Using Video Analysis to Optimize Bike Fit

Question

What can I expect from the video analysis of the bike fitting process, particularly regarding the handlebar position?

Answer 1

Recording yourself on a trainer can be quite useful especially when looking for specific riding postures. With the side view clips, you can even check out your shoulder position or some other details of your form which otherwise are ignored while riding the bike. This may help you determine whether your handlebars are too high or too low and correct them so that you have an optimal riding position.

Comments

I completely slammed my bar but I still get big neck pains on longer rides. I tried everything. Highest position, lowest position, increase seat height, decrease seat height, default stem length, 20 mm shorter. Luckily I am seeing a very reputable bike fitter in a few weeks because I'm done messing around myself even though these contents give me some kind of indication what might be wrong.

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I can´t help but think about the causation/correlation nd the cost/benefit aspects of bike fitting: some changes can help with confort but be detrimental in performance and the other way around, also, some adjustments are made to compensate muscular inbalances that can be tackled and improved with PT. I think sometimes people get fixated on short term or lower priority goals/issues: for example: someone who isn´t performing at their maximum, does not need to adopt an agressive position, but they´re bothered with the estetics so they try to adopt positions that they don´t require or are able to hold. In the case of handlebar height, I think there´s an issue related to all of this, in that the road bike geometry has a very specific purpose, and it´s performance, so many people would be better of using a MTB geometrywise.

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There's a channel called Kamaklang that just popped up, they've posted a copy of one of your earlier bike fit content "How to perform a simple bike fit at home".

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Used to ride a 60mm stem on my road bike. I corrected seat fore-aft and height using your content and feels great. Switched to 80mm stem which feels much more comfortable, but I notice medial rotation in my left leg (less on the right but it’s still there) when I assume a lower position, regardless of the reach (tried multiple lengths of stem). Is it my hamstrings that are too tight? Or my femur socket that’s crooked?

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Good content, but I had a question.

Being an aero nut, I've raised my bars on purpose to get more parallel arms and to raise my shoulders in exactly as Neil has described. So far, I don't have any discomfort. Is this something I should change? Or should I let it slide?

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How about finding a good fitter, ask question. A good bike fitter will answer and explain why they are making changes/adjustments.  Ride the position give the new changes  time. Follow up with the fitter. No question is a bad question.  Self fitting yourself is a mistake.