance website has information about expected life of the insoles. Can't remember the exact time frame, but inspect the arch supports at around 12 to 18 months depending on use. You can compare to the other arch support sizes supplied in the box to see if it's flogged or not.
I've managed to get over three years our of the right arch support, but the arch in the foot is fairly strong. Got less than 2 years out of the left one, but that arch is weaker and flattens under load so it would be squashing the support every pedal stroke.
@@wrx-9rr701the last time I checked, G8 don't sell arch support pieces separately. Not even to their dealers. I was given a replacement arch piece for my left insole by the bike fitter at my last fit. They had spares because some customers don't take all pieces with them after the fit.
G8 really should sell arch pieces as the insole beds last for many years. Or at least facilitate an exchange program where you can swap with customers who never use the size you need.
Such great stuff. Thanks for sharing these with us, James.
I love the cadence of how you talk. I found myself mimicking it this week.
Yet another great video, the featuring of women and also Giles has meant I've shown these videos to the Mrs about how important the correct size bike is l, let alone the fit, I'm able to visually show her how different adjustable aspects of the bike affect how your ride and your comfort on the bike, many thanks again!
Are you sure you don't have a hot powermeter on a rig? It is quite hard to understand how would she get 200W+ boost to standing sprint power while she barely interacts with anything but the bars... I doubt that a bar swap could yeild that kind of result even if the bar was way too wide/narrow/whatnot.
Different Crank length made it, I guess
@@pascaljanietz156 200W from a crank length? Doubt that, especially when you consider that when you are standing you open up your hips how you want, since nothing is limiting it
I'm guessing that the bike being stationary might have something to do with it. Sprinting can be scary and being on a safe, stationary rig might reduce some of that timidity.
It seems that reach is also quite a lot shorter. All those things together might put her in a position where she could sustain higher power output for longer, mainly thru comfort
The position difference is huge, reach way shorter, cranks much shorter, bars lower.....it's a totally different fit
Thanks again for sharing the info and the why's do and don't.. it's helping me dial in. Yeah handlebars too wide here too and hoping it helps my reach slightly so second change coming up soon! Already went to a shorter crank and change was worth it as my hips are not as flexible in my 50s. They made a nice improvement.
I was recently asked by a friend about 2nd hand road bike. He assumed that, since we are similar height, we'd want similar sized bikes. But a good comparison is my son and me: same height, 180cm; my legs are nearly 40mm longer than mean for our height, his are about 40 cm shorter than mean, with, of course, similar differences to torso length. It's a huge difference and the discrepancy is behind him being a very good competitive swimmer and me just being a strong but slow swimmer whose legs tend to sink.
Since 1970s, I had a 22.5" Reynolds 531 frame = c 56cm for today's SystemSix, Roubaix, and Orbea urban bike. By chance, around 2001, I was riding from East Ham to Barkingside and saw a bike shop (prams etc as well) with a white Raleigh road bike in the window at a time when Raleigh had stopped making road bikes. It was all aluminium, including forks and weird: an incredibly long top tube compared with small frame. I asked for it to be held while I came back with the car, bought it, it might have been custom made for my son, as shown when I paid for him to have a bike fit (old days when formulae were from Richard's Bicycle Book and Lemond method). Later, I replaced the forks with carbon to make it comfortable enough to ride on anything that wasn't dead smooth. Can't remember the frame size but it was a lot less than 56cm! Fact is, he simply couldn't ride my bikes; I could ride his but very uncomfortable.
Same heights, very different bike frames and set-ups!
love how the FTP went up 40 W , test took 20secs, moving the saddle back helped with more power when sprinting off the saddle, i can go On and On, time and money spent indoors on the fitting jig , a shorter TT will bring that front wheel into the Bottom Bracket
The Bahamas needs this type content badly
Absolutely fascinating, thank you BFJ. 👍🏼
If you know Top Tube length you need, than is easy to pick frame size. Just test couple of bikes on group ride and see what fits, note down TT + stem length. Buy first bike 2nd hand to test size.
Smaller frame is usually specked with shorter crank arms, this could be a reason to go for smaller frame.
I just really like/love watching your bike fit videos. Coz 1 day, I WILL get a bike that fits me . . . I got into cycling an bought a 54cm road bike . . . But after watching a lot of videos, I should of bought 50cm/52cm bike as I'm 5ft8"
I got a Ridley Fenix in xxs and it's a perfect fit. Ridley's site recommended a medium. I'm 5'8" as well.
I also made the same mistake. Got into cycling at the start of this year and bought a 54cm bike. I'm also 5ft 8 and I've never able to get comfortable on the bike 😅
I'm 5'8 and very recently swapped from a 50cm Trek Emonda S5 to a 52cm Trek Emonda SL6Pro ... and these are the two sizes both work for me .. arguably the 50cm slightly better, but Trek now use the (awful) seat mast solution, and getting on a 50cm is a challenge. Incidentally I went for a bike fit with James years ago fearing my 50cm was too small, and other than footbeds, cleat position and stance, my actual bike position was near perfect .... when you look at any manufacturers 'ideal size chart' they are all rediculously large ... put me on a 54cm most of the time, and the reach on a 52cm is just about short enough ..
As much as I love cycling . . . Even though the bike is a bit too big. I would definitely love it sooooooo much more if I had a bike that fitted me. I'd have to look for a 2nd hand bike as the issue is the price of bikes from reputable shops
@@AshNewCyclistEdwards my 50cm Trek is on gumtree 😁
Filling in the details are important to me. Dimensions of customers go a long way to help fill in those gaps. WHY is there no stock frame that would fit her?
I might be in minority here but that position might generate more power but is not aero or fast, move the saddle all the way forward, rise it a little bit, reach will reduce by few cm's, ride with torso parallel to the TT bar and you will find that bike to be the perfect size, sometimes is not just the size but what type of bike .
I wonder if what she would lose in wind resistance would be made up in power with no speed loss and maybe speed gain. Especially for a non-professional rider?
I'd be interested in seeing some before after numbers in the description.
Well done. I'm sure it's tough to fit someone and then say, "it's impossible to get your bike to fit you". I'm in a similar situation. My TT bike has an integrated seatmast with a topper. It's as low as it can go and my hips are still rocking. I need to lower it about another cm. I ordered some 165mm cranks, but I still think it might not be enough. I have an ISM saddle, but I'm wondering if there are saddles that have lower stack heights? (the distance between top of saddle and rails). Would I be able to gain a bit of height there to get a bit lower?
I've got a few saddles and their stack varies by about 2cm. Thick bib shorts can also raise stack height. Flatter saddles and relief channels can reduce saddle stack. I've got relatively short legs to torso and very long arms. I prefer a very long reach but means buying a larger bike and puts my saddle near the lowest limit. Shorts cranks have helped. I'm 5ft 10 and now run 165 but i feel 160 wouldn't be a problem. You could put shims under the cleats to raise stack but this could destabalise the ankle a little. ISM saddles are sat on different to most saddles. I think the perching on the prongs creates quite a low stack interaction with the saddle. If the fit or body flexibility is off it can destabalise the hips and limit extension at the bottom of the pedal stroke. There still might be a biomechanical method to explore to raising saddle height or the bike may be too big :(
Old Selle Italia Flite Titanium saddles from de 90's are much lower than most modern saddles I've compared them to. I own both a 90's original flite and one made more recently and the new one is a lot taller in it's stack height.
If the rider is sitting properly on the saddle and can generate power effectively, besides improved aero dynamics, what is the benefit of lowering the handle bars? How is a 7cm drop better than a 1 cm drop? Does it help with long climbs? Short climbs? Or is it just good for flat road riding??
Mainly performance improvements. Improved aero and lower center of gravity improves handling and sprinting out the saddle. The rider seemed to really know their power numbers so i'm guessing they are into racing.
It also has to do with balancing your weight on the bars. The combination of reach and drop should reduce the pressure on your hands and resulting numbness. The more efficiently you can use your core to support your upper body weight. Then you can sit properly on the saddle with less pressure on the front. Aero improves when your upper body angle gets shallower. Also engaging your glutes more.
If you look at the 100m sprint. The runner starts in a crouch position that generates huge power to accelerate. Then as peak speed is achieved they are more upright.
Yes, a lower bar and longer reach most definitely can help you on the climbs by giving you more leverage as you dance on the pedals. You can more easily "hang" of the bars and just shift your weight on the pedals, as opposed to pushing down. When seated, a longer stem can help balance your weight over the pedals, because you can also use that extra distance to pull on the bar and scoot forward. But you have to be comfortable in the saddle for that.
lowering handle bars don't necessarily get you to be more aero either. its a combination of factors. for example, if your ideal aero position is in the aerohood positions (arms bent at 90*, forearms parallel to the ground, hands on the hoods), some people may need to even raise their bars slightly to meet this criteria.
@@MrJhockley I'm just trying to find a balance of decent climbing and fast on the flats. Lowering the stem too much for me is not helpful in climbing. Cheers anyway.
I experienced similar during my fit with James so much more comfortable and easier to pedal.
great guy, makes bank accounts cry in fear
Super interesting James 👍
I'm riding completely twisted on my saddle. I don't know how to tweak any part of the bike for fixing it. Where should I start? How can I contact you?
Thanks!
Nice video! Custom is the answer! James, at 8.29, do you prefer to measure reach from lever hood to center of the seatpost.saddle or to the nose of the saddle? Cheers!
Yep power goes up with a good fit.
Was it down the back of the sofa with the loose change
Check to see if my 1990s form is there will you.
Do you ever travel please, or do you need all your kit in Richmond?
Nice job James 👍👍👍🚴♂️
...and it's an S-Works. 😭 Has to be a gut punch. Good luck, Laura!
She can sell that frame/handlebar with ease! Lucky for her IT IS an Sworks.
great video as always!
Let’s be honest tho….. the venge is the best looking bike of all time so no wonder she tried to make it work!
Canyon has 3XS frames, TT 500mm
Maybe there’s a 90mm -17 degree stem out there, would need to run a non fully integrated cockpit with an aero handlebar with round clamping…
You touch on the topic briefly
But could you make a video explaining how handlebar drop/torso angle and saddle setback affect muscle recruitment and power?
There is so much vague info out there. It seems a lot of videos gloss over these bike fit topics. Any info is greatly appreciated
Nice work. Wonder what's the Laura's next bike going to be?
Something really, really expensive that will never be quite right?
@@paulgrimshaw8334 Na it will be a custom bike built to her bike fit recommendations, if you can affor d a S-works you will have money still left over after a custom
@@talonlan And what happens at the beginning of the season… or after a really long ride… or a bit of age related weight gain? Back to the bike fitters? Because bodies do change depending on the time of day, season, year etc. You see where I’m going with regard to setting expectations of perfection here..l
A great deal of this starts to look less like sport and a lot more like OCD once one crosses a certain threshold.
@@talonlan I would invest on that one.
@@paulgrimshaw8334 Those will be minor adjustments that can be done via stem length/rise and seat set back. The point is that the actual geometry of the bike will be more specific to her actual body shape, and I don't think she is going to have a growth spurt anytime soon.
Right on the money. I hope she can buy a new frame.
I was just looking at your website but can't see bios for any of your bike fitters. Am I being an idiot and missing where I can read up about each one or do you not have any info on them please?
Thanks for your comment, I’ll get that done, there are four other fitters at bicycle all trained in house
@@Bikefitjames I saw the fitters on the website but just didn't see anything to allow for an educated decision as to which person might best suit me. By that, I am sure they all are amazing bike fitters, but personality, background etc play a role in the rapport all change the feel of a session.
Obviously, if you want to give me a £150 token for making such an amazing suggestion, I'll 'upgrade' to yourself 🤣🤣
i wish for every size there is a long and short version.
Question for you James.... 🤔 Possibly too lengthy for the comments section? Buuut would you say that setting up the position for someone racing crits is the same as the position for someone doing sportives / more lengthy stuff?
Also.... MORE importantly... 🤔 Why is it that every time I watch one of your videos i think I probably NEED a new bike and / or new shoes?! 😂🤷🏼♂️
This is why I don’t refer to bike fit as a product to have, but a process to do. I actually refer to my bike fitter as my position coach. I don’t just have appointments with him. I also report to him after rides about how I’m feeling
How tall is she? Why there is not a bike that fits her?
Because the bicycle industry doesn’t consider riders outside of the bell curve of averages
@@Bikefitjames thanks for your answer james, i know that, i'm 5ft 3in (160 cm) and it's really difficult to find a bike that ""fits"" me. I thought that it was normal to , i don't know, find a bike that is too short in stack, too long in reach and had to put a shorter stem o something.
im from Argentina and the bike catalog it's really bounded, as i told u, im 5ft 3 and using a xs giant tcr and sometimes i feel its to long in reach. its a pain in the ass (and in my low back)
@@Bikefitjames thanks for your answer james, i know that, i'm 5ft 3in (160 cm) and it's really difficult to find a bike that ""fits"" me. I thought that it was normal to , i don't know, find a bike that is too short in stack, too long in reach and had to put a shorter stem o something.
im from Argentina and the bike catalog it's really bounded, as i told u, im 5ft 3 and using a xs giant tcr and sometimes i feel its to long in reach. its a pain in the ass (and in my low back)
For me as a non-native english speaker, sometimes you're talking quite fast. Have you considered using a lav mic (or two) to improve the audio and speech intelligibility a bit?
Cc on
As english speaker i can confirm he speaks too fast.
I take in James' info better because of the speed he speaks because it's snappy and to the point , if someone is droning on saying more than they have to i drift off.
You can change playback speed to 0.75 / 0.5 in the video options!
I really enjoy watching these bike fittings, but I'm not a native speaker of English and it would help me a lot if you used clip-on microphones to hear better.
Otherwise, great videos, maybe most of the viewers are here because they aren't completely happy with their sitting position either XD
Remarkable.
Surely your fit is just related to your current level (lack) of flexibility. Most road bikes are just to far stretchered out for beginners as they are designed for racing come with a 15 degree layback seatpost. Switching to a 0 degree seatpost goes along way to making bike far more comfortable for beginners.
Hence the saying "get fitter,fit your bike better" or something along those lines.
Nowadays , everyone wants a 'just add water' fix , or to spend their out of problems.
@@0-60.tests.with.Passengers Yes, that’s certainly part of it.
@seanbarman raises a very good point that is often overlooked… there’s no silver bike fit bullet that makes a fit ideal when riding on the bar, on the hoods, in the drops. The angles change, core engagement changes, minor variations in hip angles occur, tension on the hamstrings changes. Combine this with idiotically fashionable stem lengths (popularized by RUclips videos) and you’re left with an entirely predictable series of bi-maniacal (sic) issues.
One respondent to this video commented on flexibility in one’s 50s. There’s no inherent reason why flexibility has to decrease with age. Has mine? Yes. But that’s because I don’t work on it nearly enough. Anyone making it a priority would be a human pretzel.
It’s easy to blame the bike… splurge on a bike fit to professionally confirm that view… spend more money on a new bike… ride the placebo effect and pick up a few extra watts… then lapse into the same pattern of behaviour until it’s time to do it again… eventually blame age and call it quits by buying an e-bike… then blame the e-bike for declining fitness (or calling it “salvation” for catering to declining fitness).
It’s all part of an obsessive compulsive pattern of behaviour that fuels the bike industry… from sales, to service, to professional service.
@@paulgrimshaw8334 100% mate, off the bike mobility and flexibility make a massive difference.
I'm 5'11" (short torso, long legs) and I bought a 56 Tarmac in 2022 and after a year of riding had always felt off on it; it always felt too big. Did a bike fit a year ago and the fitter said bike size was fine, just needed to increase saddle to bar drop and do more off the bike exercises to increase flexibility and mobility. I do 3 days a week, full body resistance training (core, legs, arms/back/shoulders) + dynamic stretches/yoga and what a difference it makes!
Stems now slammed, I'm on a 10mm longer stem because I have enough core strength and strength in my triceps that they don't get fatigued as easily. I'm able to reach 15cm beyond my feet when sitting down/stretching and it makes all the difference on the bike.
The Pro's don't just ride their bikes all day, they do so much off the bike exercise too... I mean have you seen their fits and the crazy setups they use? Yeah suffering in those positions is part of their job but it also helps us mortals, especially in old age, to do off the bike flexibility and mobility work.
Sir. James nice to watch your own blog 👍👍👍shout out Casper from 🇵🇭
GOD bless you and your bike fit clinic ❤❤❤
More Pretty Ladies requesting a bike fit pls. :) Beats watching blokes all the time. :)
I had a bike fit with James a couple of years back, absolutely worth the expense. No longer need to spend money on chamois cream 👍
Glad to be of service, apologies to assos for their lost revenue in chamois cream
Height is actually irrelevant, we should be measuring inseam then hip to fully extended arm.
Very interesting to see the frame tube length being at odds with the stated size.
I once bought a used bike from Sigma that was supposed to be 48cm but was actually 51cm.
Only spotted it when I was rebuilding the bike. So annoying 'cos I'd already seen how so many women end up with bikes that are too long, and I'd already had experience of that. Had to sell it on.
This is NORMAL. The frame size refers to the distance between the center BB to an imaginary horizontal line at the height to the top tube- head tube junction. The downward sloping top tube will always give a size that is different from the measured size, because conventionally, top tubes were horizontal, not sloping. The dimension that should be scrutinized at the time of purchase is really the top tube length and the head tube height. Alternatively, figure out the stack and reach dimensions and use this. Most manufacturers publish them stack and reach on the sizing table and doing the bike fit before buying the bike is the correct way to ensure a proper fit. There's nothing wrong with riding with an 80mm stem. Some professional women must ride with even 70mm, sometimes even inverted up, because the sponsor does not provide any other bike to fit them.
Custom bikes used to be par for the course when frames were made out of that stuff that's called real.
Different power meters produce different numbers
one day.... u will find MY missing 100 watts!
Oof. Nothing like a $12,000 bike needing a few thousand dollars worth of work to still not fit properly. 😬
Too much “princess and the pea” going on in the cycling world. People need to toughen up a bit and stop obsessing over eking the last joule of energy out of the bike at freakishly absurd expense.
@@paulgrimshaw8334 Yeah, I disagree. 80 mm stem will negatively influence the handling of the bike, proper crank length demonstrably improves comfort to a pretty large degree, as can handlebar width. Furthermore, the customer who buys top spec bikes, is spending money because they want the best, they aren’t going to knowingly sign up to buy something that doesn’t fit them and then have to “just deal with it.” The unfortunate part of this video is that the client bought a bike before getting a fit, it’s not her just being fussy.
@@RyonBeachner A good many people who buy an expensive bike aren’t buying the best… for them or their riding. They’re buying the most expensive thing the shop thinks that they’ll leave the shop with. It’s a two way ego trip, in which the fitting and customization plays an underlying role to squeeze more juice from the customer in exchange for subliminally making them feel that they’re “worth it”.
This is almost certainly the case for recreational riders… people who are not, or will ever be, top tier professional riders.
The special deal is rather shrewd. On one level it caters to ego. On the other, it absolves one of whatever physical shortcomings exist. The promise of expense is easier to deal with than training seriously.
I challenge anyone to have the same body control or micro physiological needs between rides or even over a long ride. So a certain amount of resilience is needed, otherwise life becomes an endless snake search.
This is a phenomenon that affects road cyclists more than any other discipline. Why? Because this part of the industry appears to have convinced people that the bike matters more than the ride or rider.
As for an 80 mm stem”… Yeah, whatever. Throwing out a stem length without referencing steerer tube angle, fork angle, or caster demonstrates just how absurd the thing has become. It ignores the trade offs between manoeuvrability and stability… because they’re at opposite ends of the handling spectrum. But someone is always there to create a good story… for a few dollars more.
@@paulgrimshaw8334 That’s highly cynical and smacks of someone projecting their own unhappiness or insecurity onto others who don’t have the same limitations, be them financial or physiological. Along the way, you constructed a flimsy straw man by claiming that “they” (be that James or anyone else) are insisting that the bike is more important than the rider, which no one has claimed.
People often buy the wrong bike, it’s unfortunate, however it doesn’t mean that people providing expertise to help them have a more enjoyable and potentially higher performance experience with their cycling are selling snake oil. It also does not mean that anyone who is uncomfortable with their bike, or is looking for more performance is being fussy and should just “tough it out.”
@@paulgrimshaw8334 Except that wasn't the reason for the bike fit. The customer was having problems with saddle sores caused by sitting off to one side. Changing the position was primarily done to improve comfort. The improvement in power was a byproduct of sitting more squarely on the bike. It was quite clearly explained in the video.
So we should get Full Bike Fit before buying a bike.
YES absolutely, categorically, if you fit after the bike it assumes the bike is right in the first place which, as this video demonstrates is often not the case
If only shops did a bike fit before you bought the bike to ensure correct fit.
Just shows before spending big on a bike, get a fit first
Poor gal
James you need to grow a moustache, then with that ample chest hair, you can be Magnum PI for Halloween!
Add a Hawaiian shirt and a tan and he'd be good-to-go. Get some fake Ferrari keys if you want to go all-in.
@@DennisWursterkeep these comments coming and I’ll have real Ferrari keys
Some of the comments from the armchair experts just show a total lack of knowledge, no wonder James doesn't bother replying.
There are a lot of people who get their heart set on a particular model and make of bike that sometimes is just not right for them. Not all brands suit all people, integrated controls make it even more important to get the right advice before buying.
Well done Laura for having the courage to appear on the show, lots of people have made the same mistakes.
Thanks for the support!
Read your comment back my friend , you've made a fool of yourself because you've had a go at armchair experts yet went on in 2nd paragraph to be an armchair expert yourself. At least we're owning it,you're doing the same only via the gaslighting route
@@0-60.tests.with.Passengers 😄 🤡
hard pill to swallow knowing your s works doesn’t fit at all 😢
Id drop pb power with no changes, just being filmed for youtube video...just saying 😂😂 learn some stuff from videos.
If you're reading this, Laura: take all that information from James and get a custom steel bike for life. Expensive now, but an investment. Good luck!
You know I like James and I like the idea of these videos but man you’ve got to work on that audio quality. It is unbearable to listen to.
Stop crying
Sounds fine for me.
I ain’t complaining about sound quality when he’s giving us this great info for free….
The end summary suggests this may be a "custom bike" subliminal advert. I've a hunch the client is in on it,she may have been told "ignore the doom and gloom regards no bike out their will fit you,it's just to lean the viewers towards custom"
@@Local.hero.1983 That’s probably the dumbest conspiracy I’ve heard in a while.
Yeah James most likely have invested in the global custom bike industry so that he gets a roalty of each sold custom bike and thats why he has a big incentive to promote custom bikes. 😂
Or its just because in general really small bikes are pretty rare/impossible to find within the range of "factory brands" you decide which is more likely.
@@KDiiX Well you know that wily cabal of custom bike manufacturers is willing to pay off anyone to deceive the public into purchasing bikes that are made in the least profitable way possible.
Having had a fit with James, I can categorically say that his is the opposite of the experience I had with him. He went out of his way to make my (completely wrong-sized) bike fit me as cost-effectively as possible. Changing out the stem, seat tube and handlebars to get me as close as possible to the best geometry within my very limited budget. I went back a year later once I had upgraded my bike (down two sizes), and again he helped get that to the ideal fit. No upselling, and was entirely transparent throughout. I find your unbased comment a bit unfair, to be honest.
Don't know how much money you have young lady or how much you ride or if you even race on some level but I would spend the money for another fit with another fitter before you replace that frame.
I personally don't subscribe to James's fit philosophy and I have been involved in cycling much longer than he has.
Shorter cranks, narrower handlebars make sense...possibly a different saddle, but don't throw out that frame.
Another option is...find a smaller frame to rent...or ask James if he has another customer with a frame he believes has better proportions you can test before you spend $8K on a new bike. To me, you are not stretched out on that frame with 52cm top tube.
The second she gets back on her bike…notice how dead straight her arms are on the hoods….she is stretched out for sure.
"Not uncommon for riders to report 50w increase in FTP post-fit". Cue camera cut to smug smack-able face. Ugh.
Hi. I commented earlier on this. I had a fit with James a couple of years ago and experienced a big increase in efficiency, as he mentioned., about 15% increase in FTP.
To be honest I find his smug, eccentric mannerisms a bit off-putting, but I have learned some things from his videos.
@bikefit james: (45.5 + 52) / 2 = 48.75 => ~49 so there you go! Maybe this is the logic bike industry is working nowadays?