Bike Fit: How To

If The Bike Fits—Buy It

How to find the right frame and make adjustments for endless comfort

Joe Lindsey (Photo by )While there is no universal method for fitting a bicycle to the rider, fit theories do agree on most things, and proper training and equipment help bike-shop workers and fitters do their job consistently well. You'll have an easier time shopping if you know a few benchmark measurements.

Start with figuring your frame size and seat height, and then, when you have the bike, determine your proper cleat placement, saddle position and handlebar reach, in that order.

Reach to Handlebar

This is the most variable of all measurements, as it depends greatly on your flexibility. You want a slight angle at the elbow when your hands are on the hoods or drops, but you shouldn't force yourself to bend double to get it. On a new bike, ask the shop to leave the steerer tube long and add 2 inches of spacers under the stem. Move the spacers above or below the stem to fine-tune your fit, and have the shop cut the steerer later, if needed.

Frame Size

In socks, place a thin hardcover book, spine up, between your legs with about the same upward pressure a saddle produces. Measure your inseam, from the book's spine to the floor, in centimeters. Multiply that number by 0.65; the result is your approximate road frame size. For example, 81cm x 0.65 = 52.65-a 52 or 53cm frame (sizes are the seat-tube length). Note that compact sizing uses a virtual seat-tube length, so don't go by the stated size unless it has the same virtual size. To convert to inch sizing, divide by 2.54. For mountain bikes, subtract 10-12cm from your road size.

Saddle Position

The front of your forward knee should be directly over the ball of your foot when the pedal is at the 3 o'clock position. Check this with a plumb line. If the line doesn't pass the front of the pedal axle, move your seat forward or back on the rails until it does. Your seat should be level, or point at most a couple of degrees up or down. Check it with a carpenter's level.

Seat Height

Your knee should have a slight bend in it at the bottom of your pedal stroke. (The bottom is when the crankarm is parallel to the seat tube, not perpendicular to the ground.) To check this, in cycling shoes, pedal unclipped with your heels on the pedals. You should barely maintain contact with the pedal at the bottom of the stroke, without rocking your pelvis. Measure the distance between the bottom bracket and the top of the seat. This is your seat height. It should be very close to the product of your inseam (in centimeters) multiplied by 0.883.

Cleat Placement

Mount your cleats on your shoes so that the ball of your foot is directly over the pedal spindle for maximum power transfer. Unless you have an unusual stride or stance (splayfoot, etc.), point the tips of the cleats at the tips of the shoes for a neutral pedaling stance to start out. Pay attention to your pedaling style on the first couple of rides and adjust as needed-this is one place where professional fit advice may be worth the cost to help avoid injury.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bikeshare.ie registration kicks off with a €5 per city discount

November 11, 2014 · by Cian Ginty · in News

– Leap card to work with bike share in Cork, Limerick and Galway

Registration for the regional bike share systems in Cork, Limerick and Galway has opened at Bikeshare.ie with a €5 per city discount until the end of 2014.

As of yesterday, the official site of the cities’ bike share schemes said that the “go live” dates for the cities are as follows: Galway on November 24, Limerick on December 8, and Cork on December 18.

Many people who cycle in the cities had hoped that the annual subscription would cover all three cities, but the cost will be €5 per city up to the end of the year, and €10 per city if you register after the new year. Three-day tickets are to cost €3, and the pay-per use charges for all users mirrors the pricing with DublinBikes, which is as follows:

First ½ hour No Charge

Up to 1 hour €0.50

Up to 2 hours €1.50

Up to 3 hours €3.50

Up to 4 hours €6.50

Every extra ½ hour €2.00

If you register for an annual subscription, a welcome pack should be posted to you with a subscription card, a welcome letter, and a leaflet outlining the scheme.However, according to the website, you will be able to load more than one city subscription to a single card, and the FAQ section of the website says that users will be able to load their subscriptions onto Leap cards.

It is expected that iPhone and Android applications will be available “when the scheme goes live”.

UPDATE: Frank O’Donnell, general manager, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland said: “We are delighted to be in a position to help bring the Coca-Cola Zero Bikes Scheme to Galway, Limerick and Cork. Our investment in Coca-Cola Zero Bikes is part of our wider commitment to help encourage active healthy lifestyles and we hope this scheme will enable more people integrate cycling into their everyday lives, with the option of a healthier and happier commute.”

Officially, the new network of public bikes is named “Coca-Cola Zero Bikes”, not to be confused with “Coca-Cola Zero DublinBikes” — both schemes are partly funded by sponsorship from Coca-Cola. To advoid confusion and long-windedness, IrishCycle.com will be referring to the new public bike share schemes as the Bikeshare.ie scheme or the regional bike share scheme.

Hi there !

Welcome to Midwestcycles, Limerick's only door2door bicycle repair company. We setup business in 1998 under the company name of crosscycles. We offer door to door bicycle repairs and competitive prices that make bicycle repairs affordable. In addition we stock a wide range of bicycles that suit every need from racing bikes to hybrids and a large range of affordable childrens bikes.

Feel free to contact me on 085-1490163.

Thanks

Tony