Make Your Bike Fit

Get bike fitting tips from Bicycling magazine's maintenance and repair video series. The online bike repair videos and tips help you get the most out of do it yourself bike repair and bike maintenance at home.

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[TheSnuzzle]

I keep seeing all these bike fit videos refer to the "fore and aft" position of the seat... what does that refer to? The angle of the seat? I know what the words fore and aft mean but what do they mean in reference to a bicycle seat? :s

[skidmarkcat]

wow...that wasn't awkward

[FormulaDStock]

@42dunbar That's what you "think." It's a fact and common knowledge that spinal flexion is not healthy for the spine. Search for studies on spinal biomechanics for proof. This posture is already identified as a risk factor for intervertebral herniation. Maintaining good posture is mainly important for injury prevention. This is why low back pain is a big complaint among even elite cyclists. Lance can't ride with a flat back because the surgery he had prevents him from reaching neutral.

[42dunbar]

@FormulaDStock I think the idea in bike fitting that the back should be flat is arbitrary and simplistic. Look at Lance Armstrong, he rides with a curve to spine and seemed do OK in his professional career.

[MrFisherdad]

Nice tip but if your going to have an ass in your face it should be a hot babe!

[FormulaDStock]

You're completely wrong at 1:24. How can you look at his back and say that it is relatively flat? The thoracic spine should have slight lordosis (extension), but his back is doing the complete opposite- it's kyphotic (flexed)! I wouldn't be surprised if Mike already experienced pain related to this. Take a look at his sitting posture at 2:37- he still has the same postural deficiencies! There are two components of a bike fit, body and bike. Todd missed the body completely.