Just as the beauty of a painting isn't based on the quality of brushes or paints used, a fit on a bike is not perfect just because of the fit method used. Without taking the analogy too far, the creativity and skill comes from the painter, or in this case the BG Fit Specialist.
The artist fitting me on my bike was Mike's Bikes Jared Franzoia. Jared has been trained and certified in the Specialized BG Fit method and has years of experience in the fitting process but more importantly was recently re-certified. In order to be a current certified fit specialist, Specialized requires you to not only go through the training and certification process, but to submit proof that you are actively fitting and pass an exam performing the fit process.
Even with all the training and certification in the world, Jared has something which I find important to a fitter, race experience. Jared competes on the road, in cyclocross races, and now in single speed mountain bike races. He knows first hand the racer type, our habits, vigors of training, and necessities for a six hour road race or 30mph crit.
Having raced my bike for several years and facing multiple injuries, I have had multiple fits performed by a wide range of people with a variety of fit methods and experience. The BG Fit method is the one method I have found which doesn't take a cookie cut method and apply it to you on your bike. Instead your fit is a calculated formula using your aspirations as a rider, previous current/injury, physiology, flexibility, intentions, and a million other factors to provide you with your ride, make you one with the bike, an extension of your body.
With Jared's training and a series of tests he performed on me, he was able to detect a rotation in my hip which was previously diagnosed as a leg length discrepancy. Jared accounted for this rotation in the fore-aft of my saddle and cleat placement. Using a series of cameras, Jared is able to capture real time footage of my fit and pedal stroke. He is able to add lines to the footage and change it's speed to trace my knee through the stoke. Jared can then make adjustments and compare footage side by side to see the result.
A proper fitting isn't cheap, but a proper fit is invaluable. Had I had a proper fitting done years ago, I may not be off the bike right now with tendon issues. If you are interested in booking a fit from Mike's, you can pop into any of the shops for more info or schedule a visit with Jared through Mike's website.
What is BG Pro Fit? from Mike's Bikes on Vimeo.
-Hank
