MOUNTAIN BIKE
No more white knuckles! Mountain Bike fitting has changed as drastically as the bikes we're riding. Massive changes in bike specificity, frame geometries, suspension, dropper-posts, wheel and tire size and more. There used to be two categories of bikes: Cross Country and Downhill. Although specificity still exhists, most riders want fast, light bikes that soak up and rip through any terrain. They want bikes that can do anything! All of these amazing improvements have allowed riders of all levels to push their athleticism and skills.
Although what the rider is physically doing on top of their bike affects every bike fit whether on the road or dirt, it is simply critical while on an MTB. Ten different riders will have ten different riding styles. Mountain Biking is a very active type of riding. We're constantly moving over the bike, shifting our weight forward/back, left to right, changing our foot and hand pressures, shifting our weight based on skill level, terrain, speed, etc. The purpose of bike fitting is to improve, perfomance, bike handling, weight distribution, and comfort.
Foot issues, saddle numbness/pain, back pain, knee pain, excessive weight on the hands, twitchey or sketchy bike handling are all indicators a MTB fit would be beneficial. It takes somebody who understands the balance of the rider's body, the bike, and the skills of mountain biking to perform a proper bike fit.
There are only 5 points of contact on an MTB including the saddle, feet and hands. While decending, it usually goes down to four points as we unweight the saddle. How weight is distibuted over these points directly affects how the bike handles, your performance, comfort and safety and maybe most importantly the size of your smile! Let it rip!