Hey Guys I Was wondering where do someone goes to learn to fit bikes…
/me smells a troll…
Troll or not… it’s still a fairly valid question (minus the poor grammar) and one that I would like to know the answer to. I know that slowman used to (and may still) run clinics on FIST fits, but how does one learn about these? If he doesn’t still run clinics where else could one go?
Where do you learn?
Everywhere.
There are quite a number of schools that provide a structured curriculum. Those are great starting places.
A drawback to any one particular school is that, in and of itself, it may provide only one perspective, one technique, one approach. Now, that may be enough depending on your requirements or level of interest, but it is far from a complete overview into the available information on bicycle fitting.
Also, the techniques and practices of bicycle fitting are constantly changing, constantly evolving and in constant controversy. There is no definitive resource or curriculum for becoming a “Master Bike Fitter”.
I liked Dan’s article on how to assess a bike fitter’s qualifications.
This is some insight on how I learned what I know about fitting, and I learn new things nearly every day.
Now, as is typical of an internet forum, I will be raked over the coals and competeing shops and personalities posting under vague usernames will spend the next 3,000 views and 70 posts to this thred to try to discredit me.
That is part of it too in the internet age.
http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/wheels/bio.shtml
We learned at the USA Olymp. Training Center in CSprings and the NTC in Clermont but it really is up to the individual to keep up with reading and continuing education. Experience is also a big plus obviously. I know of a few road fitters out there that just don’t understand the tri side of things and vice versa. It helps to become proficient in fitting both road and tri!
Start with the basics of road bike fit. Here is a good place to begin:
http://www.coloradocyclist.com/bikefit/
Do a google search and you’ll find lots of good sites on the net dealing with road bike fit.
For tri bikes start by reading all Dan’s articles on the Slowtwitch main page. Then read Tom Demerly’s articles on his BikeSport web page.
This will get you off to a very good start.
Confused about bike fit?
There is a man, some say a God, others just a “god”, who lives in these hills. Some say only a wizard. Some say just a slick marketer. A grifting hype-meister. If you make a pilgrimage there and find him, and he is not shit-faced drunk or watching porno, or making prono, and you bring a gift of women or liquor or crack, or perform certain profane acts he may bestow bike fit knowledge upon you.
First you have to labor in the yards and learn humility.
You may have to house sit his dogs. Pulling dog duty is not that bad. The dogs are very nice and plentiful.
But be careful not fall down or show fear or weakness.
You will participate in classes with others who have come to see the wizard.
The Wizard says, “How can you think to ride a bike, unless you can first ride a person?”
When I first went to this fabled land, this is how my bike fit.
After paying attention in class, a lot of yard work and dog-sitting, and some tinkering…
I rode out of Xantusia like this…
pure gold! … this could be a top selling children’s book, titled “The monkey and the wizard”.
Now *that *is huge! Five stars *****.
The tequila, Monk…you forgot the tequila…
Other than that, you’ve got to stop before you kill one of us with laughter.
http://www.serotta.com/pages/school.html
thats where Monk went…now he is an expert!
Monk, excellent summary of the Xantusia experience.
This was too much work to let die over the weekend.
Agreed.