10 Reasons To Get A Bike Fitting
- Your hands get numb, your neck and back hurt, and/or you can't find a comfortable saddle.
- Other riders pass you effortlessly. You eat and sleep well, but you fatigue quickly on the bike.
- You're going on a multi-day bike tour in the Dolomites.
- Confidence: you want to improve your climbing, descending, sprinting.
- Your friends tell you that pain is a normal part of cycling: toughen up and deal with it.
- Basketball/running/tennis messed up your knees. You want to prevent further injury.
- You're a competitive cyclist trying to find a few extra watts.
- Five years post-op with a knee/hip replacement, you're getting back into riding. But your bike doesn't fit you anymore.
- You want to do a triathlon or Ironman, but just looking at a TT bike makes you wince.
- Life is short. Don't ride in pain.
3 Truths About Bike Fitting
- Some people are able to ride a stock bicycle, straight out of the box. Most people need a few adjustments to that stock bicycle. Others still will need a custom bicycle, like a tailored suit, made especially for them.
- We tailor your bicycle to your body to make you happy and comfortable on the bike for the desired length of time. However, if your frame is the wrong size, we won’t mince words.
- Riding exerts a stress on your body. Since your position on the bike is pretty stable during a ride, you’re effectively subjecting a few joints to repetitive stress injuries. Any improperly engaged muscles are improperly cycling 70-90x a minute without a chance for reprieve. Our goal is to prevent future injury, and to help you meet your cycling goals.
What's In A Bike Fit?
Next we discuss your relevant medical/injury history.
Then it's off to the feet, ankles, knees, hips, pelvis. We look at your range of motion, anything that may impede it, and take notes for posterity.
Now it’s time to get on the Retul fit bike. You’re pedaling and I’m observing: balancing what we saw and recorded earlier, your pre-existing complaints, and the reality of you on the bike.
Depending on the rider and needs, we’ll either deploy the 3D tracking, or we’ll skip it. Sometimes, the changes we make are so drastic, that it doesn't make sense (yet) to dive into the fine details.
I record your current ideal position, and assess your existing bike for compliance.
Usually I'll ask you to leave your bike at the shop for a day or two so we can make the necessary adjustments. We may change your bars, stem, saddle, seat post, and/or pedals. In some cases I'll make the changes right there during the fitting.
If you're getting a new bike, that process starts during the bike fitting. We'll discuss hopes, dreams and possibilities, send you out on some test rides, and ultimately put together a build for you.
Do some people need a custom frame? Absolutely. Imagine your bike’s three points of contact (bars, seat, pedals). Pedals stay fairly fixed, the seat has a decent range of adjustments via the seat post. But the handlebars can only move within a “strike zone” about 5 cm x 5 cm...so any stock frame has limitations.
For custom frames, we work with Parlee, Mosaic, Seven, and Gunnar.
FAQS
Why do so many fittings result in a high stem and an upright relaxed geometry???!!
If you’re 28-35 years old, in good physical condition, and with average proportions, and you're riding a bike meant, designed, produced and marketed to someone just like you, then of course you’re comfy. What about your riding buddy? He works 70 hours a week, never has time to stretch, his legs are slightly longer than average for his height. His seat needs to be higher for the longer legs, but now his T-Rex arms can’t reach the handlebars. Guess which rider will be comfy, and which rider will seek out a fitting? Those without issues seldom seek solutions.
What happens after the fit?
As your body gets used to the new position, and as you start doing some stretches, the fit will migrate (very predictably).
We suggest you visit us for a follow-up once you've road-tested the new position, so we can make tweaks based on that feedback.
What about triathletes?
Ironman tri fittings are interesting, a separate animal. Triathlon fittings are, by their nature, race fittings. We have hard parameters and easily measured success. And after you’ve ridden 112 miles at race pace, you now have to run a marathon. The goal of a good tri fit is to make you maximally efficient during your ride, making you aerodynamic without compromising your power output, and without burning out your running muscles. Oh yeah, you’ll be there for 5-8 hours, so we have to make sure you can actually stay tucked for that long. How’s your breathing? Is your knee tracking well? Can you negotiate a turn? Are you going to be able to walk tomorrow?
What does the process look like?
- At the end of your fitting, Ilya will go over his recommendations with you.
- If you have a bike that you want to keep riding: Ilya will go over what components he recommends changing on it. If he has them in stock, you'll have the option of leaving your bike with us for a few days. Otherwise, we'll schedule the work for a future date.
- If you are looking to buy a new bike: Ilya will advise you on what brand/model/size would work best for you, in terms of fit and riding style/goals, and discuss with you whether it's something he can source/build, or refer you to another shop.
- If you need a custom geometry: we build awesome custom bikes, currently working with Mosaic and Parlee. We have a few frames on hand for (almost) immediate gratification, otherwise, all frames are ordered specifically for the client.
- Components and installation are billed separately.
- After your fitting, Ilya will send you your fit numbers/drawing, as well as his recommendations for stretching and strengthening.
- Your fitting includes one complimentary follow-up appointment (30-45 minutes) within 1 year. Subsequent follow-up visits are $150.
How much does a bike fitting cost?
Standard Road Fit: $450
Takes 3-4 hours
Free with purchase of any custom frame.
Includes 1 follow-up appointment in the first year (30-45 minutes)
Subsequent follow-ups: $150 (30-45 minutes)
Triathlon Fit: $500
Takes 3-5 hours
Combination Road+Tri: $600
Typically takes FOREVER
Bike Fit Consult: $150
Does not include medical history, physical assessment (range of motion and flexibility), or cleat set-up.
We schedule bike fit consults at our discretion in cases where we feel we can help a rider in a short appointment (30-45 minutes). Typically, these are riders who are not clipping in.
Do I need cycling shoes for my fitting?
If you have cycling shoes and/or pedals, bring them.
If you don't have shoes and/or pedals yet, but you want to get them, we can help with that as part of your bike fitting.
We have Specialized and Fizik road and gravel/mountain shoes in stock, and we can order Shimano shoes.
We stock Speedplay and Shimano pedals, and can order others as needed.
We hope to bring in other brands in 2023-24.
I'm having a frame built by Vanilla / Horse / Topaz frame builder. They asked that I provide them with my fit numbers. What should I do?
We're happy to do a fitting and provide fit numbers to your frame builder.
If you're purchasing only a frame, we can build up the bike for you. Please contact us for a quote.
What kind of formal training do you have?
Ilya Nikhamin is the founder and fitter of Redbeard Bikes, where he's been fitting riders for 10+ years now.
He trained at the Serotta International Cycling Institute and at Specialized's Body Geometry (BG) Fit program.
He has been fitting cyclists since 2010.
How do I prepare for my fitting?
For best results: no hard workouts and/or long rides the day of, or the day before, your fitting.
For your fitting, please wear (or bring) cycling kit and shoes, whatever you normally wear when riding, and 1-2 filled water bottles.
When you arrive, please buzz us, we're in suite #1E. The intercom is to the left of the main door.
If you are running late, or if you have any questions, please text us at 718-858-2453, or reply to the Google calendar invite.
The closest train stop is the F train @ York Street.
Street parking is very limited (sometimes impossible, due to roadwork) so we recommend parking in one of the local garages. There's one at 100 Jay Street, and another at 20 Jay.
Check our Google calendar invite for details!