Originally Posted by
Squirrelli
Coaching is more involved for sure. Learning tactics, pacing you each lap and do workouts on track, such as burnouts.
IMO, before you spend any money on wheels, bars, parts and whatnot, spend the money to get fitted properly to your track bike.
+1
Originally Posted by
illdthedj
what do wheels have to do with fit? arn't they all 700c ;p
seriously though, im curious: when being fitted, are they more or less getting seatpost height, stem length, and crank length fitted to your body? i did a few different fit calculators and had my GF measure me to figure out frame measurements that fit me best...but im assuming fit goes beyond that?
We are assuming that you don't have an unlimited bike budget. Any $ you spend on wheels is money that can't be spent on fitting.
Yes, fitting goes beyond that. Imaging putting measurements in a computer and it then mails you a suit. It might fit...or it may be off by 1cm here or there. It's generally best to find a competent person to do it. NOBODY sees the value in a bike fitting and some spend years riding and racing ill-fit bikes. Even after a professional fitting, there may be some changes to be made. Here is a list of variables in your bike fit:
Saddle height
Saddle angle
Saddle fore/aft
Stem length
Stem angle
Stem stack height
Bar width
Bar drop
Bar length
Bar angle
Crank arm length
Cleat fore/aft/left/right position
Cleat angle
All of that is measured in mm and 1/2 degrees. Some of it is based on feel. Some is based on science. Your body might feel right in the wrong position and you'd have to be uncomfortable for a while as it adjusts.
Then all of this changes as your body adjusts and changes.
Once Taylor Phinney was in a race a year or two ago and he crashed and ruined his bike. A teammate of similar stature was nearby and jumped off his bike and handed it to Phinney to continue the race (he was the team leader). Phinney grabbed the bike and rode it for a few miles trying to catch up and try to win then dropped out of the race because the bike wasn't setup for him and he didn't want to get injured. It was probably off by a few mm. But, that's how sensitive things are.
Originally Posted by
Squirrelli
Fitting process is more elaborate than the fitting calculators because it is personalized. You might be recorded on a camera for computer systems to capture your flaws, like if your left leg is bowed out when you pull up, or when your hip is rotated too much forward. It's not just about saddle height, but also saddle set back, which influence how much of your weight is distributed to the rear of the bike and the rotation of your hips which then affects how you pedal. You might find out things you didn't know before, like your right leg is longer than left or something like that.
If you're serious about track, then having your bike fitting should be your highest priority.
+1