Proper Fit! Mighty Rider is Mighty!

[Nat Bailey]

Well, that was money well spent. Thanks old_school_n00b for the fit today. Ran it for an hour up and around QE and Nat Bailey stadium (wanting to stay close in case of probs), but it was great. The 130 stem makes descending corners interesting, but I'll adjust. Made sure I kept brushing inside leg/knee against top tube, and worked really hard on keeping back flat and elbows bent. Plus, my junk didn't go to sleep. Obviously, at my age, I need all the blood I can spare to flow to that area.

In general, the fit feels right, and I'm going to take it for the UBC/YVR/Steveston/#6 loop first thing tomorrow. I appreciate that the bike is now stretched to the max for that frame size, and a 59 would be better than a 56. Looking back, I have to say I am NOT impressed by the original fit/set up I got at Dizzy on 4th. It's evident that their fit 'expert' really didn't give a shit. I'm guessing his qualifications were shaved guns and Euro accent. After a couple or rides, I raised my post a good inch on my own. I was still getting locked arms and pressure on the wrist etc. I knew the fit wasn't there (it's not like I'm new to cycling LOL), and intended to go back and get it sorted.

But meh. Dizzy? West side? So I came across Mighty Rider because their next door girlfriend, On the Rivet, sells roadie clothes that come in black. And don't have words on them. Or logos. Baggy Roach shorts and a Skates hoodie were not working for me on the road.

Anyway, our new game studio is now in that hood, so they're both now my LBS. Classic LBS 'tude the first time I went in: they assumed I wanted to "borrow" two zip-ties to hold down the milk crates on my binner-bike, and to turn my drops upside down or something LOL. I was all like - oh look, beards and flannel. Once we got over the stereotypes, I've been VERY happy with the products and service (once they realized I wasn't a total n00b).

I'll start saving for a larger Ridley frame (and maybe Force gruppo) in the meantime. Loving road riding, and we'll see how they do with my old Ritchey Timberline's drive train. Unless they turn it into a fixie and put fake alleycat cards in the spokes, I may have found a go-to bike shop (finally).

Nat

[Zedbra]

glad your nuts are supported to your liking

[morgman]

Originally Posted by Nat Bailey

Classic LBS 'tude the first time I went in: they assumed I wanted to "borrow" two zip-ties to hold down the milk crates on my binner-bike, and to turn my drops upside down or something LOL. I was all like - oh look, beards and flannel. Once we got over the stereotypes, I've been VERY happy with the products and service (once they realized I wasn't a total n00b).

This describes both Nick and Mighty Riders quite well. Idiosyncratic no doubt, but you get treated well by people who are actually passionate about fit. I wouldn't go anywhere else for fit, and actually refer friends to get a frame buying decision OK'd by Mighty before buying at another shop.

[Nat Bailey]

Ride report: so 2:30 on the new fit; from East Van past Nat Bailey x-town to UBC, SW Marine East to Arthur Laing, past YVR, out to Steveston, along river, Finn's, over Deas tunnel, Steveston hwy to #6, up #6 to River Rd, west to Canada Line bridge, up Cambie to QE, then Nat Bailey, east on 33rd past Fraser. 70KM.

Mostly good. Hands starting going to sleep on #6 Rd, maybe 1:50 in. I can see why Nick and crew suggested frame was small - I agree.

Anyway, longer pedal stroke = +3kph average. Also, biggest difference was flat back from bending at the hips, not rounding back. In retrospect, probably smarter for me to have gone out for a half dozen 90 minute rips before this one, but this weather is insane.

I'll keep working on my form. If you're going to get your bike fit, go to Mighty.

Nat

[counterpoint]

I'm still trying to convince the wife that I'm going to need the new steel Volagi Viage next month from Mighty.

[old_school_n00b]

Originally Posted by Nat Bailey

Classic LBS 'tude the first time I went in: they assumed I wanted to "borrow" two zip-ties to hold down the milk crates on my binner-bike, and to turn my drops upside down or something LOL. I was all like - oh look, beards and flannel. Once we got over the stereotypes, I've been VERY happy with the products and service (once they realized I wasn't a total n00b).

Thanks for a great session, Ian, and welcome to Slamsville, population: you!

Once we'd gotten over the initial "Oh God, here comes the 50-year-old MTB guy on a too-small Specialized. Break out the 35-degree ste... HOLY SHIT, IT'S A FILLET-BRAZED RITCHEY!" conundrum, we got down to exploring the limits of what positioning Mr. Bailey could handle, which as it turned out, was PRO as fuck. It's always a pleasure to work with a development-minded rider - even more so when they regale you with ex-shop-employee tales of making the lead singer of Loverboy go get them a milkshake, or insist on bringing you a six-pack of Parallel 49 while you swap out their stem, which mysteriously incurs its own price drop in the process. ;-)

I'll start saving for a larger Ridley frame (and maybe Force gruppo) in the meantime.

The Ridley Fenix with Ultegra Di2 is doable for $4K this season. Instantaneous shifting that sounds like an angry robot and never needs adjustment: the lineup forms to the left, gentlemen!

[old_school_n00b]

Originally Posted by morgman

This describes both Nick and Mighty Riders quite well. Idiosyncratic no doubt, but you get treated well by people who are actually passionate about fit. I wouldn't go anywhere else for fit, and actually refer friends to get a frame buying decision OK'd by Mighty before buying at another shop.

Originally Posted by morgman

You know what the difference is between Mighty and other shops? Other shops don't have guys that lie awake in bed at night thinking about fit.

My girlfriend once caught me talking in my sleep about shortening a stem to 80mm. I may have a problem.

[old_school_n00b]

Originally Posted by Nat Bailey

Hands starting going to sleep on #6 Rd, maybe 1:50 in.

Need details, we fix. PM me, call me at the shop, or email me at mightybuilds at gmail dot com!

[old_school_n00b]

Originally Posted by counterpoint

I'm still trying to convince the wife that I'm going to need the new steel Volagi Viage next month from Mighty.

Any company that survives Specialized trying to sue it out of existence is worth a look for sure, and the whole disc-equipped road sport/adventure/gravel/Fondo genre is going to blow up this year. Good to see a scrappy upstart secure crowdsourced Kickstarter funding, and that the Viage won't be consigned to the dustbin of Interbike vapourware!

[Nat Bailey]

Originally Posted by old_school_n00b

Need details, we fix. PM me, call me at the shop, or email me at mightybuilds at gmail dot com!

Will do, man. And thanks.
The wife has an appointment for fit on Monday at 10:15AM.
Super good work, and much appreciated.

[switch]

Please explain more.

What's involved in a fitting, how long does it take, and what's an average cost?

[Nat Bailey]

Originally Posted by switch

Please explain more.

What's involved in a fitting, how long does it take, and what's an average cost?

old_school_n00b should speak from the fitter's perspective, but from the fittee's POV, it was 90minutes well spent, and $60 an hour sans parts of course.

Arrive with bike, cleats and shorts. They set you up on a roller and you spin. They video you front and side. Eyeball your position on the bike, maybe take some measurements. You get off the bike, and look at some Youtube clips of pro riders and how they are positioned, along with explanation of why/how they're doing things. You look at the videos of yourself in comparison, and you feel shame.

In my case, my bike started to be taken apart. An adjustable fitting stem was put on, so that angle and length could be tweaked. Seat position, seat post height and even type of saddle adjusted. Good questions about feeling in wrists, your junk etc. You get back on and ride. Adjustment, ride, repeat. I ended up losing a headtube spacer, gaining a 130mm stem, about 60mm in seat post height and a purple test saddle that I will order officially now that I've got 200km on the new fit (rode out and around Fort Langley via Pitt and Golden Ears - nice ride btw).

Bio-mechanically, it makes no sense to get on a premium bike and not have it set up for you. I've since seen people who have invested far more $$$ in bikes and gear that just don't fit their rig. Once you've seen you can't unsee, kind of thing. Inner knowledge. Next level shit, so to speak.

I'll go back this week at some point and see if I can tweak my wrists; still getting some numbness in hands. Minor though, compared to before. I actually feel like I went on my "first" real road ride after this fitting, despite having been riding most of the summer.

Nat

[morgman]

Originally Posted by Nat Bailey

I'll go back this week at some point and see if I can tweak my wrists; still getting some numbness in hands. Minor though, compared to before. I actually feel like I went on my "first" real road ride after this fitting, despite having been riding most of the summer.

This could be a side effect of your new position. More weight on the hands means you have to focus on keeping the core engaged: elbows bent, hands not resting on the bones of your wrists. Your muscles will adapt to the new position over time but in the meantime you may experience some discomfort. Of course Nick (and Mighty) want to be a part of your fit process, so you are welcome to go back and chat whenever you need.

[old_school_n00b]

Originally Posted by switch

What's involved in a fitting, how long does it take, and what's an average cost?

Ask 10 fitters a question, and you'll get 20 different answers. Our approach at Mighty eschews buying into anyone's fitting system in favour of a more integrated, observational approach that's even been referred to as "holistic" by some of our clients. We view fit and form as two sides of the same coin, our so our goals are to eliminate pain on the bike via addressing the client's particular physiology, athletic background, and injury history, then make the client comfortable on the bike, and then finally build a platform for long-term rider development while coaching our clients on proper riding technique. We also view fit as dynamic; it's an ongoing conversation with our clients, and periodic re-fits happen as the rider's form develops and they're able to achieve a more aggressive position on the bike.

Budget at least an hour for a proper re-fit on an existing bike. We charge $60 labour for the session, and your mileage may vary when it comes to the necessary components that need to be swapped in.

[old_school_n00b]

Originally Posted by Nat Bailey

Bio-mechanically, it makes no sense to get on a premium bike and not have it set up for you. I've since seen people who have invested far more $$$ in bikes and gear that just don't fit their rig. Once you've seen you can't unsee, kind of thing.

Form, in and of itself, costs nothing, but it's the only thing that will make you truly look and feel like a million bucks on the bike!