11 Methods To Make Your Bike Extra Snug

compose Logan Watts
time Jul 26, 2022
remark 20

Anybody who’s gotten into bikepacking, randonneuring, or different classes of long-distance biking has seemingly struggled with discomfort points on the bike—a few of us greater than others. I’ve all the time been comparatively okay with most bikes, making just a few tweaks and adjusting (and resigning) to the nuances. Nonetheless, I understand there are repercussions for driving an ill-fitting bike for an extended journey. Virginia has had a decade-long battle with bike match and spent a number of months working with an occupational therapist to enhance bike match and strengthening to assist alleviate wrist points. There are loads of components to contemplate. So, the place to start? To get began, Neil got here up with 11 methods to make your bike extra snug, and he summarizes them on this video. Watch it under and scroll down for just a few strategies and extra hyperlinks.

Here’s a checklist of suggestions, hyperlinks, and assets we’ve pulled collectively primarily based on a number of of the factors Neil made within the video above.

Saddles and Saddle Width

Measuring your sit bone width is an efficient place to start when selecting a saddle, as Neil factors out. However we’ve additionally discovered that it’s essential to attempt loads of choices and determine which saddle works for you previous to a giant journey. That is an costly endeavor, nevertheless. And to make issues extra difficult, we’ve all tried loads of choices and have landed on a wide range of favorites. Take a look at our Decade in Evaluate Editor’s Favourite Saddles roundup for some strategies.

Stems

More often than not, consolation points associated to palms or wrists need to do with the size of your bike’s cockpit. Adjusting your stem size is without doubt one of the best methods to tweak the match of your bike. I’ve a big stem assortment so as to have the ability to make these tweaks, however I understand that not everybody has that luxurious. A motorbike match will reply this query, in addition to present measurements for future bike purchases. So far as stems that we like, the Easton EA70 is a trusted, mid-range funds choice that is available in tons of lengths and both in 0° or +-7° angles. The USA-made PAUL Boxcar is a bit more flashy and is available in a wide range of lengths and clamp sizes too.

Tire Quantity (and Suppleness)

As Neil talked about, rising your tire quantity is usually a nice profit to your consolation stage on a motorbike, notably a inflexible bike. A number of of us right here like 29 x 2.6″ tires for that very cause. Nonetheless, one other issue to contemplate is the tire’s suppleness. Some tires appear to have steadiness of sturdiness and a comfortable journey. Just a few that we like in that regard embody the Teravail Ehline, WTB Ranger, and Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge.

Tape/Grips

Grips and bar tape are one other place that makes an enormous distinction in consolation. As Neil identified, many people listed here are flat-bar aficionados and just like the Ergon GA3, which affords unimaginable hand help. Nonetheless, it doesn’t jive with everybody. Virginia by no means received together with Ergons, and her occupational therapist—who focuses on working with cyclists—really useful foam grips. There are a number of choices from ESI, and we actually like Wolf Tooth’s line of froth grips, together with the Fats Paw. When utilizing the comparatively skinny bar tape on drop bars, I’ve additionally used the Fizik gel inserts and had good outcomes.

Alt Bars and Flared Drops

There are dozens of alt bars and gravel bars accessible now, as you’ll be able to see in our Alt Bar Index and Gravel Bar Index. If you happen to’re comparatively new to biking, it is likely to be a bit overwhelming. All of us right here at BIKEPACKING.com have completely different very best preferences. Cass likes the dramatic 45° again sweep of the Jones bars, for instance, whereas Virginia and I favor a extra reasonable ~15-25° backsweep. If you’re alt bar-curious, attempt borrowing a pair from a buddy earlier than shopping for them.

Suspension Posts and Stems

Whereas not for everybody, suspension stems and seat posts supply just a little little bit of cushion on the two details of contact. You could find a wealth of seatpost choices in our Suspension Seatpost Index. As for stems, we’ve used the Redshift stem and prefer it. I discover that the motion of those stems negatively results bike dealing with in additional technical path conditions, which is why I favor the off change on Cane Creek’s new eeSilk stem.

Different Methods to Make Your Bike Extra Snug

A commentor on our YouTube channel urged exercises that contain power coaching and mobility. This can be a nice suggestion as having a powerful core performs a significant position in assuaging stress in your palms, one thing that Virginia was taught after needing carpal tunnel surgical procedure a pair years in the past. Have some other ideas or strategies for making your bike extra snug? Please depart them within the dialog under!