Making a custom bicycle fit comfortably

Just some of the
letters from 'comfortable'
Rodriguez customers:

Just about everyone has ridden a bicycle that was uncomfortable at sometime in their lives. A lot of people think that discomfort is just part of cycling. This is not true...just ask Nancy. When she came to us, she had put up with knee pain for 30 years!

You don't have to ride in pain. There are people who are dedicated to making cycling comfortable and fun for their customers. Once you meet these type of folks, your cycling comfort improves greatly, along with your performance and speed. Yes! You'll be faster and in better control of your bicycle when you are comfortable on it. There are several aspects regarding comfort that we address when building a Rodriguez Bicycle.

We're in it for the long haul
Before we even cover the actual bicycle, you should know that the shop you work with is the most important factor in comfort. Fit changes with injuries, core strength, fitness level, type of riding, etc... You want to choose a company that will work with you over time to get it just right. When things change (injuries, age, etc...) you'll want us to be here to make the appropriate adjustments. Many times we've been able to get people back on their bike when they thought (or were even told) their cycling days were over because of injury.

We'll cover three aspects of comfort here, and you can read the related articles to go deeper into any of the subjects. We'll cover:

Fit
Frame material
Contact points

The Right Fit

The first, and most important, is the fit of your new bicycle. This is an area that we've been involved with for almost four decades. At Rodriguez we're known as one of the original Pioneers when it comes to bicycle fitting techniques and expertise. We're so committed to fitting bicycles that we've even developed our own methods, software, and complete fitting system, NEXT-fit (no other bike manufacturer can say that).

What does all of this mean for you? Fitting a bicycle to a person requires hundreds of considerations and adjustments. We can illustrate the importance of fit by comparing it to something that is a lot easier to understand. Think of a pair of shoes or pants. Have you ever run a 10K in a pair of shoes that didn't fit? How about worn a pair of Levis for a day that were too small? You wouldn't put up with that right? With pants or shoes, you can tell right away if the fit is wrong because the discomfort is immediate. What if you didn't know your shoe size and had to trust a salesperson to select the proper size for you?

Let's visit 4 shoe stores

Actual fitting instructions cut from a standard bicycle box

At store 1
The salesperson (if they have one) holds a shoe up to your foot and says something like "you're a size 9" and hands you a pair of shoes in a box. Believe it or not, this is a very similar method to how some shops fit bicycles to their customers. I can't believe that with all of the intricacies that go into fitting a bicycle, a rider can trust a salesperson who asks them to 'stand over the frame' and determines the size in less than five minutes.
Store 2 (hopefully you ran out of Store 1 ASAP)
Now let's visit another shoe store. In this store they measure your foot for length and width before estimating your shoe size. You'd probably feel like you were getting better service right? Maybe they even ask about your favorite color and shoe style before selling you the shoes. At least you're pretty sure that your foot will actually fit in the shoe, and it will look good. This is the typical 'bike shop' sales experience. A few measurements are taken, and some discussion of paint colors before a recommendation is made. While it's much better than Store 1, it's really not adequate for a bicycle.
Store 3 (you're probably here because a friend sent you after you're feet developed plantar fasciitis)
Store 3 measures your foot for length and width, but then also considers your arch height, injuries, conditioning, and general gait. The salesperson at this store is not a salesperson at all, but a true professional that has spent their life fitting shoes. This professional talks with you about any injuries and examines your stride and gait as you walk through the store. They discuss with you how much you're on your feet each day, or how the shoes will be used. It is only after considering these things that they then recommend a specific brand of shoe that will be the 'closest fit'. Then they guarantee the shoe will be comfortable, and that they will work with you as much as necessary after the sale to ensure comfort. Doesn't this sound like a great store? There's probably only one or two shoes stores like this in every big city, but they do exist and once a customer discovers a store like this one they rarely go anywhere else.
Store 4 (you've never been to this store, but you wish it existed)
This is your dream shoe store. Everyone who works here has been in the shoe business for their entire career, and they actually make all of the shoes they sell. They've written the book on comfortable shoes, and invested tens of thousands of dollars in developing their methods over 40 years. Store 3 even sent their professionals here to be trained. You get all the professional service and analysis of store 3, except they don't have to recommend a 'close fit' for you. Store 4 actually makes your shoes to fit your feet exactly....the perfect fit! They make your shoe in any style you want, and any color you want, and all for the same price as store 3 can sell you the 'closest fit'. Wouldn't that be a no-brainer? Unfortunately in the shoe business, there's no such store. In bicycles however, there's Rodriguez Bicycle Company.

There are so many other factors that I could cover about bicycle fit here. The fact that most manufactures focus on young racers fit when they design their bike sizes is an important thing for you to keep in mind as well. This results in the handle bars feeling 'way too far away' for most people. We only focus on young racer fit if we're building a bike for a young racer. Fact is, most of our customers are not young racers, so why try to cram them into a bike that doesn't fit? At Rodriguez Bicycles we work with you to determine your perfect bike style, fit, color, etc. and then....we make it. A Rodriguez bicycle is a Fit to Finish experience.

Frame Materials

Now here's a subject that I could write an entire series of articles on.....oh wait....I have! If you really want to know the modern history of bicycle frame materials in depth, here's a link to a series of articles that I wrote on the subject for a bicycle publication.

If you're the type that would rather have it boiled down for you, then we'll do that in a paragraph or so here:

There's been a lot said about the subject of materials as they relate to comfort. When a manufacturer of carbon bikes wants you to believe that their bike is comfortable, they say something like "it rides like a steel bike". The same is true for aluminum bike makers. That's because steel is the most comfortable frame material to ride on. Luckily for the cycling community, it's also the material that's the most versatile, least expensive, most durable, and most easily repaired if damaged. Surprise! Aside from it's other qualities, modern day steel is as light or lighter than the other materials. That means that the only drawback to steel is the fact that it has to be painted to protect if from rust. Not much of a drawback I say. Who wants an unpainted bike anyhow?

But...but...the ad says "rides like a steel frame". Don't be fooled! The truth is that the only frame material that rides like steel is steel...well I guess titanium also rides like steel, but carbon and aluminum......I think not. Now, I could ramble on and on for hours about this, but why would you believe me? You should try a Rodriguez light-weight steel bike for yourself. I think you'll agree with Mike ....or maybe Steve....or how about Jay....I could go on and on with customer testimonials that have given up their expensive carbon or aluminum bikes for a Rodriguez steel bike. Our customers say it best.

Contact Points

These are where your body comes into contact with your bicycle. Hands, feet and...well...hind quarters. Most bicycles come standard with XX handle bars, or XX seat. They are made that way in Taiwan or China and delivered to your bicycle shop that way. You have to buy the bike, then purchase a different seat or different handle bars after you discover how uncomfortable the stock parts are. Then you have to buy different seats or bars until you are comfortable. Hopefully you're at least working with a shop that can help suggest the right stuff for you. Most people end up with hundreds of dollars worth of seats and bars in their garage. That's a lot of money and parts, but also think of the time invested going back to the shop several times to buy those parts.

Hands (Handle Bars)

Handle bar widths vary from 36cm to 46cm, and come in many different styles (a lot of people don't know this). That's because everyone has different shoulder widths, and different hand sizes. The wrong bar is horribly uncomfortable to ride on. Most manufacturers address this issue a little bit by putting wider bars on their large sizes and narrow bars on their smaller bikes. That's like determining someone's shirt size using their inseam measurement. Bar width has absolutely nothing to do with the bike size, but everything to do with the riders shoulder width. A person can be short and have broad shoulders right? Bottom line: If your bicycle fitter is not measuring your shoulder width before recommending a bar, then they really are not trying to make you comfortable. You are at the mercy of your bike shop on how much it will cost you to get the bars right. You can spend several hundred dollars if you have to go through a few bars.

At Rodriguez we do things differently:
Handle bar width and style are considered a comfort component, and selected before you order the bike. We measure your shoulder width to ensure that the bars are the right width, but also consider your hand size when selecting the style and brand. If we get it wrong, and you're uncomfortable, we'll get you a different set at no charge. It's part of fitting the bike. This is an area that people often neglect, but I have transformed people's riding experience with a simple handle bar change.

Hind Quarters (Seat)

Manufacturers (including Rodriguez) buy their seats in quantity to get a better deal on them. One of the ways we differ, is that the seat doesn't go onto the bike until we build it. We don't build a Rodriguez until you order it. So....it really doesn't have to be the 'seat the bike comes with'. The other shop receives the bike in a box with the seat already on it, and rarely gives the customer an option to trade it out for free.
Another way we differ: We don't order 1,000 of the cheapest 'no name' seats in the world. Most riders have experienced a new bike with a $2 seat on it. We order expensive, name brand saddles for our 'stock' saddle. Then, if you want something different, we can afford to trade it for something else equally good.
We see the seat as a comfort component, and you can try as many as you need to in order to find the perfect one. We're happy to keep trading them out for you. The only way money leaves your pocket is if you want to try an expensive saddle, and even then, you're only cost would be the difference in price. Always ask if a shop has a saddle return policy. We allow 30-days to exchange any saddle that we stock.

Feet (Relates strongly to Knees)

Here's one that almost always goes untouched at most shops. Did your bicycle salesperson set you up on a trainer and have you ride for a while? Did they talk with you about knee pain or foot pain? Did they make adjustments to your seat height, seat fore/aft, pedals and shoes? If not, then you are probably not getting the most effective use of our legs or worse, you may be experiencing knee, neck, shoulder or foot pain. They're all connected.
This is an area that requires a talented bicycle fitter with years of experience to get it right. Some people ride for decades in pain (like Nancy) before discovering how much difference a good bicycle fitter can make. It may take several tries to get it right. I can't stress enough that you'll want to work with a company that can help you either in person or via email. I have worked with customers who've sent me photos and video of them riding so that I could analyze what might be causing their pain.
The right pedals and shoes are important, but the adjustment of your bicycle is really the biggest component here for comfort. Realize, when you buy a bicycle, you really are buying a relationship with the shop and the manufacturer of that bicycle. It's your choice, who would you like to work with?

Thanks for reading -Dan 2011