Watching this (and other bikefit channels) has made me realise that when buying a bike, you should be able to choose handlebar width, saddle, stem length, etc at point of purchase.
This is one of the reasons I hate the trend to one piece cockpits with fully internal cable routing. It makes adjustments time consuming and expensive.
Yea and forget about that option in 90% or maybe more places. From my experience you gotta become a bike mechanic or get a good one somewhere (if you even can), to set up your road bike properly.
Road cyclist here, your shoe advice is spot on. Just healing plantar faciatis, my foot doctor showed me the same fit techniques for my sneakers and road cycling shoes, all mine were to narrow. Just purchased new Fizik shoes in their wide and are a perfect fit, also have some Giro supernatural insoles on order. Enjoyed watching your video, fantastic advice on everything you discussed, especially the shoe fit!👍✌🏼
If this guy's bikefit shop was close by I would visit him immediately! Logical and no nonsense explanation, not trying to sell you anything, great stuff!
Just to share, I have had a bike fit, and would generally recommend it (especially shoes etc), but a lot of videos focus on fitting the bike to the person. What I found solved getting back ache for me wasn’t stem-length etc. it was doing core exercises and stretching, and rotating my hips forward a bit (over-rotating gives lower back pain, and insufficient rotation gives neck/shoulder pain, but there is a pain-free sweet spot when my core is strong enough!). Now I can ride longer-lower bikes (good for racing) and shorter higher bikes (good for enjoying the views / navigating traffic) in comfort. I feel like there should be a bit more emphasis on making yourself strong and flexible so you can ride any bike, rather than trying to get one bike mm perfect…
What exercises are you doing for core? Something in particular, or just abs and such? I also feel that is my weakest point that prevents me for doing longer runs.
@ I bought the book “Core Advantage” by Tom Danielson. I use it as a guide rather than following slavishly, but stretch most days and do a set of exercises for 20 mins probably 2-3 times a week on average. I also focus on trying to cycle with good “form” or posture when I get tired. Transformed my experience on 120km+ rides. PS. I’m 49 and my bars are about 9cm below my saddle, so I’m in a semi-aero position, in case that helps.
If you have outer foot pain, it doesn't mean the shoe is too narrow all the time. Your stance could be too narrow. If too narrow your feet tilt and you put pressure on those outer edges. It's a rabbit hole.
Absolutely. Its a very complicated field which most misunderstand. Its why we continue to invest in training and review academic research papers all of the time to stay up to date on all of the current studies.
Shoe width and / OR stance width (try spacer or shift cleats towards the bike) and/OR liftend big toe (varus fore foto angulation) = try wegde and / or cleats too far forward or weared out or position wrong (angle) and or you are instable in the Saddle / bike and perhaps the body and / or issues in the foot. Pelvis shifts forward to one side. Try the fixes find out what works for you. Those video’s cannot be complete, but are very helpfull Fot Manu rijders + nobody is the same.
I've actually had to swap to a 30 degree stem to make my CX bike fit me for riding gravel and road. An ordinary stem was fine for racing CX for an hour, but it's terrible for long distances.
@@eleycki For high medial arches you require a shoe with a larger toe drop. In the lake range something like the CX333 would be perfect or a shallower drop shoe like the CX238 with some decent custom insoles. The bigger issue will be whether your high arch creates a high volume mid foot which is slightly harder to solve. Shoes with lots of upper adjustment like the CX241 is great for that or lace up shoes also do a good job. There is actually a good video on this on our won youtube channel. If you want to chat in more depth get in touch on our website.
Unfortunately there are no really wide bike shoes that fit your foot well. In the video you can see, that his foot fits on the insole but only because his foot is already massively deformed by wearing to tight shoes over yeas. Look how his big toe ist bent to the inside. He has developed a nice halux valgus.
@@eleycki if your saddle is a long way back, you could try moving it forwards a bit. Do your knees track straight? If not it could be adjusting shoe angle, insoles to get better alignment? Bike Fitters could help diagnose.
@ thank you for the ideas. My saddle has always been fully forward anyway and I use the wedge insoles to help with supernation. All following a bike fit some time ago. Maybe I need another.
@@oliverrch5370 Back of the knee is often a sign that the posterior chain is over extended. Sounds like your distance from the BB is more than your flexibility can handle.
6:48 Bikes too long and low. Giant recently released an updated endurance bike (Defy) and made it longer and lower. So now its incredibly close to a TCR (Race bike) in reach and stack. Why?!? The geometry was perfect for last 3 generations. I love my old 2016 Defy but sadly, I bought a different brand endurance bike in 2024.
Sadly it is due to Giant recycling carbon moulds to save money after the covid down turn. Us fitters very much miss the days of bikes made from tubes and not moulds!
Watching this (and other bikefit channels) has made me realise that when buying a bike, you should be able to choose handlebar width, saddle, stem length, etc at point of purchase.
This is one of the reasons I hate the trend to one piece cockpits with fully internal cable routing. It makes adjustments time consuming and expensive.
Yea and forget about that option in 90% or maybe more places. From my experience you gotta become a bike mechanic or get a good one somewhere (if you even can), to set up your road bike properly.
Literally the best collection of simple no nonsense information from a bike fitters,bravo,thank you for sharing so openly 👍😎
Glad you liked it!
Thank you. What else would you like advice on?
Lee was great to listen too, very thorough and informative. I definitely learned a thing or two.
Great to hear!
Really good video on bike fit information. Thanks. Please keep it coming.
More to come!
Road cyclist here, your shoe advice is spot on. Just healing plantar faciatis, my foot doctor showed me the same fit techniques for my sneakers and road cycling shoes, all mine were to narrow. Just purchased new Fizik shoes in their wide and are a perfect fit, also have some Giro supernatural insoles on order. Enjoyed watching your video, fantastic advice on everything you discussed, especially the shoe fit!👍✌🏼
If this guy's bikefit shop was close by I would visit him immediately! Logical and no nonsense explanation, not trying to sell you anything, great stuff!
Thankyou. Dont let distance put you off. We have clients all over the UK and europe.
Just to share, I have had a bike fit, and would generally recommend it (especially shoes etc), but a lot of videos focus on fitting the bike to the person.
What I found solved getting back ache for me wasn’t stem-length etc. it was doing core exercises and stretching, and rotating my hips forward a bit (over-rotating gives lower back pain, and insufficient rotation gives neck/shoulder pain, but there is a pain-free sweet spot when my core is strong enough!).
Now I can ride longer-lower bikes (good for racing) and shorter higher bikes (good for enjoying the views / navigating traffic) in comfort.
I feel like there should be a bit more emphasis on making yourself strong and flexible so you can ride any bike, rather than trying to get one bike mm perfect…
What exercises are you doing for core? Something in particular, or just abs and such? I also feel that is my weakest point that prevents me for doing longer runs.
@ I bought the book “Core Advantage” by Tom Danielson.
I use it as a guide rather than following slavishly, but stretch most days and do a set of exercises for 20 mins probably 2-3 times a week on average.
I also focus on trying to cycle with good “form” or posture when I get tired.
Transformed my experience on 120km+ rides.
PS. I’m 49 and my bars are about 9cm below my saddle, so I’m in a semi-aero position, in case that helps.
We couldn't agree more. Take a look at the second tip in our last video with David
The insoles trick is clever. My bikefitter showed me that. My insoles were too narrow
Wow ...many thanks 👍👍👍
If you have outer foot pain, it doesn't mean the shoe is too narrow all the time. Your stance could be too narrow. If too narrow your feet tilt and you put pressure on those outer edges. It's a rabbit hole.
Absolutely. Its a very complicated field which most misunderstand. Its why we continue to invest in training and review academic research papers all of the time to stay up to date on all of the current studies.
Shoe width and / OR stance width (try spacer or shift cleats towards the bike) and/OR liftend big toe (varus fore foto angulation) = try wegde and / or cleats too far forward or weared out or position wrong (angle) and or you are instable in the Saddle / bike and perhaps the body and / or issues in the foot. Pelvis shifts forward to one side. Try the fixes find out what works for you. Those video’s cannot be complete, but are very helpfull Fot Manu rijders + nobody is the same.
Thanks!!! 👍
I've actually had to swap to a 30 degree stem to make my CX bike fit me for riding gravel and road. An ordinary stem was fine for racing CX for an hour, but it's terrible for long distances.
Great advice as previous vid :) Lake shoes are brilliant wouldn't buy another brand.. excellent for my flat feet :) Pete
Great to hear :)
What about best for high arches?
@@eleycki For high medial arches you require a shoe with a larger toe drop. In the lake range something like the CX333 would be perfect or a shallower drop shoe like the CX238 with some decent custom insoles. The bigger issue will be whether your high arch creates a high volume mid foot which is slightly harder to solve. Shoes with lots of upper adjustment like the CX241 is great for that or lace up shoes also do a good job. There is actually a good video on this on our won youtube channel.
If you want to chat in more depth get in touch on our website.
BUT...watch for cleat placement. My Lakes fit fine, but bikefitter recommended shoe plates to pull the cleat back.
Not all Lake use the same last, btw
Unfortunately there are no really wide bike shoes that fit your foot well. In the video you can see, that his foot fits on the insole but only because his foot is already massively deformed by wearing to tight shoes over yeas. Look how his big toe ist bent to the inside. He has developed a nice halux valgus.
Hi. Could I ask you to do a vid on knee pain? Specifically back of the knee? I haven’t been able to solve it!! Thanks.
pain at the back of the knee is often a sign that your saddle is too high and/or cleats are too far foreward.
@ agreed, despite having the same bike fit for 20 years continuously riding.
I changed my cleat and saddle position, but no luck.
Thanks.
@@eleycki if your saddle is a long way back, you could try moving it forwards a bit.
Do your knees track straight? If not it could be adjusting shoe angle, insoles to get better alignment?
Bike Fitters could help diagnose.
@ thank you for the ideas.
My saddle has always been fully forward anyway and I use the wedge insoles to help with supernation. All following a bike fit some time ago. Maybe I need another.
@@oliverrch5370 Back of the knee is often a sign that the posterior chain is over extended. Sounds like your distance from the BB is more than your flexibility can handle.
6:48 Bikes too long and low. Giant recently released an updated endurance bike (Defy) and made it longer and lower. So now its incredibly close to a TCR (Race bike) in reach and stack. Why?!? The geometry was perfect for last 3 generations. I love my old 2016 Defy but sadly, I bought a different brand endurance bike in 2024.
Because everyone wants to look like a pro! People WANT full on race machines. Put an "endurance" in marketing and sales will probably go down.
Sadly it is due to Giant recycling carbon moulds to save money after the covid down turn. Us fitters very much miss the days of bikes made from tubes and not moulds!
👍👍👍
What bar and stem combo is on that bike?
That is a custom painted Black Inc unit.
I thought bike fitters were meant to be SHOUTY
definitely not our style. The more we can educate the more you will get from your fit.