Professional Bike Fit: Is it worth it?

In my many years cycling, I’ve never bothered to get a professional bike fitting. Why? Hard to say. When I was younger I didn’t know they existed, but by the time I did I had already been cycling for years. I guess I felt like I already knew everything there was to know, and didn’t really think it would be worth the investment of time and money. Still - the more I rode, the more I began to realize even the slightest changes in my position on the bike could make a significant difference. This was especially true on long rides, when comfort (and power) was a high priority. I hated how much my back and neck would hurt a few hours into a ride, along with numb and aching hands. 

Not me. I wish I looked that good on a bike. 

My favorite podcast, Ask a Cycling Coach, would frequently talk about proper bike fit, and how you don’t
need to be uncomfortable on a bike. It took me a couple of years of listening to the podcast to be worn down enough to finally put my pride aside and schedule a professional fit. Still, there was a little twinge in the back of my mind – will I really learn anything from it?

After a bit of research, I settled on TRC Performance for my bike fit. It’s a locally owned small business run by a professional triathlete that offers coaching and bike fits as part of his side hustle. We agreed on a time and date for my fit, and before I knew it the day had arrived. 

Mike, the owner/operator of TRC Performance, greeted me outside his place and immediately grabbed my bike and started to look over it, leading me into his basement. I found myself in humbled awe at first – medals hung from hooks, jerseys pinned to the wall and plenty of bike paraphernalia scattered about. My first thought was this: this is for real athletes, not regular guys like me. Mike clearly knew what he was doing and I was in over my head. Fortunately, this feeling passed quickly. Mike was very welcoming and quickly made me feel at ease. 

Not knowing what to expect during a bike fit, I assumed I’d hop on the bike and start getting measured. Instead, Mike and I chatted for the first 45 minutes or so. We talked about what kind of riding I normally did, the events I enjoyed, and any issues I experienced while riding.

From there, we moved on to flexibility. I expected to fall short here as I rarely stretch (despite knowing fully well that I should do it regularly). Mike measured my hamstring and hip flexor mobility, and was already starting to guess what changes to my bike fit were needed based on my flexibility alone. He then measured my inseam, feet, and made adjustments to my cleats, ultimately making his first recommendation of the day: wider shoes. I certainly wasn’t surprised given the canoe paddles attached to my ankles. 

It was almost anti-climatic by the time I finally swung my leg over the saddle, but not because there was anything wrong. Actually, it was quite the opposite: I felt like I had already learned and done so much in my short time there that riding was almost an afterthought. Mike made quick adjustments to my saddle, to include swapping it out for one of his spares to test. He measured height, reach, bar width, and a host of other things I never would have thought of on my own. As I pedaled, Mike used special software to take a video and capture my position on the bike. Combined with his own expertise, he made more adjustments and helped show me how I should really be engaging with my bike. He determined that at minimum I needed a longer stem, and recommended shorter cranks. We briefly discussed sizing up to a larger frame so I could take advantage of a longer top tube, but for now I’m opting to adjust what I have to my body. He wasn’t pushy about his recommendations; instead he just gave me options to consider. After close to 3 hours we had finished the fit and I went on my merry way. 

Needless to say, a professional bike fit is much more than getting “close enough” with saddle height and calling it a day. This is about mating you to your bike in as precise a manner as possible with your goals and riding style at the forefront of the conversation. 

Mike was quick to follow-up with a bike fit report that had all of my recommended measurements in it and ordered a new, longer stem for me. He also let me hold on to his saddle to try for a few weeks. Since then we’ve been in contact a few times, with Mike checking in to make sure I still felt good about the adjustments he made. 

So, what’s the verdict? There’s really no question about it – a professional bike fit was well worth it for me. I’m much more comfortable in the saddle now, and even feel like I’m producing more power with less fatigue. Much of the discomfort I had previously experienced is gone, and overall I’m enjoying my time on the bike even more.

Does this mean everyone needs a professional fit? No. If you are a casual cyclist riding around your neighborhood, it probably isn’t necessary. But – if you are growing into the sport and plan on spending hours in the saddle, I’d highly recommend a professional fitting. It may even be worth consulting with a professional before you purchase a new bike to make sure you get the right size; good bikes aren’t cheap, so it’s never a bad idea to make sure you are spending your money wisely.