I started riding with couple of guys lately and one told me that my seat was too high... I have been riding like that for a full year so that was a shocker to me. I also have hamstring pain on one side and hip flexor pain on the other, along with back spasms here and there off the bike. It occured to me that I needed a professionnal bike fit done. Now the guys at the bike shop, IMHO are useless. They sell bike. At most, they sell bike to Mr and Mrs Sunday rider, not those people that ride more seriously. When I bought my Trek 5200, the guy that helped me out wanted to adjust the seat to roughly a good fit wanted me to sit on and try to touch the ground and make sure I could. I was so offended!

I paid what I think a reasonnable amount of money to get me fitted to my bikes, and indeed my seat was 2 cm too high, which is significant and enough to create all kinds of problems to your legs and back. Both my bikes have been adjusted the same so there is not too much difference and I am getting used to it now, and my position on the bike is much better for what it's supposed to be. My handle bars have been shortened as well and changed the stem on the new 5200 to a 120 mm, where the bike shop guy thought it would be too long for me and he didn't want to sell it to me.

I would recommend to anyone that is serious about cycling to get a professionnal bike fit. Some of the measurements you can't do by yourself. It is all worth it.

Kati, who loves her 5200 and who will ride her 520 across Canada this summer!