Road Cycling - Computrainer Fitting

I did one of these yesterday. I was sick of the subjective "whatever feels right is the best position" line most shops fed me, so I ponied up $100 for one of these tests. Uhm...wow. I picked up over 100 watts (almost 1.5/kilo) just by tweaking my position. anyone else done one of these, and if so, have you been pleased with the results?

I've been thinking about it, but doing some research to see the results. How is the new position comfort wise? Does it feel like it clicks? How radical of a change did you have to make? Sounds like a hell of a benefit for a $100 all things considered (a set of aero bars in an aero position will cost you $100+ and save you 45 watts, aero wheels will save you almost as much for close to a grand, etc).

Andrew

Where did you have that done at? And what is the test called?

Wow $100? Heck I have a Computrainer...maybe I should go into business! ;-)

Actually it works because you can see not only the power output as you pedal, but you can analyse where the torque is going in the spin. You just watch the analysis and log the power output for a given course (incline), then make an adjustment and do it again.

I can see why a shop would charge $100, because it takes a fair amount of trial/error - adjust - retry to get it done well.

Gary

the $100 charge bought me time on their trainer with a tech who spent about 2 hours swapping out stems, moving my seat around, hoods up/down, etc. he also charted it all out for me, and let me do a simulated race just for kicks. it was, in my opinion, WELL worth $100.

i got it done at a local bike shop in Winston-Salem. they have several different fitting programs, from just comfort fitting, to the computrainer, to cleat fitting and a serrotta fit bike for those wanting custom work. they just called it computrainer fitting.

the adjustments were not at all dramatic--seat up a coupla centimeters, forward 2 mm, bars moved up one spacer, hoods moved up a bit. comfort is definitely improved. the guy had a good philosophy--he said the only pain you should ever feel on a bike is from riding too hard. i had some foot/knee pain before, and haven't since. if it wasn't worth it for the wattage (which it was), it was worth it for the comfort. plus, now i can take the setup with me when i get a new bike, so i can buy with confidence.

oh, and hakuna, i don't know what setup you have, but he told me theirs was $1600 without the $3000 laptop attached to it!

Sounds like you have a great shop. Yeah, that's pretty much my setup, but I have a big screen TV in front! hehe. Not that it's worth having a big screen...the biggest drawback to the Computrainer is that there is little "entertainment" factor in riding it. The scenery is just dull. But it's about training in the winter, not about having a scenic ride I guess....

It's amazing how such small changes have such large effects.

Gary