Do-it-yourself bike fitting - Using technology apps to achieve the optimum riding position on the bike

Pedalling powerfully and yet sitting as comfortably as possible - that is the goal of every road cyclist, which is why analysing and adjusting the riding position on a road bike - known as bike fitting - is something that occupies and accompanies many cyclists throughout their lives. Essentially, the aim is to correctly adjust the three contact points saddle, pedals and handlebars. The aim is to adapt the bike to the rider - and not the other way round.

Unfortunately, the reality is often different. As racing bikes are only adjustable to a very limited extent - the only easy adjustment is the seat height - many athletes adapt more or less to the bike. Then there are our visual habits: The handlebars should be lower than the saddle, so skyward-pointing stems that place the handlebars higher for everyone to see are frowned upon. Neither corresponds to the desired image of a sporty bike.

As a result, there is less experimentation with the seating position than would be desirable. That's a pity. Because with the help of a roller trainer and an angle-adjustable stem - simple models are available for as little as 25 euros - you can try out how changes to the riding position affect the pedalling sensation. Aesthetic reservations should not play a role here. Simply try it out in your own four walls to see what happens when you raise the stem three, four or five centimetres.

You can read how you can improve your self-analysis with technical aids in the PDF download.

Downloads:
download