Dominik Schwaiger sounds like Darth Vader with pneumoconiosis - and that's exactly how he feels: the 26-year-old university graduate sits on his bike, wired up and covered in tubes, panting his lungs out. "430 watts" flashes on the display in front of him, while the lactate simmers in his legs. Schwaiger sweats for BIKE: as a guinea pig to find out whether bike fitting can bring a performance advantage. We had Dominik set up by three fitting providers: Radlabor, Specialized and Waytowin.
Can a good bike fitting make you faster - that's what BIKE wanted to know. To find out, we looked for a test candidate who was an ambitious cyclist but had not yet had a professional adjustment of the overall system of biker and bike. Dominik Schwaiger finished the BIKE Transalp in 15th place and has performance values that put him in the top ranks of marathons, but also problems such as patellar tendinitis in his knee. Schwaiger adjusts his bike himself. The 26-year-old trains on his physical weak points two to three times a week, but Schwaiger always had the feeling that he was not yet in tune with his bike. Our plan: to send the Munich-based rider to three providers with his own bike, set him up and have him complete two performance tests after each fitting.
The Fitter timetable
The three providers Specialized (fitter: Matthias Laar), Radlabor (fitter: Johannes Gesell) and Waytowin (fitter: Johanna Mohr) work along similar lines. Each fitting begins with an intake interview, followed by a measurement of Dominik's body measurements (height, leg length etc.), followed by a functional test. Only then do the fitters start adjusting the bike.
The admission interview
Before our guinea pig gets on the bike, all fitters have a kind of medical history interview. Questions are asked about old injuries, acute problems and bike discipline. The astonishing thing: There are hardly any differences in the question protocols. "The more I find out about an athlete, the more specifically I can adjust them," explains Matthias Laar from Specialized. The qualified sports scientist conducts the bike fitter training courses for Specialized - he is regarded as THE fitting guru of the US company.
The measurement
The second step involves measuring our test subject. Radlabor uses its own system, which measures the relevant points (joints) using a laser pointer. Specialized works with the Retül system, which transmits the data wirelessly. The Waytowin measuring station (from www.bike-Fitting.com) works classically with a measuring tape station. The results are entered manually into the surveying software. The advantage of all measurements: Incorrect postures are recorded in the still image. The programmes also calculate suitable frames and geometries in the event that your own bike proves to be unsuitable despite adjustments. However, Specialized only offers its own models. Waytowin and Radlabor draw from a large pool of bike manufacturers and their geometries.
The functional tests
The fitters use special tests to check the athlete's strength and mobility. Specialised and Waytowin work according to a fixed system of different exercises. Johanna Mohr (sports scientist) from Waytowin uses the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), an established functional test. She derives the setting from the data obtained and creates an individualised strength and mobility plan. "We see the fitting process as a two-part process: first the adjustment, then the optimisation of the body through training," says Mohr. Over the years, Specialized has developed its own procedure, which is strongly based on physiotherapeutic tests. The highlight: the fitter is shown every step on the computer. "For dealers to be able to offer a Specialized fitting, they have to have completed a training course with us," explains Matthias Laar. The programme then helps the bike dealers with the fitting. "But of course: the more experienced and the greater the fitter's anatomical background, the better the result." In the Radlabor test series, Johannes Gesell uses a wide variety of exercises. However, nothing is recorded, rather Gesell uses his knowledge as a sports scientist and state association trainer (triathlon) in Baden-Württemberg. "Every Radlabor branch has very well-trained staff (sports scientists) who are close to the research and receive ongoing training," says Gesell. The results of the functional tests: while Waytowin and Specialized found a clear restriction in the left hip, Gesell attested that the test subject was able to crosswalk (the feet are placed in front of each other when walking, not next to each other).
The fitting
Specialized and Radlabor work with a video analysis of the athlete on the bike, with Specialized using a special fitting bike and later transferring the data to the actual bike. Waytowin uses pressure measurement foils as a fitting tool. Due to the different systems, the fitting processes are different at the beginning: Gesell (Radlabor) and Lahr (Specialized) adjust the cleats under the shoes before our test subject sits on the bike. There is therefore no inventory of his initial settings. Only Waytowin records an inventory with the pressure measurement before the cleats are adjusted. "We always do this so that we can show the customer a clear before and after picture," says Mohr.
The further adjustment of the bike is done by approximation with all providers: A few millimetres are always adjusted (saddle, cleat, stem, etc.) and then measured. While Specialized and Radlabor adjust the position using angle settings and the athlete's movement patterns, Waytowin concentrates on optimising the pressure pattern on the foot. After around three hours, Dominik has his new bike geometry. You can read on the next page whether this results in an improvement in performance.
We have in BIKE 1/2018 Three different bike fitting providers and systems tested. An overview of three of the most exciting fitting experts in the MTB sector:
1st Specialised with the Retül system
The Americans are regarded as pioneers of bike fitting. Together with Dr Andy Pruitt, they managed to Specialisedto familiarise bikers with the need for perfect settings and ergonomic products. To this end, the Californians bought the Fitting company Retül. Retül develops devices that enable 3D measurement of movement. Relevant joint movements are recorded and graphically displayed using tracking software. The fitting results can be observed in real time using real-time measurements.
2. waytowin with Gebiomised measurement technology
The Munich-based company Waytowin uses pressure measuring soles from Gebiomised. Based on the pressure and the acting forces as well as the measurement of the left-right distribution, the fitter can recognise exactly how much energy is being applied to the pedal axle. However, measuring with pressure measuring foils is not easy and can be misinterpreted under certain circumstances. It is not for nothing that Gebiomized offers various fitting modules (similar to Specialized) so that the fitter can achieve reliable results.
3. bike lab with Smartfit system
Dr Björn Stapelfeld, founder of Bike labis considered to be one of the first to be able to measure pedalling forces. Radlabor's bike fitting system works in a similar way to Specialized's video software, although the tracking measurement is not quite as sophisticated. In addition, a wide variety of rider types can be simulated in advance (hobby bikers, marathon riders, etc.). After the fitting process, the customer receives a ring binder with various exercises for mobilisation and strengthening. At Radlabor, trained sports scientists are at work.
In the Overview table in BIKE 1/18 on page 100/101 some errors have crept in. You can download the corrected table free of charge in the download area below.
THE TEST RUN AFTER THE FITTING
What did the three bike fittings achieve? Our test run analyses the economy of the pedal stroke and maximum oxygen uptake.
We collected a lot of sweat, lactate and even more data sets after each fitter's set-up. We had previously checked Dominik's starting position and his performance using spiroergometry. The result after several test runs showed that Schwaiger was riding very uneconomically: According to the pressure measurement soles, the left-right distribution of forces was 65% to 35%. We tested various resistances to get an accurate picture of the pressure distribution. Before each new fitting, the bike and cleats were returned to the starting position and a new baseline measurement was taken. The pedalling test measurements were taken at three loads: Base pace, sweet spot (faster GA2 pace) and development zone (the pace Dominik hits on the climbs of a marathon). We also looked at how effectively the power was transferred to the pedals. To do this, we measured force application points. The less deflection these points have, the more harmonious the pedalling and, in Dominik's case, the better the left-right balance.
Dominik's maximum relative oxygen uptake at the initial measurement was 72 (ml/min/kg). The result changed to 75 after Radlabor's adjustment, and the balance of left and right improved to 57/43. The results from Specialized's head of teaching Laar and sports scientist Johanna Mohr from Waytowin were clearer. Both achieved a more homogeneous picture (Specialized 54 / 46, Waytowin 52 / 48). Of course, it should be mentioned that Mohr was also able to measure with pressure measurement foils. The VO2max test, which showed a clear correlation between optimised pedalling and oxygen uptake, was exciting. Schwaiger achieved 78 (ml/min/kg). But is this also noticeable on the trail and especially on the mountain? According to Schwaiger, yes (he did not know beforehand which result was the best). His statement: With the higher position and the cleat position of Waytowin, he rode up the climb more relaxed. The seat height (Specialized and Waytowin are very similar) was agreed by the majority. The cleat position was interpreted slightly differently by everyone, although here too Specialized and Waytowin were similar.
ConclusionAll three settings optimised Schwaiger's performance. Waytowin's result was slightly better. The advantage lies in the company's measuring system (it shows the forces applied) and in Johanna Mohr, who worked a lot with this system during her studies. This made the result of Lahr, who optimised the setting with good functional tests, all the more astonishing. Radlabor scored with very good explanations during the fitting itself - here the correlations between performance development and position were explained best.
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