Here are some frequently asked questions about 53 Eleven’s services. Please contact me with questions that are not listed below:

What types of bikes do you work with?
All disciplines: road, tri, mtb, track, time trial and cross.

My bike was fit to me at the shop where I bought it, why do I need this service too?
Bike shops do a great job of getting you on the right size frame and putting you in a decent position for riding. They usually spend 10-20 minutes with you. I refer to this as a bike set-up. Shops simply don’t have time to do what I do. I spend 2-3 hours with each cyclist, not only fine-tuning how the bike fits you, but also addressing how you use it. Clients are always amazed at how much they learn in one session.

I don’t want to be a pro cyclist, so why do I need all this fancy technique work?
Most of us will never be pros.  However pros in any sport are pros for a reason.  Not only do they have the required physical attributes, but they also have mastered techniques to make them more efficient, powerful and successful.  Aren’t those traits we all want on the bike, regardless of ability or cycling goals?  I don’t try to turn my clients into pros, but I do teach them to ride like them.

You already fit my road bike and I just got a new one, do I need to pay for another fitting?
No, just let me know when you would like to drop off the new bike.  I will set it up to match your numbers from the old bike, no charge.

I already got fit on my road bike, and now I have a new tri bike. Can I use the same fit numbers?
NO!  These are two very different fits.  You will need a tri specific fitting.  We can re-use your cleat positioning only.

What is biomechanics?
When I started fitting bikes, I realized both from the courses I took and the existing services out there, that all it entailed was adjusting someone’s bike or changing parts to make it fit better.  I wasn’t seeing the holistic approach that I was used to from physical therapy.  No one addressed technique, posture, pedal stroke or anything else to do with the rider.   This made me realize that you can put someone in the “perfect” position on the “perfect” bike, but if they don’t ride correctly, it doesn’t matter.  This to me launches the term biomechanics as it relates to cycling, defined as: the functional integration of rider and machine.  In other words, not only set up the bike correctly, but give the cyclist the awareness, position and skills to maximize their comfort and performance on the bike.  I was first exposed to this approach by a very talented fitter from Texas named Jeff Lockwood.  It was this approach of combining fit with function that has been the backbone of my service to this day.  My fitting continues to evolve as changes occur within the bike industry and as the research data increases.

I’ve heard that bike fit should be a “points-in-space” approach, but what does that mean?
This is a term first coined by bike fit guru/legend Dan Empfield.  I attended his bike fit course in 2003 down in the high desert outside of LA at his home/training facility.
 
First you have to look at a bike through the eyes of a fitter.  We see three points, the saddle, the handlebars and the pedals.  These three points are where the rider interfaces with the bike.  Therefore, when we fit someone, the challenge is to get those “points-in-space” into the right position.  Once that is done, these numbers can be transferred to any bike, assuming that the other bike is of correct size to allow this.

Now, is this all that matters?  No.  If the frame is quite large for the rider, you can technically bring those points in to make it work, but often times sacrifice weight distribution and handling.

I’m torn between two frame sizes, which one is right?
In general, always choose the smaller frame.  There are exceptions to every rule.  However, it is always easier to pull those points out, and often improve handling, then trying to rein them in as discussed above.