Neill is a Legend 👌⚡ He tansformed my riding with bike fit 🙏💥 I wish these videos will reach to bike fitters all over the world and quality of bike fitting gets better.
I hadca retul fit done. Did resolve my issues at the time.. When I visited Neil, the extra things he knew about and the in depth time he spent with me, was amazing! He's such a knowledgeable fitter.
I believe this, a higher seat isn't always better; always thought higher would be better for an impinged hip (or sprinting) but it wasn't allowing me to use my hamstrings potential as much (and of course higher can create the dreaded rocking hips), so lowering the seat and giving a better cleat position with shorter cranks and a correct stem position helped so much with hip, knee, back and elbow pains (not all at once lol)...man it took time on my own...its a whole process of elimination, trial and error...but i enjoy the experience👌
I had a nightmare fit this year. The closest bike fit to me was a 4 hour drive one way. They tried to sell me ¥80000 worth of specialized parts before even looking at me on the bike. The fit cost ¥25000 yen and all they did was lower my saddle so much that I got tendinitis in my knee. They refused to even give a comment on my cleat position because I wasn’t using Shimano. Told me I’d have to buy Shimano pedals from them if I wanted my cleats adjusted. It was called a Reutul fit. It’s specialized’s version of a bike fit.
Great vid. To me it’s mostly about trial and error. Of course the size of the frame should be okay. But in the end when you have issues, you yourself need to solve them by changing stemlength, seatpost height etc. But change things one at a time. Listen to your body. Never ignore pain. Also , when you get more and more fit, settings may change again...
Wow. Never ceases to amaze me. So much detail taking into consideration. Absolute fitting genius. Greetings from California Neil! You should move out here 😆 😉
Thank you for the great videos! One topic I would be interested in is how rider arm length discrepancies impact riding and how they can be compensated vie means of equipment. Thanks to my tailor I know I have a significant one between my right and left arm. Fortunately this issue has not caused pain but is something that I can feel when riding. I see very few left-right asymmetric cock-pits being being on offer, so I assume some DIY hacks might be called for, but would be keen to know if any "commercial solutions" are out there.
I had the exact same experience with a tailor and also wondered what I should do about it on the bike. I find it funny when people obsess about e.g. ensuring that the fork and handlebar are perfectly aligned when chances are that their arms are not perfectly equal in length.
I plan to get my first bike fit in a few weeks. I first asked the bike store if the fitter is fysio and they said yes and gave me his personal email address so I could e-mail him to setup an appointment and ask questions. I need to drive 200km one-way and stay in a hotel because I have work, but I feel it will be worth it. Although he will use Retul, he says that he spends a good bit of time examining the body and surveying the current bike setup before doing anything else.
3. You can get pain in the upper body as well. Right side pain in neck to shoulder leading to numbness issues due to 3 mm longer right leg and trying to shift the hips to the center of the saddle.
Well yeah, there are no adjustments that only a certified bike fitter can do by law. What you're paying for is the knowledge (or hopefully informed guess) of which adjustments to make.
Potential idea for another video - could Neill provide his thoughts and advice on wedging - how to work out when they’re needed, and where to locate them (cleat vs heel)? Cheers gents, and keep up the great content.
Just finding this video now. I’m working with the mostly highly regarded bike fitter where I live. There are two things that are annoyances that continue after a fit and refit. 1. Intermittent right foot discomfort 2. Constant hip torsion that has to be corrected. I recently found out that I had a 5mm leg length discrepancy during an appt with a hip ortho doc. My pt thinks the leg length difference is causing the two issues mentioned above. My bike fitter said we could try shims but couldn’t give a definitive solution (shims vs moving clear back) unless he knew if the upper or lower leg was the source of the discrepancy. He said the only way to know that for sure is a full leg length ct that insurance won’t cover. Would you recommend just giving the shims a try without that information?
Which side is shorter? Same side that gives you the foot problems? Anyway, do the shim, but only go half way i.e. 2,5 or max 3mm for starters. You are X years old, your body has partly adapted to the difference. If you go all in you, in effect - risk getting yourself a "too long" leg all in a sudden. If this work, you still might have to change the shim over time.
Wonder how many times a bike fitter has said 'nothing to do, the fit is perfect'. I'd bet never. The temptation will always be to change something to justify their fee.
I m a big fan of Neil. He is so right. Look at the rider 👌👍. I had two bikefits. The first one wasnt that good the second one looked more on my position did a good job I think. I ride a lot and get a feel about the right fit for me. So I keep adjusting a little bit time by time and I feel better on the bike.
So, the leg length issue is great advice, but how do you deal with a FUNCTIONAL leg length discrempency, vs an actual structural one? Do you prescribe PT type stuff to fix/remedy the issue, then go from there, or do you treat the symptoms (shims) and the body is the body? What happens long term by doing so?
Eleven “thumbs down” from Retul/Specialized employees. 😁. Great video, btw! I’ve bee doing bike fits since 1987. Studied and “certified” under several different sytems. I agree with you. I think most of these systems have something useful on offer, but they are all trying to fit everyone inside of the same box. IMHO, any system which is built outwards from KOPS or any variation of it, is seriously flawed, and most if not all motion-capture systems are. Each athlete is unique, and each athletes’ fit ought to be unique as well.
so i had just been fitted by a former local racer and he didnt use any motion capture device so he " eyeballed" my fit. should i be concerned even with his years of experience?
@@roadcyclingacademy thanks Cam for the info. i only ask because of the video of what to look for in a bike fitter. a lot of my adjustments came from your content and 1 other vlogger which i really appreciate but he didnt focus alot on my feet like Neil suggested. i will say i am a alot more comfortable riding since the fit.
Good stuff! Wish I lived near you in Australia, it's so difficult to find a good fitter and I have limited funds. I paid over $300 and got at least 4 strikes according to your vids and am not in the least confident in the results. Any recommendations in Southwest US by chance? Please keep the content coming, love it!
Another great video, and one that highlights how many fitters don’t provide the level of service or expertise needed to fix people, especially problem cases. I had 7 fits over 10 years, where each fitter dismissed what I could see as a noticeable leg length discrepancy, and one that was very likely to be a cause, or be a significant contributor to my left knee pain and constant saddle soreness on one side. Went to see another Steve Hogg approved fitter, who immediately noticed it, corrected it, and it made a big difference to my on seat symmetry. My advice, after spending 1000’s on fits and saddles, is to do your research, talk to the fitter before you visit, and make the effort to travel to see the right person if needed, rather than the most local one, or one that uses Retul as a badge of honour.
the more videos I watch of Neil explaining the immense complexity of bike fitting the more I just want to give up on my efforts of doing it myself, fly over from literally the exact opposite side of the world and have him do it instead.
Neill, re leg length differences, consider talking with a surgeon who does hip replacements? A few years ago my then-GF had hip replacement to correct a congenital malformation of one of her hip sockets. Afterwards, functionally she seemed to have a huge leg length difference (1 inch as I recall), but X-rays showed no difference in the lengths of her leg bones. We had been thinking of the pelvis as a fixed structure. In fact it is a collection of bones that can shift with respect to one another, which can affect the position of the hip sockets and thus the apparent length of the legs. Over time, her apparent leg length discrepancy gradually dissipated, though for a while she had to use shims in her walking shoes. Sorry, I'm probably hazy on some of the details due to the passage of time. Lessons were that apparent leg length discrepancy could arise from asymmetry further up the chain, and can be a moving target, making periodic rechecking wise.
I have a slightly shorter left leg... So when I take my saddle to a certain height, I tend to stretch more on the left leg than the right ad before I know it, I start having knee pains and lower back pain.... I dunno if the lower back pain is coming from me stretching too much to get to the hood of the bike... I'm 5'9/5'10 rider and I use a 53.4cm Fuji finest 1.0 road bike with a 100mm stem... So I don't really know what the problem is... I really need help..😩
Neil is definetly a Legend !!! I have gotten much better by following his tips and self-fitting than previously with a "professional" fitter ... I hope there was a way to book something like a ZOOM fit review or something like that for us in other continents :) I do understand that it would be difficult to keep it high quality though.
Hey Neal. Great information and insights. Could you do a deeper dive into hood placement and angle to maximize comfort please? I watched a video on this recently that you posted, and could use some more information regarding the impact of forward or backward rotation of the hoods. I'm still suffering from pain one hour plus into rides in the muscle under the bicep, right arm only (sorry I don't know the name of this muscle), after trying different hood positions. Thanks
Hey Bruce, We have done a video on this topic already! Here is the link: ruclips.net/video/WjD4g3l3A54/видео.html We would recommend subscribing if you haven't already and turn on notifications so then you will never miss another video again! -RCA Team
Another great video. Looks like I'll be heading to Colorado for a fitting, doesn't seem to be good fitters in the Chicago area. One question, I really like the wooden bike stand. Who makes it?
Love these videos with Neil. Question for him though. If someone presents with a leg length discrepancy. Where the discrepancy is both structural and functional. Do you put a shim on to address both? Or do you compensate only for the structural difference? Being in this situation I wonder what to do, my therapist (who's not a bike fitter) noticed a good leg discrepancy, but after a few treatments and good amount of mobility exercises, we managed to bring my legs to almost the same length. Almost, because even with my pelvic leveled, my right leg is still a bit shorter. If I would have put on a shim to correct both, now that my functional discrepancy is pretty much under control, the shim would have made me feel like my short leg felt like the longer leg on the bike. What do you think?
Not sure if Neill will get to this one but I know he'll use a Shim irrespective and then reassess down the track. If it's functional and is corrected via the Shim, he'll remove it. Or reduce it. Cam
Depending on the severity of the leg length discrepancy and whether it is functional or physical can make a big difference. We would advise getting a bike fit from a respected fitter to get everything sorted! -RCA Team
Quick one for Neill - do you often see people struggling to adapt to a shim as they have been riding so long without one and their compensation is so ingrained? I personally suspect I have a shorter right leg, and as part of that my right calf is much larger to adapt to the constant toe-down compensation. I’ve toyed around with a lower seat height and even so it seems my right foot has trouble relaxing from this toe-down position. Thoughts? Thanks once again for your incredibly generous sharing of knowledge!
Anyone who has went through ibfi certification will know their stuff in regards to bike fitting. Some people get thrown off by fitter using 3D motion capture and treat eye balling is the be all and end all of bike fitting. Regardless of what the fitter uses, its the fitter not the fitting system they use.
I have a question regarding the leg length discrepancy. I had a bike fit and they found a 4mm difference. The solution was to move one cleat slighly more backwards. Any thoughts on that (vs. chim)? Thanks for sharing the amazing knowledge!
I think we did a video on this actually, here ruclips.net/video/CIFRLF0xURk/видео.html Staggering the cleat introduces other problems which the shim does not, and it's rarely a better solution than a shim if the problem is indeed a structural leg length discrepancy. - Neill
I am not sure if it's a good place to start, but it's probably about as good as you're going to get in this day and age. There are some pretty sketchy "high level" fitters on their list with lots of training in fitting systems but who fall short at complex problem solving, and there are some in the lower echelons of their system who are excellent - it's a bit hit and miss. - Neill
Guys fantastic vlog! Can I ask could you do a vlog on what rider's may experience if they have a shorter leg one side? For example I have shorter left leg, it's also the side I'm more prone to saddle sore, but blizzarly I tend to track poorly with my right knee almost pulling myself offset to the right of the saddle, is this me over compensating for my shorter left leg?
I see. I could give you a break down of all my issues if you like! I have a huge shim and before that had a whole swathe of one sided issues. One sided saddle sores, one sided knee pain, one sided lower back pain, numb hands and so on. It's not as simple as short right leg means sore left lower back etc, but if you feel one leg is shorter get shimming.
@@drnorton364 cheers for the info, it's just when Neil mentions it as one of the most ignored aspects of a bike fit sparked my interest, IMO it would make for a great in-depth video from him.
Dr Norton is bang on, there are plenty of different symptom sets a rider may experience from a shorter leg. Show me 10 different riders with a shorter right leg and I'll show you 10 different compensation strategies, and 10 different symptoms. It's nowhere near as uniform as you'd like to think, just today I fitted two riders with shorter left legs (4mm and 6mm) and one had left hip, left foot and right lower back pain, the other had pins and needles in her right foot only with no other symptoms. Gotta love humans, we are all different! - Neill
Its all marketing bs mate. You guys know there is no governing body in that country that people can do what they want and you and others fall for those marketing bs 😂😂😂
1. 1:11 believe in the fitter's eye, it is not all metrics but they certainly help to locate wrongs and rights. human judgment. 2. 5:23 human fail... question ? can a fitter fail? we are human... we are made of wrongs, and the fitter can fail. be kind eh won't fail twice if you are honest about the feelings and results Fitting is NOT a result is a process. 3. 8:33 disregarding ... the filter can make a huge mistake letting go small details then... WE have to be 'anoying' about discomforts numbness pain.
Great video. Thanks fellas. I have a question for you Neill - actually 2 - if you don’t mind? Am in South Africa - so unfortunately getting over for a fit with you is not an option. Question 1: have a bit of a rotated hip, that I have been told causes leg length discrepancy. I suffer from a weaker right knee, and get recurring pain in it. Cycling is my only exercise. A hard question maybe - but do you think a great fit plus shim or similar could solve? Or should I be seeing another type of specialist to try get body more aligned? Physio, Chiropractor, Biomechanist, or similar? Ie can one even change a rotated hip, or does one accept it, and bike fit to accommodate it? Question 2: have looked - and there are no Steve Hogg fitters in SA. Have had 2 professional bike fits here, but they fall far short of the level you do. Are you aware of any fitters in SA that are very high level? After desktop research - sadly I can’t find any candidates. Much thanks. Pls keep the awesome videos coming. (Although I think you guys owe us the one on you, Neill, getting whipped into shape by Cam? Looking forward to that). Cheers. Rich Thomas
G'day Rich, glad you're liking the content! I'm not quite sure what you mean by a rotated hip, there are many possible physical issues which you could be describing, but if you're having unilateral pain on the bike then it would be well worth experimenting with a leg length shim, after all if it makes things worse you can always remove it! Not sure of anybody talented in S.A. sorry mate - my sphere of knowledge doesn't extend quite that far :-(
Great video again guys. My question to Neil is why is there a leg length discrepancy. I have found it to be a Iliacus- Psoas problem causing a leg issue. What is Neil thoughts
Hey Gavin, hopefully Neill can get to this, but adding some interesting insights Neill shared with me. Often a slight skeletal discrepancy can big the trigger for compensation strategies, which leads to a muscular discrepancy (on-top of the skeletal). So often it can be both.
I had a bike fit in Germany from a so called guru in 2020. I drove all the way from Switzerland (one day of driving). At the end I could have saved the EUR 250.- because my pain was much much much worse than before. I got severe backpseudo @UCeW11HsUiXwnRbPqNlh6fHw Are you sure the shims are a good idea? Aren't they making everything worse in the LONG RUN? I have heard that most leg length discrepancies are "only" functional and not structural. Therefore, they could be corrected with some training/physio. Isn't it better to correct it at the source rather than just putting a shim under the cleat?
1. rely on joint angle measurements / not accounting for joint angle changes as the rider opens/warms up under extended load 2. fail to conduct a detailed physical assessment of flexibility, asymmetry in legnth or strength, etc. 3. underestimating even small leg-length discrepancy
I find myself repeatedly amazed by his seemingly endless fountain of knowledge.
*seemingly* is the key word for keeping social media content entertaining!
it is a lot of bull
Neill is a Legend 👌⚡ He tansformed my riding with bike fit 🙏💥
I wish these videos will reach to bike fitters all over the world and quality of bike fitting gets better.
hear hear, thanks for sharing too Mihkel. Cam
Such a great presenter, articulate and accurate
I hadca retul fit done. Did resolve my issues at the time.. When I visited Neil, the extra things he knew about and the in depth time he spent with me, was amazing! He's such a knowledgeable fitter.
Awesome to hear Susan, thanks for sharing on the thread! Cam
I believe this, a higher seat isn't always better; always thought higher would be better for an impinged hip (or sprinting) but it wasn't allowing me to use my hamstrings potential as much (and of course higher can create the dreaded rocking hips), so lowering the seat and giving a better cleat position with shorter cranks and a correct stem position helped so much with hip, knee, back and elbow pains (not all at once lol)...man it took time on my own...its a whole process of elimination, trial and error...but i enjoy the experience👌
We're glad you got your bike setup right!
-RCA Team
I had a nightmare fit this year.
The closest bike fit to me was a 4 hour drive one way.
They tried to sell me ¥80000 worth of specialized parts before even looking at me on the bike.
The fit cost ¥25000 yen and all they did was lower my saddle so much that I got tendinitis in my knee.
They refused to even give a comment on my cleat position because I wasn’t using Shimano. Told me I’d have to buy Shimano pedals from them if I wanted my cleats adjusted.
It was called a Reutul fit. It’s specialized’s version of a bike fit.
Great vid. To me it’s mostly about trial and error. Of course the size of the frame should be okay. But in the end when you have issues, you yourself need to solve them by changing stemlength, seatpost height etc. But change things one at a time. Listen to your body. Never ignore pain. Also
, when you get more and more fit, settings may change again...
Very good insights and compares. Really useful info.
well i have a bike fit coming up with a specialized store for my new bike on the 7th aug, so this will be top of my mind....thanks...
Neil should setup a visit to the states, I’d happily pay whatever for his fitting!
Wow. Never ceases to amaze me. So much detail taking into consideration. Absolute fitting genius. Greetings from California Neil! You should move out here 😆 😉
Thanks for the comment Joel!
When you find someone like Neill you have to keep him close!
-RCA Team
I could watch these vids for hours exceptional output guys 👏👏👏. Every day a learning day thank you 👍
Thank you for the great videos! One topic I would be interested in is how rider arm length discrepancies impact riding and how they can be compensated vie means of equipment. Thanks to my tailor I know I have a significant one between my right and left arm. Fortunately this issue has not caused pain but is something that I can feel when riding. I see very few left-right asymmetric cock-pits being being on offer, so I assume some DIY hacks might be called for, but would be keen to know if any "commercial solutions" are out there.
I had the exact same experience with a tailor and also wondered what I should do about it on the bike. I find it funny when people obsess about e.g. ensuring that the fork and handlebar are perfectly aligned when chances are that their arms are not perfectly equal in length.
I plan to get my first bike fit in a few weeks. I first asked the bike store if the fitter is fysio and they said yes and gave me his personal email address so I could e-mail him to setup an appointment and ask questions. I need to drive 200km one-way and stay in a hotel because I have work, but I feel it will be worth it. Although he will use Retul, he says that he spends a good bit of time examining the body and surveying the current bike setup before doing anything else.
Neal you are quite right both principle and practice. Thank you much.
Yet another amazing bike fit video. Neill is absolutely awesome. Thank you for these.
3. You can get pain in the upper body as well. Right side pain in neck to shoulder leading to numbness issues due to 3 mm longer right leg and trying to shift the hips to the center of the saddle.
Most issues you can fix yourself by titling the saddle down and/or back, raising or lowering the seat post height, adjusting the drop bars, etc.
Well yeah, there are no adjustments that only a certified bike fitter can do by law. What you're paying for is the knowledge (or hopefully informed guess) of which adjustments to make.
Potential idea for another video - could Neill provide his thoughts and advice on wedging - how to work out when they’re needed, and where to locate them (cleat vs heel)? Cheers gents, and keep up the great content.
On the list, cheers mate.
Great question, great answer, cheers!
Just finding this video now. I’m working with the mostly highly regarded bike fitter where I live. There are two things that are annoyances that continue after a fit and refit. 1. Intermittent right foot discomfort 2. Constant hip torsion that has to be corrected.
I recently found out that I had a 5mm leg length discrepancy during an appt with a hip ortho doc.
My pt thinks the leg length difference is causing the two issues mentioned above.
My bike fitter said we could try shims but couldn’t give a definitive solution (shims vs moving clear back) unless he knew if the upper or lower leg was the source of the discrepancy. He said the only way to know that for sure is a full leg length ct that insurance won’t cover.
Would you recommend just giving the shims a try without that information?
Which side is shorter? Same side that gives you the foot problems?
Anyway, do the shim, but only go half way i.e. 2,5 or max 3mm for starters. You are X years old, your body has partly adapted to the difference. If you go all in you, in effect - risk getting yourself a "too long" leg all in a sudden. If this work, you still might have to change the shim over time.
Neill needs to do a world tour and book bike fits. Starting in Las Vegas. :)
haha. I'll come if that's the case. Cam
Wonder how many times a bike fitter has said 'nothing to do, the fit is perfect'. I'd bet never. The temptation will always be to change something to justify their fee.
Fantastic and very informative video as usual. Thank you for taking the time to make these for us.
My local bike shop did my fit and I’m really happy with and no issues
I m a big fan of Neil. He is so right. Look at the rider 👌👍. I had two bikefits. The first one wasnt that good the second one looked more on my position did a good job I think. I ride a lot and get a feel about the right fit for me. So I keep adjusting a little bit time by time and I feel better on the bike.
Cheers Alain, thanks for sharing on the thread.
Some 30 second videos seem to long but this guy is easy to listen to from beginning to end.
This guy . Sorry these guys put the most informative vids out there . Priceless . I wish I was living in Oz though 🤣🤣
Thank you mate. Cam
So, the leg length issue is great advice, but how do you deal with a FUNCTIONAL leg length discrempency, vs an actual structural one? Do you prescribe PT type stuff to fix/remedy the issue, then go from there, or do you treat the symptoms (shims) and the body is the body? What happens long term by doing so?
Eleven “thumbs down” from Retul/Specialized employees. 😁. Great video, btw! I’ve bee doing bike fits since 1987. Studied and “certified” under several different sytems. I agree with you. I think most of these systems have something useful on offer, but they are all trying to fit everyone inside of the same box. IMHO, any system which is built outwards from KOPS or any variation of it, is seriously flawed, and most if not all motion-capture systems are. Each athlete is unique, and each athletes’ fit ought to be unique as well.
Haha!
I have that same right sided hip pain too, guess my leg length discrepancy is valid then. Still need to go to a bike fit though..
This man is legendary.
Great info. Thanks for sharing.
so i had just been fitted by a former local racer and he didnt use any motion capture device so he " eyeballed" my fit. should i be concerned even with his years of experience?
I don't believe so Jon, Neill doesn't use it either. He found it slowed him down more than anything. Cam
@@roadcyclingacademy thanks Cam for the info. i only ask because of the video of what to look for in a bike fitter. a lot of my adjustments came from your content and 1 other vlogger which i really appreciate but he didnt focus alot on my feet like Neil suggested. i will say i am a alot more comfortable riding since the fit.
Good stuff! Wish I lived near you in Australia, it's so difficult to find a good fitter and I have limited funds. I paid over $300 and got at least 4 strikes according to your vids and am not in the least confident in the results. Any recommendations in Southwest US by chance? Please keep the content coming, love it!
Same for me a few months ago... Mine helped in a few ways, but I honestly think these videos have helped way more than the $250 for a 30 min bike fit.
Boulder and Austin - www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/ see locations. Neill is Steve Hogg trained
@@roadcyclingacademy I guess a road trip to Boulder is in my future, thanks!
@@doughorner5730 Colby Pearce has a podcast if your interested in seeing him its Cycling in Alignment.
Neill is the man!!!!
Agreed
what if I just rotate my handle bar up, i dont want to remove the bar tape just to move the hoods up
Another great video, and one that highlights how many fitters don’t provide the level of service or expertise needed to fix people, especially problem cases. I had 7 fits over 10 years, where each fitter dismissed what I could see as a noticeable leg length discrepancy, and one that was very likely to be a cause, or be a significant contributor to my left knee pain and constant saddle soreness on one side. Went to see another Steve Hogg approved fitter, who immediately noticed it, corrected it, and it made a big difference to my on seat symmetry. My advice, after spending 1000’s on fits and saddles, is to do your research, talk to the fitter before you visit, and make the effort to travel to see the right person if needed, rather than the most local one, or one that uses Retul as a badge of honour.
Sage advice, glad someone picked it in the end at least mate! - Neill
Great video! 👍
The one big problem I have: how to judge the quality of your bike fitter (before the fit)?
Reviews, or speak with him and ask some Qs
Hi, love your content and thank you very much for sharing. Can you recommend anyone in Perth WA for a bike fit please. Cheers Mike
the more videos I watch of Neil explaining the immense complexity of bike fitting the more I just want to give up on my efforts of doing it myself, fly over from literally the exact opposite side of the world and have him do it instead.
Need to get Neal to come to Japan and do a mess of bike fits...
Very interesting thanks guys
So would you recommend seeing Neil over a bike fit company that is based around Retul and motion capture?
I would 100%. Cam
Neill, re leg length differences, consider talking with a surgeon who does hip replacements? A few years ago my then-GF had hip replacement to correct a congenital malformation of one of her hip sockets. Afterwards, functionally she seemed to have a huge leg length difference (1 inch as I recall), but X-rays showed no difference in the lengths of her leg bones. We had been thinking of the pelvis as a fixed structure. In fact it is a collection of bones that can shift with respect to one another, which can affect the position of the hip sockets and thus the apparent length of the legs. Over time, her apparent leg length discrepancy gradually dissipated, though for a while she had to use shims in her walking shoes. Sorry, I'm probably hazy on some of the details due to the passage of time. Lessons were that apparent leg length discrepancy could arise from asymmetry further up the chain, and can be a moving target, making periodic rechecking wise.
How do you get around this with spd i have a significant shorter right leg but find wedges interfere with running off the bike in cyclocross..
I have a slightly shorter left leg... So when I take my saddle to a certain height, I tend to stretch more on the left leg than the right ad before I know it, I start having knee pains and lower back pain.... I dunno if the lower back pain is coming from me stretching too much to get to the hood of the bike... I'm 5'9/5'10 rider and I use a 53.4cm Fuji finest 1.0 road bike with a 100mm stem... So I don't really know what the problem is... I really need help..😩
Neil is definetly a Legend !!! I have gotten much better by following his tips and self-fitting than previously with a "professional" fitter ...
I hope there was a way to book something like a ZOOM fit review or something like that for us in other continents :)
I do understand that it would be difficult to keep it high quality though.
Cheers Paulo and agree. Thanks for sharing on the thread. Cam
Hey Neal. Great information and insights. Could you do a deeper dive into hood placement and angle to maximize comfort please? I watched a video on this recently that you posted, and could use some more information regarding the impact of forward or backward rotation of the hoods. I'm still suffering from pain one hour plus into rides in the muscle under the bicep, right arm only (sorry I don't know the name of this muscle), after trying different hood positions. Thanks
Hey Bruce,
We have done a video on this topic already! Here is the link: ruclips.net/video/WjD4g3l3A54/видео.html
We would recommend subscribing if you haven't already and turn on notifications so then you will never miss another video again!
-RCA Team
Another great video. Looks like I'll be heading to Colorado for a fitting, doesn't seem to be good fitters in the Chicago area. One question, I really like the wooden bike stand. Who makes it?
G'day Carl, I made it myself from scratch - it's awesome! - Neill
Westwood bike stands designerbikestands.com
Love these videos with Neil. Question for him though. If someone presents with a leg length discrepancy. Where the discrepancy is both structural and functional. Do you put a shim on to address both? Or do you compensate only for the structural difference? Being in this situation I wonder what to do, my therapist (who's not a bike fitter) noticed a good leg discrepancy, but after a few treatments and good amount of mobility exercises, we managed to bring my legs to almost the same length. Almost, because even with my pelvic leveled, my right leg is still a bit shorter. If I would have put on a shim to correct both, now that my functional discrepancy is pretty much under control, the shim would have made me feel like my short leg felt like the longer leg on the bike. What do you think?
Not sure if Neill will get to this one but I know he'll use a Shim irrespective and then reassess down the track. If it's functional and is corrected via the Shim, he'll remove it. Or reduce it. Cam
@@roadcyclingacademy makes sense. Thanks!
What about a foot length discrepancy? Is that mostly dealt with by moving the cleat?
Hey Mike, thanks for the comment.
Unfortunately Neill can't answer all the comments.
Thanks -RCA Team
Too bad I’m not in Australia. Any recommendation for bike fitters in Canada ?
Neil any advice to help with hip pain??
Can a thicker insole solve the leg length problem instead of wedging (the insole placed in the shorter leg's shoe)?
Depending on the severity of the leg length discrepancy and whether it is functional or physical can make a big difference. We would advise getting a bike fit from a respected fitter to get everything sorted!
-RCA Team
@@roadcyclingacademy thank you!
Quick one for Neill - do you often see people struggling to adapt to a shim as they have been riding so long without one and their compensation is so ingrained? I personally suspect I have a shorter right leg, and as part of that my right calf is much larger to adapt to the constant toe-down compensation. I’ve toyed around with a lower seat height and even so it seems my right foot has trouble relaxing from this toe-down position. Thoughts?
Thanks once again for your incredibly generous sharing of knowledge!
Sorry that Neill never got to this one Lloyd. Cam
Does Neill have any recommendations for bike fitters outside of QLD? Perhaps in Melbourne, Sydney and other major cities?
www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/ go to the locations tab
Anyone who has went through ibfi certification will know their stuff in regards to bike fitting. Some people get thrown off by fitter using 3D motion capture and treat eye balling is the be all and end all of bike fitting. Regardless of what the fitter uses, its the fitter not the fitting system they use.
I have a question regarding the leg length discrepancy. I had a bike fit and they found a 4mm difference. The solution was to move one cleat slighly more backwards.
Any thoughts on that (vs. chim)? Thanks for sharing the amazing knowledge!
I think we did a video on this actually, here ruclips.net/video/CIFRLF0xURk/видео.html
Staggering the cleat introduces other problems which the shim does not, and it's rarely a better solution than a shim if the problem is indeed a structural leg length discrepancy. - Neill
Boy, I'd love to come and get fitted by Neil, but from Montréal ...
Look for Steve Hogg approved bike fitters nearest to you
One in thousand islands. Only 3h drive. Nice Guy
Cam, what do you and Neil think about the idmatch bike fitting system? Is it worth trying?
Not my expertise Budi, hopefully Neill can get to this one. Cam
Omg! I suffer so much on my bike. I spent so much money and time trying to get the perfect fit. I’m still in pain these days. Where are you located?
where the sit bones should be on the sqlab saddle ?tnx
Sitting up on the shelf area Moga
Would Neil have any resources to help connect people to good bike fitters? Is the IBFI a good place to start? Thanks!
I am not sure if it's a good place to start, but it's probably about as good as you're going to get in this day and age. There are some pretty sketchy "high level" fitters on their list with lots of training in fitting systems but who fall short at complex problem solving, and there are some in the lower echelons of their system who are excellent - it's a bit hit and miss. - Neill
Great video as always! If you guys could, I would like to become a bike fitter, what direction could you point me ?
Thanks 🙏🏾
Check out www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/ website
@@roadcyclingacademy appreciate that i'll check it out. Thanks
you are amazing!!
Guys fantastic vlog!
Can I ask could you do a vlog on what rider's may experience if they have a shorter leg one side?
For example I have shorter left leg, it's also the side I'm more prone to saddle sore, but blizzarly I tend to track poorly with my right knee almost pulling myself offset to the right of the saddle, is this me over compensating for my shorter left leg?
If you know you have a short right leg then you should try some shims. That is the jist of what Neil is saying throughout this and many other videos.
@@drnorton364 basically Ide like more in-depth vlog into the problems that rider's with leg length discrepancies may feel or experience on the saddle
I see. I could give you a break down of all my issues if you like! I have a huge shim and before that had a whole swathe of one sided issues. One sided saddle sores, one sided knee pain, one sided lower back pain, numb hands and so on. It's not as simple as short right leg means sore left lower back etc, but if you feel one leg is shorter get shimming.
@@drnorton364 cheers for the info, it's just when Neil mentions it as one of the most ignored aspects of a bike fit sparked my interest, IMO it would make for a great in-depth video from him.
Dr Norton is bang on, there are plenty of different symptom sets a rider may experience from a shorter leg. Show me 10 different riders with a shorter right leg and I'll show you 10 different compensation strategies, and 10 different symptoms. It's nowhere near as uniform as you'd like to think, just today I fitted two riders with shorter left legs (4mm and 6mm) and one had left hip, left foot and right lower back pain, the other had pins and needles in her right foot only with no other symptoms. Gotta love humans, we are all different! - Neill
Can you check and react on this "Cruz control" on what he is doing regarding bikefit/biomechanic
Its all marketing bs mate. You guys know there is no governing body in that country that people can do what they want and you and others fall for those marketing bs 😂😂😂
isn't it better to have different crank leg lengths?
In some rare cases this is definitely a way to go!
-RCA Team
Does anyone know any good bike fitters in Montréal? Help! How can I email this guy.
He seems amazing. I have 18mm discrepancy so I’m seeking help.
I had a fitter spend most of our time doing a physical assessment. Then he put me in an awful position and I ended up refitting myself 🤷♂️
1. 1:11 believe in the fitter's eye, it is not all metrics but they certainly help to locate wrongs and rights. human judgment.
2. 5:23 human fail... question ? can a fitter fail? we are human... we are made of wrongs, and the fitter can fail. be kind eh won't fail twice if you are honest about the feelings and results Fitting is NOT a result is a process.
3. 8:33 disregarding ... the filter can make a huge mistake letting go small details then... WE have to be 'anoying' about discomforts numbness pain.
Great video. Thanks fellas.
I have a question for you Neill - actually 2 - if you don’t mind?
Am in South Africa - so unfortunately getting over for a fit with you is not an option.
Question 1: have a bit of a rotated hip, that I have been told causes leg length discrepancy. I suffer from a weaker right knee, and get recurring pain in it. Cycling is my only exercise. A hard question maybe - but do you think a great fit plus shim or similar could solve? Or should I be seeing another type of specialist to try get body more aligned? Physio, Chiropractor, Biomechanist, or similar? Ie can one even change a rotated hip, or does one accept it, and bike fit to accommodate it?
Question 2: have looked - and there are no Steve Hogg fitters in SA. Have had 2 professional bike fits here, but they fall far short of the level you do. Are you aware of any fitters in SA that are very high level? After desktop research - sadly I can’t find any candidates.
Much thanks. Pls keep the awesome videos coming.
(Although I think you guys owe us the one on you, Neill, getting whipped into shape by Cam? Looking forward to that).
Cheers. Rich Thomas
G'day Rich, glad you're liking the content! I'm not quite sure what you mean by a rotated hip, there are many possible physical issues which you could be describing, but if you're having unilateral pain on the bike then it would be well worth experimenting with a leg length shim, after all if it makes things worse you can always remove it!
Not sure of anybody talented in S.A. sorry mate - my sphere of knowledge doesn't extend quite that far :-(
@@roadcyclingacademy thanks Neill. Sorry - meant a rotated pelvis. Not hip. I will continue my search here, for someone that uses shims.
Cheers!
Great video again guys. My question to Neil is why is there a leg length discrepancy. I have found it to be a Iliacus- Psoas problem causing a leg issue. What is Neil thoughts
Hey Gavin, hopefully Neill can get to this, but adding some interesting insights Neill shared with me. Often a slight skeletal discrepancy can big the trigger for compensation strategies, which leads to a muscular discrepancy (on-top of the skeletal). So often it can be both.
Can you send him back to melbourne?
haha
Neill please come to Ireland take my money and fit me :)
Excellent I just pressed first rhe wrong botton
Took me about 18 months to find my position
Interesting to hear mate, thanks for sharing on the thread
Can Neil give "Old Mate" a bike fit?
hahaha. That would make a funny video.
I had a bike fit in Germany from a so called guru in 2020. I drove all the way from Switzerland (one day of driving). At the end I could have saved the EUR 250.- because my pain was much much much worse than before. I got severe backpseudo
@UCeW11HsUiXwnRbPqNlh6fHw Are you sure the shims are a good idea? Aren't they making everything worse in the LONG RUN? I have heard that most leg length discrepancies are "only" functional and not structural. Therefore, they could be corrected with some training/physio. Isn't it better to correct it at the source rather than just putting a shim under the cleat?
Sorry to hear you had a bad result, it's all too common. You have heard wrong unfortunately. - Neill
Warst du beim Buchstaller?
Like #900 😊
Thanks for the info!!
Thanks for the like!
we're glad you are enjoying the content!
damn watching this made me realized i got scammed with my bike fit
1. rely on joint angle measurements / not accounting for joint angle changes as the rider opens/warms up under extended load
2. fail to conduct a detailed physical assessment of flexibility, asymmetry in legnth or strength, etc.
3. underestimating even small leg-length discrepancy
And in the red corner GCN and sponsor (ruclips.net/video/MzrRztl6HWg/видео.html). Winner by knock out, Neill Stanbury.