Diasporal Alpen Challenge: Bike fitting and training

Together with Magnesium Diasporal, TOUR not only enables the team to participate, but also to prepare with performance diagnostics, bike fitting and training planning. The performance diagnostics took place in February, the bike fitting a little later and the training plans began in March. We are in regular dialogue with the team. Now, after around six weeks of training, it's time for an update.

Bikefitting

We went to ergonomics specialist SQlab in Taufkirchen near Munich for the bike fitting. Uli Plaumann and Till Drobisch took a good two hours to optimise Nina and Oliver's riding positions. In addition to bike fitting, SQlab also provides the team with cycling shorts and saddles.

• Oliver gets the SQ-Short One12 and
• Nina the SQ-Short One12 Women

It was Oliver's first bike fitting, Nina had been to a fitting a few months ago with a different bike. Nina's approach was "there's not much you can do to my bike with the handlebar-stem unit anyway". But Uli Plaumann knows more, because she has the same bike herself and knew that although it looks like one unit, it can be swapped. After the fitting, Nina immediately ordered a narrower handlebar.

Saddle height and saddle position

Before getting on the bike, the cleat position on the shoes is checked and adjusted. Then it's onto the bike. The pressure measurement reveals that the pressure on Oliver's saddle is distributed differently. In order to distribute the pressure better, they decide to try a SQlab saddle with an Active module so that they can sit more comfortably on the long distances. So the SQlab 612 Active is fitted. Another pressure measurement shows that the pressure peaks are lower and the pressure is more evenly distributed. Before replacing the saddle, Nina notices that the pressure is quite high at the front of the saddle. The new saddle is positioned further forwards. "Maybe we should move the saddle down a little," says the bike fitting specialist. After some testing and measuring, a good position is also found for Nina. She now also sits on the 612 Active saddle.

Handlebars

After the saddle position, we move on to the handlebars. Oliver currently rides a 420 millimetre wide handlebar, 400 or even 380 millimetres would be better. At home, Oliver will fit a narrower handlebar. Nina is also advised to swap her handlebars for narrower ones. She will follow this recommendation later - she is currently eagerly awaiting the delivery from Cannondale with a shorter stem and handlebars. The stem will arrive in the next few days, but the handlebars are still weeks away.

After the handlebar width, the tilt of the handlebars and the positioning of the hoods were optimised.

What is the new seating position like?

We are keen to know how Nina and Oliver are getting on with the new riding position and the new saddles. So we asked them. "We'll only ride the bikes again when it's warmer and we can do faster bike training sessions," says Nina, "but we've transferred the riding position to our other bikes." Nina also bought the saddle again to get used to it on the other bike. "Oliver isn't sensitive to it, he won't have any problems," says Nina, assessing her partner. It's a different story for her. Previously, her pressure peaks on the saddle were in the vulva area. Now her body has to get used to the pressure under her sit bones. "To be honest, I currently have sitting problems," she confesses. The pressure is no longer at the front, but further back. It is possible that the tissue under the sit bones first has to get used to sitting here and not on the soft tissue at the front.

Training plan

Around two weeks after the performance diagnostics at pro-formance the Diasporal Alpen Challenge team received the training plans. And was ... disappointed. That needs explaining. The first few weeks consisted mainly of basic training - and less volume than Nina and Oliver are used to. "I'm in dialogue with Steffi because I'm bored. I have to get through it now, she says," reports Nina Helbig after the first week of training. Now, around four weeks later, she says "it's got better" and is looking forward to 4 x 8-minute intervals.

Generally speaking, the training plan is less extensive than Nina and Oliver are used to. That was too expect in terms of annual kilometres of the two. The training plan doesn't allow for two long rides at the weekend, especially not as long as Nina would like. But training planning is always geared towards a goal, and a preference for the long distance doesn't always fit in. Adaptation is required. Most of the time, the Diasporal Alpen Challenge team, which will complete the TOUR Transalp to the training plan. However, there are also exceptions, such as a 200-kilometre tour that they have squeezed in between.

Intervals are usually completed on the Smart Trainer, while the basic sessions are done outside. On a 4.5-hour basic ride, which was part of the training plan, we travelled through the Harz Mountains. There were a few metres of altitude to collect and Nina and Oliver also marvelled at the Mansfeld mine railway.

"I'm just really excited to see how it works and what comes out of the tour," says Nina about the training and the training plan. We can only agree, we are just as excited.

The Challenge Partner

Together with Magnesium-Diasporal we, TOUR, are realising the Alpen Challenge. Magnesium-Diasporal is a brand of Protina Pharmazeutische GmbH. Protina develops, distributes and manufactures high-quality mineral preparations as medicines and food supplements.