University of Virginia Health System

Can I Pay for Speed???
Most bike shops, coaches, athletes, and medical professionals tend to agree that a good bike fit is a good thing. This is great news. Well, my grandmother used to think eating brussel sprouts would make me tall like my older cousin. This didn't work out so well.

The information age is a powerful force. There are certain things we have learned, or have theories about, which have been tested over and over by independent peer reviewed journals. Most professionals reference these articles from time to time and tend to use new research to guide programs for their athletes and patients. There is also a huge boom in the amount of trash out there. The rise of the Internet has given anyone with an email address the right to advertise their new supplement. They claim everything from taking 10 pounds off of your body to raising the dead. Such claims aren't regulated by anyone, so most manufactures run like crazy with this. I'd like to help you separate "industry buzz" from the real thing.

As a physical therapist, I can tell you that cycling takes its toll on the body. You do a fairly limited range of motion over and over and over again for thousands of miles a year.  If things are lined up properly on the bike, and you are careful and follow a smart training program, you'll maximize efficiency and prevent injury. When things are "off", we wind up with imbalances that manifest themselves as injury. Injury is a whole other topic for a latter time. The other problem we wind up with is poor efficiency. Proper knowledge and equipment, like that found at the SPEED Clinic, goes a long way towards accomplishing a goal of optimal fit.

I'd like to summarize a paper that was published in a peer-reviewed, independent journal. Asker Jeukendrup and James Martin wrote "Improving Cycling Performance: How Should We Spend Our Time and Money". The authors wanted to quantify the effects of various cycling factors to see which was most beneficial from both a time and cost standpoint. In this study they use simulated "models" to arrive at their predictions. Since they aren't comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges, the mathematical models allow them to base time gains on previously established research findings (from independent, peer-reviewed journals). Instead of just saying, "bike fit helps", the authors sought to quantify exactly how much help a cyclist gets with a given alteration in their program. If you ride for Discovery Channel, you can skip the rest of this, as your cycling resources are unlimited. However, if you are a cyclist balancing riding, school, wife, kids, girlfriend, busted radiator, food, and time at the dog park - read along. They examined both Internal and External Factors as shown below:

You can see that the old adage holds true - there is no substitute for training. Period.  Got it? Yes - you have to ride you bike. And you have to ride smart. Lots of base, properly periodized training plan, intervals, and a good taper all add up to good performance on race day. Aside from training, this article offers some interesting findings on where we should concentrate our efforts. Bike fit is key. Its free speed. Faster at less effort and more biomechaincally sound. It's a win-win all around for the time and money you'll invest and performance gained. Also - it's a benefit that is there every time you get on your bike. You are always reaping the benefits of training in the most optimum position. It is very different then spending 800 dollars on a pair of wheels you only get the benefit from 5 or 6 days a year.

At the SPEED Clinic, we use a whole lot of technology, knowledge, first hand trial and error, experience and common sense to achieve the most optimum fit for you - not a formula out of a book. Weather you choose the standard bike fit, or the 3D bike fit, you are a whole lot closer to achieving your optimum performance now.

I encourage you to check out the full article if you want more information:

Jeukendrup, A.E., and Martin, J. Improving Cycling Performance, How Should We Spend Our Time and Money? Sports Med; 31(7):559-569

Give us a call if we can help you. Keep pushing the limits-

Jay