Pro Bike Fit riders
Posted on by Gary Land
Pro Bike Fit rider Matti Hallanoro also set a PB at the recent World Cup Triathlon in sydney.
Gary was very happy that another 7 Pro Bike Fit riders also set PB's at Mooloolaba 2011
Bicycle fitting is no long a guessing game and Pro Bike Fit is at the leading edge of bicycle rider Positioning in Australia.
From the Post of Adam Dunn
Hello Everyone,
I find myself "irresistibly drawn" to the conversations (late as I may be) on Slowness and What's it Called from my recent endeavours with "Matilda" my beloved TSR 30. Let me see, ahh yes I remember the beginning now. Like all of you fine people, I wanted something different right from the start, and that's where the Moulton came in. It was a practical bike with some thoroughbred abilities and a lot of "What's it Called" questions Guaranteed down the trails. I never bought her for racing, my only interest was Commuting and Touring with probably the odd Triathlon/Time Trial and Audax or Sportif thrown in. All tasks I'd dare say most, if not all, you fine people would agree are the "Bread and Butter" of the TSR 30.
And this is where it may have stayed, gladly Gadding about Brisneyland, staying on (Putative!!!!) Bike Paths and humming along to myself while listening to my son Jack Yodelling (no, I'm not kidding) as we trail-a-biked along. The change started when I went in to get a Bike fitting from a Bloke named Gary Land at www.probikefit.com.au. If you remember, I wrote that I didn't feel comfortable going for a "Pro" bike fit (I coined the phrase - as comfortable as walking into a Seville Row Gentlemans' store in dirty overalls and muddy boots!!).
That all went out the door when I found his "Studio" was under his house. I became even MORE comfortable when he started to show me the menagerie of old Aussie bikes he had hanging from the ceiling (or should that be floor??). Those beautifully restored bikes from the 40's and 50's hung lovingly alongside carbon fibre speed weapons. And looking around his "Studio" I was greeted by the latest computer motion sensors alongside box brownies and old spectacles, all lovingly displayed and cared for. What sealed it for me was how down to earth he was (he's been a bike shop owner and fitter and turner in past lives), that he used to ride for the same club I did (Go Uni of Queensland) and that his computer desk was a piece of 1930's hardwood office furniture - a REAL desk!!
During the fitting, where I was literally made into a Christmas tree with lights hung all over me and put on a rotisserie (I kid you not!!), we talked about what I wanted to get out of the fitting and how to classify The Moulton. Eventually both went under "Other" in his software (a strangely satisfying classification I must admit). It was the best money I could have ever spent on the bike for bang for your buck. We discovered my "Old School" (i.e. Bad) and some of my "Well maintained" (i.e. Good) habits. After adjusting the bike Gary, the evil genius, had created comfort with more power and better handling than I had EVER remembered, past racing days included. I had discovered a new love of the bike, and with Gary's encouragement to get off the path onto Real Roads - I set off on some adventures into "Diamond Brigade" territory!!
I did my first 80km ride the following weekend. Till then commutes of 1 to 2 hours at a time were the norm. After getting a few "What's it Called" questions I came upon (or rather was overtaken by) a small Groupetto of the "Diamond Brigade". I got, what I'll call, my first Aussie Observation about the TSR:-
Him - "Jesus mate, ya' chainrings nearly as big as your wheels!!" in humerus tone,
Me - "Small Wheels - BIG potential!!" laughter all round.
I "enjoyed" keeping up with them for the next 15 minutes through some rather nasty "undulations" round the Brisbane river till my legs screamed enough. It was a great day and it gave me the confidence to go out and blast around the city. I also noticed that my legs and uhmm "Posterior" were in Great shape - better than I had ever remembered long miles being before! More power, little to no "after effects", hmmm. The Bike fit and the Moulton were an EXCELLENT choice.
So I went further just the other weekend by doing a double tonne (100km on Saturday and Sunday). First on the Saturday round the Brisbane River again, where I met up with our Diamond Brigade Brothers again (same frames - different Groupetto). I blasted round the Corso (river road in Yerongapilly) at an average of 37km/h leading a small group.
Next day was a group century ride with the LBS. I was always second or third over the hills (including the gateway bridge - a not insubstantial "pimple" over the Brisbane river) behind the climbers. I suffered like a DOG - but I did it. Got LOTS of enquiries then about what's it called and why was I going up the hills better than most of the group????
I am beginning to wonder whether there is some fun yet to be had competing (and suffering) again in racing as well as touring.
So now - god above help me - I'm looking at a Diamond (steel of course) brigade bike to compete on again and (he whimpers as he thinks of the costs) a REAL Racing Moulton (NS Speed) for future endeavours on Audax and Sportifs and club rides/criteriums. Oh dear - the MADNESS begins!!!
Cheers,
Adam (The Antipodean)
