NEW 3rd EDITION!

Bike Fit

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by Arnie Baker, M.D. Contents Excerpt Delivery

$19.95 eBook Argo Publishing 123 pages 118 photos & illustrations PDF file size: 9 MB

Also by Arnie Baker, M.D.

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BIKE FIT is now updated for 2008 with 43 pages of new information along with 32 additional photos and illustrations.

BIKE FIT, the 3rd edition, is now the most comprehensive resource on bike size, bike setup & riding position available anywhere in any format!

Author Arnie Baker, M.D., a veteran coach and multi-time U.S. cycling champion, shares his expert's knowledge of the key catalysts for maximum cycling performance: choosing the correct frame size and then establishing a comfortable, efficient and powerful riding position.

Check the Table of Contents to see the amazing scope of this eBook! If something can impact your riding position and cycling performance, it's covered in BIKE FIT.

BIKE FIT contains 118 color photos and illustrations to bring Coach Baker's advice to life. These visuals help you clearly understand his fit concepts and those of other experts, then easily apply the principles to your own bike and body. Plus, 18 tables and charts detail precision fit parameters to help you nail your ideal bike size and optimum riding position.

Beyond basic fit and riding position, Coach Baker covers important topics such as biomechanical imbalances and critical factors related to pedal and foot orientation. He also helps you troubleshoot a variety of injury problems related to improper fit.

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What's new in the 3rd Edition? Plenty – and you won't find it anywhere else! Here's the lowdown from Coach Baker . . .

“Throughout this new edition, I note not only my opinions but whether they are based on tradition and conventional wisdom, my experience as a coach for two decades, logic, or scientific study.

“I put the important information first in every section. Then I provide details for those interested in becoming real students of bike fit.

“I offer much more information into the behind-the-scenes debates of other experts. I also show that some traditional advice really has no basis, and that there are many options that may allow riders to ride more comfortably and with greater performance, or treat an overuse injury.”

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BIKE FIT emphasizes road bikes but includes all the info needed to do the job on mountain bikes too. Simply put, this is the most comprehensive fit guide available. It will be a valuable resource for your entire cycling career.

The author has coached racers to several Olympics, 30 U.S. records and 80 U.S. championships. He has written or co-written 14 cycling books and more than 750 articles. On the bike, he is a category 1 racer who has set eight U.S. 40K time trial records and won more than 200 races, including multiple national championships. He practices what he preaches in this and every Arnie Baker eBook and eArticle carried by RBR.

In this excerpt from page 85, Coach Baker discusses a physical imbalance almost everyone has -- and how to determine if it should be corrected to improve cycling comfort and performance.

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EXCERPT: Leg-Length Discrepancy

What We’re Talking About

 Many riders have legs of different lengths. This usually doesn’t cause problems, especially if the difference is slight. However, leg-length discrepancy can be a cause of leg or back discomfort or of recurrent one-sided saddle sores.

Difference in foot size can also cause the functional equivalent of a leg-length discrepancy.

Traditionally, differences less than 1/4 inch (or 6 mm) are not considered significant. Some have claimed that differences of as little as 1/8 inch (or 3 mm) are significant.

Although some theorize that correcting leg-length discrepancy results in a more effective pedal stroke, there are no published studies showing that correcting leg-length discrepancy improves power or aerobic economy (metabolic cost).

Shims, other devices, and cleat positioning can correct for leg-length discrepancy and can help these discomforts.


Measuring and Evaluating Leg Length

Leg-length differences can be in the upper leg (femoral) or in the lower leg (tibial).

Physicians traditionally determine leg length by measuring the distance from the pelvis to the ankle -- specifically, the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to the medial malleolus.

X rays (scanograms) can be used to measure the length of the legs more accurately.

It’s easy to quickly eyeball and measure upper and lower leg-length differences:

Sit the rider with the back flat against a hard-backed chair, feet on the ground. Place a straightedge in front of the anterior (forward) protrusion of the kneecaps -- point A in Figure 60. If an upper leg-length discrepancy is present, the straightedge will not be level against the knees.

When the straightedge is level against the longer leg, the distance to the straightedge from the shorter leg is the upper length discrepancy. Differences of a few millimeters are usually insignificant.

Place a straightedge on the superior (top) part of the knee -- point B in Figure 60. If a lower leg-length discrepancy is present, the straightedge will not be level on the knees.

When the straightedge is level against the longer leg, the distance to the straightedge from the shorter leg is the lower length discrepancy. Differences of a few millimeters are usually insignificant.

(Continuing on page 87 of BIKE FIT, Coach Baker explains when a leg length discrepancy should be corrected, how much correction to make, and how to do it.)

 

 

 

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TOC: Bike Fit (3rd Edition)

Acknowledgments About the Author Disclosure Table of Contents Just How Important is Bike Fit? How I Know -- The Basis for Advice Rules of Thumb Summary Part 1: FRAMES Size Top Tube Length Seat Tube Angle Crankarm Length Custom Bikes Part 2: BIKE POSITIONING Principles Seat Height Seat Position Fore-Aft Saddle Shape & Angle Foot/Pedal Fore-Aft Foot/Pedal Rotation Angle Foot/Pedal Float Foot/Pedal Side-to-Side Handlebars Brake Levers Handlebar Angle Handlebar/Stem Height Torso Angle / Reach Shoulder Angle Stems Style Differences Summary Part 3: SPECIALTY RIDING Time Trialing Climbing Sprinting Tandem Riding Mountain Biking Specialty Differences Summary Part 4: ANATOMICAL CONSIDERATIONS General Leg-Length Discrepancy Arm-Length Discrepancy Part 5: KNEE ALIGNMENT Knees-In Style Knees-Out Style Q-Factor -- Stance Width Windswept Style Waterfalling Predicting Pedaling Style Part 6: WEDGES, SHIMS, PEDAL SPACERS, ORTHOTICS, CUSTOM SHOES Wedge and Shims Pedal/Stance Spacers and Extenders Orthotics Custom Shoes Part 7: PEDAL STANCE WIDTH, STACK HEIGHT, DROPPED PEDALS Pedal Stance Width Cleat Width Pedal Stack Height Dropped Pedals Position-Related Part 8: HANDLING & OVERLAP Part 9: ACHES & PAINS Part 10: ARNIE'S DIFFERENCES Part 11: ALMOST FINAL WORDS Figured Your Bike Position? APPENDIX A:  Anatomy Glossary Angles and Leg Length Directions, Movements and Planes Bones and Landmarks, Pelvis and Leg Muscles, Hip and Leg APPENDIX B:  UCI Bike/Fit Rules APPENDIX C:  ABC Publications Excerpt