Wheels or Pro Fit?
03-25-09, 08:12 PM
#1
Farmer tan
Thread Starter
Wheels or Pro Fit?
Birthday's coming up, and I'm thinking of either upgrading those oem Alex rims on the Allez or getting a pro fit + custom orthotics (I've got totally flat feet and some tendonitis that limits training). What would you do?
[UPDATE: I got the fitting. See post #27 for my initial impression of it.]
[UPDATE: I got the fitting. See post #27 for my initial impression of it.]
Last edited by f4rrest; 03-26-09 at 09:46 PM.
03-25-09, 08:18 PM
#2
ka maté ka maté ka ora
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wheels and arch cookies
03-25-09, 09:23 PM
#5
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that fit is going to make more of a difference than wheels. get the thing fit, especially if you have issues already.
03-25-09, 09:33 PM
#6
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Cycling usually doesn't require orthotics because it's non weight bearing. A good fitter should be able to tell you if you really need them.
03-25-09, 11:03 PM
#8
Farmer tan
Thread Starter
StanSteven, I meant I over-pronate -- enough so that my right knee brushes the frame occasionally. I was assuming a cycling-specific orthotic has some special magic under the balls of the feet though. Or maybe he'll just put shims in or something, who knows? The fitter is a doctor too, which I think is a big plus.
Manwich, I've got Superfeet now, and they seem to help for walking around.
Kinlins would be sweet, though, along with hubs and spokes. Hmm.
Manwich, I've got Superfeet now, and they seem to help for walking around.
Kinlins would be sweet, though, along with hubs and spokes. Hmm.
03-26-09, 06:12 AM
#10
Luggite
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Much of what I see on these forums is that people get a PRO fit and then they tweak the fit as time goes by. To me, that discounts the value. Only you know what works for you. Assuming you know the basics (available all over the web), why not just tweak the fit over time yourself?
I say new wheels.
I say new wheels.
03-26-09, 06:28 AM
#11
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Where are your cleats / pedals positioned on your foot? I have very over-pronated feet as well, but didn't think it was a big deal (running KILLS me, but my over-pronation is another reason why I I prefered biking). The positioning on my foot totally hides my over-pronation. Sounds like you may actually have true FLAT feet.
03-26-09, 06:33 AM
#12
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Pro fits are only of value if you're a pro and you need to squeeze every last bit of performance out of the lemon so that you can compete with the others who do the same thing. Other than that, and perhaps in the case of certain real as opposed to self-perceived skeletal problems, you can do it just as well yourself for free and with the advantage of it being your own body that you can feel. Since riding position exists on a continuum between maximum performance and maximum comfort, there's no one position. It's almost infinitely variable for any given individual.
Similarly, the advantages of any road bike upgrades over the OEM equipment on the same bike frame are marginal at best. Like everyone else, I've been there, done that. It's the curse of youth and immaturity. I say, ride the bike as it is and spend your money on something else.
Similarly, the advantages of any road bike upgrades over the OEM equipment on the same bike frame are marginal at best. Like everyone else, I've been there, done that. It's the curse of youth and immaturity. I say, ride the bike as it is and spend your money on something else.
03-26-09, 06:45 AM
#13
C3 H6 O3 ACID
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I say get fit.... I tried to "upgrade" and change things on my old bike.....all for not as I ended up selling it, and getting something new......that included a pro fit
03-26-09, 07:38 AM
#14
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Given this part of your post, I'd go with the fit. It sounds like you have some discomfort and have already identified that your bike fit is potentially holding you back in training.
If you'd said that you'd identified some wheel flex that is holding you back, I'd vote the other way.
If you'd said that you'd identified some wheel flex that is holding you back, I'd vote the other way.
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BF, in a nutshell
BF, in a nutshell
03-26-09, 07:38 AM
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I keep hurting myself with perfectly good equipment that I dont really know how to use. should I buy more equipment or should I have someone help me learn how to use the perfectly good equipment I already have?
03-26-09, 08:30 AM
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That's a great way to think about it, actually. I almost need to take this as my own advice
03-26-09, 09:58 AM
#17
Farmer tan
Thread Starter
Shimano SPD SL with cleats pushed all the way back, which puts them just behind the ball of my feet.
I'm not a pro, but hoping the fitter is one.
I'm not sure I can diagnose my own skeletal issues, but the fitter is a doctor. I think he'll do an initial assessment that would be covered by health insurance.
I agree about the continuum idea of fit vs. performance.
Curse of youth? I should be so lucky. That was a long time ago.
Yeah, I feel like I don't want to pour too much $$$ into this bike, as I may end up selling it for a better one in a year or two. I'd put the stock wheels back on though when it's sold.
I feel this reflects my current thinking.
Hey! Are you talkin' bout me? 
I know how to use it, just not sure I have it dialed in exactly right for my style of use. Good paraphrase, though.
Pro fits are only of value if you're a pro and you need to squeeze every last bit of performance out of the lemon so that you can compete with the others who do the same thing. Other than that, and perhaps in the case of certain real as opposed to self-perceived skeletal problems, you can do it just as well yourself for free and with the advantage of it being your own body that you can feel. Since riding position exists on a continuum between maximum performance and maximum comfort, there's no one position. It's almost infinitely variable for any given individual.
Similarly, the advantages of any road bike upgrades over the OEM equipment on the same bike frame are marginal at best. Like everyone else, I've been there, done that. It's the curse of youth and immaturity. I say, ride the bike as it is and spend your money on something else.
Similarly, the advantages of any road bike upgrades over the OEM equipment on the same bike frame are marginal at best. Like everyone else, I've been there, done that. It's the curse of youth and immaturity. I say, ride the bike as it is and spend your money on something else.
I'm not sure I can diagnose my own skeletal issues, but the fitter is a doctor. I think he'll do an initial assessment that would be covered by health insurance.
I agree about the continuum idea of fit vs. performance.
Curse of youth? I should be so lucky. That was a long time ago.
I know how to use it, just not sure I have it dialed in exactly right for my style of use. Good paraphrase, though.
03-26-09, 12:56 PM
#18
VeloSIRraptor
I have an Allez and I have done both, but in the wrong order.
I upgraded the wheels, and about 8 months later got a pro fit.
The wheels didn't make a huge change, but the fit sure did. I went faster and longer after the fit because I was more comfortable and in a more powerful position.
All the best purchases I have made in cycling are on the human side (fit session, better bibs, etc) and all the ones on the equipment side were fun, but didn't change much in the experience (or speed)
I upgraded the wheels, and about 8 months later got a pro fit.
The wheels didn't make a huge change, but the fit sure did. I went faster and longer after the fit because I was more comfortable and in a more powerful position.
All the best purchases I have made in cycling are on the human side (fit session, better bibs, etc) and all the ones on the equipment side were fun, but didn't change much in the experience (or speed)
03-26-09, 02:55 PM
#21
Dude wheres my guads?
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If it were me, id get a regulation bike fit. Shouldn't cost more than a 100. Couple that with orthotics and now you are comfortable. In my case, id rather be comfortable and slow rather than uncomfortable and slow 
.
.
Last edited by skinnyone; 03-26-09 at 03:09 PM.
03-26-09, 04:09 PM
#24
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If you have issues, then a fit, maybe your pains can be resolved. But my history with "fits" is a visit to 10 different PRO FITTERS will result in 10 different PRO FITS. :shrug:
03-26-09, 04:16 PM
#25
Farmer tan
Thread Starter
10 different architects would likely come up with 10 different designs if you wanted them to create a custom home.
As long as 8 out of the 10 were "reasonably good" fits -- and produced something you might not have considered on your own. I suppose it's a bit of an art. And as Longfemur mentioned, possibly a continuum of correct fits, depending on what the rider's goals are.
I don't know, we'll see what happens tonight.
As long as 8 out of the 10 were "reasonably good" fits -- and produced something you might not have considered on your own. I suppose it's a bit of an art. And as Longfemur mentioned, possibly a continuum of correct fits, depending on what the rider's goals are.
I don't know, we'll see what happens tonight.