Why get a Bike Set Up?

We aim to create a cycling environment that looks at YOU, not just your bike.  Too often we see cyclists in aggressive positions that their bodies aren’t able to sustain.  This ultimately results in fatigue and injury.  We aim to make your body more suitable to the riding position, and a better fit between you and your bike.

At SportsCare and Physiotherapy O’Connor we offer two types of Bike Set Ups:

1. Quick Bike Set Up:

This is designed to suit the amateur cyclist and commuter.  This is with one physiotherapist and involves a quick musculoskeletal screening, body measurements and bike set up. 

2. Comprehensive Bike Set Up:

This Bike Set Up is under the guidance of two physiotherapist ‘s and is more in depth with a full musculoskeletal screening,  video assessment of current bike set up, video assessment of new set up, take home DVD and a  corrective exercise programme based on screening findings.

Important factors to consider with a Bike Set Up:

• Musculoskeletal screening-  general posture
• Foot posture including use of orthotics
• Flexibility: particularly those muscles that are used in cycling
• Neural mobility
• Joint mobility
• Tendon integrity
• Asymmetries including leg length discrepancies
• Core stability

All of these areas are looked at with our Bike Set Up.

Measurements are taken of you, mostly using the leg inseam to determine seat height.  Shoulder width is used to determine handlebar width.  Your bikes measurements will be taken , including:  seat height, crank lengths, handlebar width, stem length, seat to handlebar reach, seat inclination and seat to handlebar drop.

Once on the bike some important points are:

• Cleat position
• Knee force going over the pedal spindle (too far forward will increase the patellofemoral load on your knee, and too far back will reduce the amount of force you can apply)
• Seat position (too far forward will overload your quadriceps and too far back will load your back and hamstrings)
• Seat height (too low increases knee load, too high will cause pelvic rocking and potential back problems)
• Shoe/pedal interface, foot and ankle posture, knee patterning, pelvis rocking,  spinal movement, head posture and upper limb position.

A full report is given to you at the end of your Bike Set Up, which includes measurements pre and post set up, your screening results and suggested exercises.  

Please contact us at SportsCare and Physiotherapy O’Connor, if you would like further information about our Bike Set Ups.

Regards

Cassandra Hodgkinson

APA Sports Physiotherapist