Best Bike-fitting in Chicago?

I am looking for the best Best Bike-fitting shop in Chicago. I have gone to Get a Grip Cycles, Turin Bicycles and Higher Gear in Highland Park none have been able to get it right. I almost flew to Colorado to a place that has rave reviews. I love cycling and often after rides I feel pain in both knees and or soreness. I have seen a knee specialist and both knees are healthy. So it must be a fitting issue. I use Time RSX pedals. Does anyone here have a place to recommend in Chicago or even in another state? I hope to ride more this year and avoid post ride ice packs. :)

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Permalink Reply by David P. on January 22, 2012 at 1:09pm

If you are going to get another fitting done, I'd take care, if you're not already, to go to a place that does fittings for the kind of riding you actually do. A fitting you get for doing training rides is not going to be the same for a fitting you get for, say, long commuting or for touring. 

I would also take some time to explore shoe/cleat and pedal-related factors (and Q, too) that may be causing the pain.  If you're willing to consider flying to CO for a fitting, another set of pedals  or shoes is probably a small price to pay.

Permalink Reply by dan brown on January 23, 2012 at 3:42am

Also there are cleat shims that may or may not make a difference. Many people involved in athletics may have a slight leg-length or biomechanical defency / discrepency that manifests itself in that type of pain.

 

good luck and keep us posted

 

 

Permalink Reply by tmacz on January 23, 2012 at 12:49pm

1) If all the fits gave you a different position then something is missing here.

 

2) Have YOU been assessed?  i.e. foot, ankle, knee, sitting, and low back positions relative to your movement (not position)?  such as: do your knees move inward and outward when pedalling?  Do you point your toes? does your lumbar spine rotate when riding?  Do you ride really hard all the time?

 

3) Do you only have one gear? (fixed or single speed)

 

 

Permalink Reply by Christian on January 25, 2012 at 4:08am

1) I agree!

2) They all claimed to be experts and did many of these things, I can tell you that I have been riding for years without any issue and I use time rsx pedals and wanted to ensure proper fit in all respects, but none of the shops I visited nailed it and I really want to ride and ride in 2012, so good time to start gathering information.

3) I have a Lemond Buenos Aires road bike with multiple gears.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on January 25, 2012 at 6:14am

I agree with "do your knees move inward and outward when pedalling?" You have been fitted properly and you have healthy knees, but neither the doc nor the shop has seen you ride.

I used to angle my stroke inward. I worked hard on straightening it out. I notice some folks loop their knee at the top of the strtoke, too. Your stroke should be straight up and down, like a piston. No hip rocking either.

Do you pull back on your bottom-stroke? Pull up on your up-stroke? Any over-emphasis or imbalance on either can give you sore knees.

You need a steady, fluid stroke all the way around.

I cannot emphasize enough the value of stretching your quads and hamstrings once per day. I do mine in the morning before I ride to work. That eliminated both knee - I had to hobble going down stairs - and back pain.


tmacz said:

1) If all the fits gave you a different position then something is missing here.

 

2) Have YOU been assessed?  i.e. foot, ankle, knee, sitting, and low back positions relative to your movement (not position)?  such as: do your knees move inward and outward when pedalling?  Do you point your toes? does your lumbar spine rotate when riding?  Do you ride really hard all the time?

 

3) Do you only have one gear? (fixed or single speed)

 

 

Permalink Reply by Christian on January 27, 2012 at 5:50am

I'm just looking for the best place for a fitting. Perhaps the place in Madison, WI?

Permalink Reply by Joanne McSweeney on January 27, 2012 at 9:30am

Call Greg at Trek Bicycles On Michigan Avenue. We include in our fitting particular knee problems. He'll guide you through some key knee pre and post stretches and check your cleats and pedals. 312 588 1050. 

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on January 27, 2012 at 1:03pm

You really should talk to Tony at Velosmith.

From their site:

Velosmith’s founder and co-owner, Tony, spent close to a decade focused on the fitting process and biomechanics.  Long before there were packaged fitting systems, he worked with cyclists of all abilities to determine their proper fit.

Tony is a graduate of Serotta’s inaugural fitting school and went on to spend four (4) years working as Seven Cycles’ Senior Fit Technician.  He has developed thousands of fits for cyclists around the world.

Permalink Reply by Adam Kaplan - Get a Grip Cycles on January 27, 2012 at 1:35pm

Hi Christian,

Looks like we saw you a few seasons ago for just a look at your cleats. Please contact me and I would be happy to give you another consult and come up with a game plan.

Knee issues are more often than not related to what is going on above and below the joint, and there could be a whole host of other things going on more globally with your set up as well.

I will be at the Irving shop from 9 to 5pm tomorrow, Saturday, and then at the Fulton studio Tues, Wed, and Thurs. if you want to contact me.

adam@getagripcycles.com

773-427-4747 Irving

312-627-1701 Fulton

Be happy to talk.

Permalink Reply by Jamie Ishii on January 27, 2012 at 3:20pm

I would also say to work on joint mobility/flexibility. Whenever my knees start getting sore it means my hip flexors are tight and I haven't been keeping my hips open enough. For me it makes a huge difference in everything, it changed the way I move and hold myself.

Permalink Reply by Chris Mailing on January 27, 2012 at 9:03pm

Christian,

When you buy a "Fit to Bike" service from Turin Bicycle, we stand behind what we do.  If you are still suffering the kind of pain you describe, please call us to schedule another appointment - at no additional charge.  We'll take a fresh look at your situation, understand what we did (and what others have done) and seek a better solution.  Some of the postings in response to yours offer good insights (cleat wedges, foam rollers, ReTul) and these are all things available in our "tool kit."

A good fit is part science and part art and often involves compromises between competing "ideals."  Rider feedback is an important part of the process.  Some feedback is only available after a long ride - so it can't always be done in one fitting session.  In no case should we declare we're "finished" before you are happy with the results.

I apologize that we were not clear enough that we expect to continue to work with you until you are satisfied that we've served your needs well.

Please call us to schedule a fitting appointment convenient to you.  847.864.7660.

Thank you.

Chris Mailing, Turin Bicycle

Permalink Reply by mike wehner on January 28, 2012 at 4:07am

You should consider getting a fitting from a Physical Therapist that is trained for bike fitting. I don't know of one but you can research that on your own at anyone of the many outpatient clinics in chicago. RIC sports and spine, athletico, and maybe accelerated. The two programs that you have used are highly regarding. There is something missing in the equation and that is probably someone who is more skilled with human physiology.

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