Archive for October, 2010

Follow Bike Science on Facebook and Win a Bike Fit

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Keep up to date on the latest Bike Science news, offers, bike fit tips and discussion by following our FACEBOOK PAGE.

Why not try one of our TURBO SESSIONS, join our BRISTOL SATURDAY RIDE or if you’ve visited us for a fit let us know what you think and POST A REVIEW.

Next month, we’ll award a lucky Facebook follower with a FREE Level 2 Retul bike fit worth £174.99!

Find our page HERE and hit the “Like” button to be in with a chance.

Planet X Exocet Hawaii Special Edition – EXCLUSIVE OFFER £1999 – Half Price Retul Fit

Friday, October 22nd, 2010

Planet X never cease to amaze us with their incredible value high performance offers. They’ve done it again with their latest offer, a super high spec build on their top of the range time trial/triathlon frame, the Exocet.

Buy your bike through Bike Science Bristol or Bike Science Derby and take advantage of our 1/2 Price offer on our Level 2 Retul fit service!

BOOK A FREE NO OBLIGATION SIZING APPOINTMENT AT OUR BRISTOL OR DERBY STUDIOS HERE.

The Plane X Exocet Hawaii Special Edition is a simply stunning spec! All this for just £1999….

Planet X Exocet carbon frame, fork and seat post.

Planet X 82/101 tubular wheelset with Conti Podium tubulars

Planet X all carbon Stealth TT bars.

Shimano Dura Ace Front and Rear Mechs and 500TT carbon bar end shifters

SRAM Rival  chain

Ultegra Cassette

Vision Trimax carbon aero chainset with BB30 ceramic bearing bottom bracket

That’s £1000 SAVING over their previous bike at this spec.

Bont A3 Road Shoes – IN STOCK NOW!

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

We’ve added to our range of high performance shoes with Bont’s “entry level” A3 road shoe in stock and available to order NOW. Don’t let the entry level tag fool you, these shoes blow similarly priced competition out of the water. Ultra stiff for maximum power transfer, very thin stack height for great pedal feel and fully heat moldable. Not only the upper, but the entire shoe including the sole can be heat moulded for a perfect fit and ultimate comfort. You REALLY have to ride in these shoes to appreciate how good they are!

A3 Road Cycling Shoes –  £119.99

Sub 10 Triathlon Shoes - £119.99

Sub 9 Triathlon ShoesREDUCED £149.99 SAVE £50

Cobb V-flow Max Saddle Bags Triathlon Plus Magazine “Peak Performer” Award

Saturday, October 16th, 2010

We love Cobb Saddles! They’re proven performers when it comes to combating numbness, soft tissue and perenial pain on the bike. That’s why we weren’t too surprised when Triathlon Plus Magazine loved them too. Awarding their test V-Flow Max saddle a full 5/5 for performance and their top accolade of “Peak Performer“. Why not find out for yourself why these unconventional looking saddles are fast becoming renowned as the best perch out there for triathlon and time trial specific bikes.

ORDER ONLINE NOW – £114.99

Rotherham Fitting – Now Every Monday

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

We’re now offering our Level 2 Retul fit service at Planet X’s Rotherham showroom every Monday. Three appointments per day are available. Fit slots start at 11:30 am, 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm with next Monday (the 18th of October) already full. The off season is the perfect time to get your position dialled in ready for your best 2011 ever. BOOK ONLINE NOW.

Retul 3D Bike Fit – What’s all the fuss about?

Monday, October 11th, 2010

Bike Science Derby’s Retul certified fitter Andy Brooke explains what sets Retul apart when it comes to bike fitting measurement systems…

We often get asked what makes Retul 3D fittings so special and I always answer with the same simple reply – accuracy and individuality! The system doesn’t apply a one-size-fits-all approach to fitting, it tailors the position to each individual rider based on their own pedalling style. That’s what really sets Retul apart from other systems.

Until recently riders were fit using very simple calculations for saddle height based solely on leg length, but this didn’t take into account how the rider pedalled. Lets take a simple example of two riders with exactly the same inside leg – one who pedals with their toe down and the other who pedals with their heel down. If you set both their saddle heights according to inside leg measurements then of course they’ll end up with the same saddle height. However, the rider who pedals heel down might be over-straightening their leg at the bottom of the pedal stroke and risking injury, while the rider who pedals with their toe pointing down might not be straightening enough and won’t be able to put the maximum power down. It really doesn’t matter which of these pedalling styles you use as long as you take it into account when setting your saddle height. Everybody is different and even the greatest cyclists in history have different pedalling styles from one to the next. Bike fitting has now realised that it’s OK to pedal differently to the Pro of your choice (because lets face it, s/he probably pedals differently to everyone they race against anyway!) so fitters have moved away from static fits based on leg length and towards dynamic fits – fitting riders on their bike to take into account their individual pedalling style. Before the Retul system, this relied on fitters working by eye but accuracy varied greatly between fitters and only elite level athletes could access the kind of motion capture technology required to accurately measure the angles of knees, hips and ankles during the pedal stroke.

This opened up another, cheaper option to get a dynamic bike fit – video capture. The main problem with video capture is accuracy. The lens in a camera, like the human eye, can shorten angles depending on it’s view point, making it incredibly difficult to take accurate measurements. Even if a camera can accurately show the pedal stroke, the next problem with measuring angles on the human body is setting the points to mark out the angles. With most video capture systems this relies on the fitter clicking a mouse on the exact pivot point within the joint. When the rider and bike are reduced on a computer screen from over 1.5m in real life to just 10cm, it’s very difficult to precisely find anything! Clicking just a few millimetres either side of the pivot point can change the angles recorded by as much as 5-10 degrees.

By placing infra-red LEDs on skeletal markers, the Retul system can ensure accuracy and repeatability and take the guess work out of fitting. Our fitters are still highly trained and the 3D motion capture technology we use certainly doesn’t do the job for us, but it does allow us to be confident in our recommendations and our measurements knowing that the figures we have in front of us are accurate to within a millimetre.

Retul is a 3D system. Three infra red cameras in the Retul scanner record side to side position and movement of each marker providing our fitters with with detailed information about how each rider sits and moves on the bike. No other bike fitting system gives this detailed insight. Side to side imbalances in pedal stroke can be spotted and corrected (either by direct interaction from the fitter or with flexibility work and strength training). In most cases our fit clients will leave us not only with a better bike position, but a suggested program of stretches and corrective strength exercises to improve their efficiency on the bike further.

Why not book a demonstration evening for your team or club? – IT’S FREE – Contact Us.

Read more and make a booking online

BRISTOLDERBYROTHERHAM

Selecting your seat – Top tips for choosing the right saddle

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

Next to your frame (an possibly handlebars) your saddle choice is the most important factor when it comes to influencing, improving and hopefully optimising your comfort and posture on the bike. Selecting the right saddle is a key part of the bike fitting process and getting it right can mean hours of pleasurable time on the bike rather than pain or simply putting up with discomfort. As a general rule, it shouldn’t hurt or take any effort to simply sit on your bike. If it does, something’s wrong with the fit or your equipment choices!

At Bike Science we’ve selected a range of saddles that are proven winners when it comes to comfort. So, whether you’re a pro or novice, male or female, road, triathlon, mtb or time trial rider read on for our comprehensive guide to our range of saddles.

Prologo Scratch Pro – From £69.99

There’s a reason why this saddle is the most popular saddle in the pro peleton and it’s the same reason we’ve selected the Prologo Scratch Pro as our “go to” saddle of choice for road riders struggling to find a saddle that works for them. The Scratch Pro saddle features a slightly rounded profile which works well for riders with moderate or poor flexibility. Active density padding means the saddle will support you where you need it and is softer where you don’t so won’t cause unwanted perenial pain or numbness. Available with either Ti or super light carbon rails for when you need comfort but don’t want to sacrifice weight saving.

Prologo Nago Evo TTR – £94.99

Developed initially by pro riders including four times world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara and Team Sky pro Bradley Wiggins, the short, wide nose of the Nago Evo TTR saddle makes it a great choice for time trial and track riders who need to stay UCI legal. Extremely comfortable when riding far forward, plus an innovative new grip system on the nose keeps you planted without sliding. An increasingly popular choice with triathletes looking for a lightweight, supportive saddle for riding in the aero position

Cobb Cycling V-Flow – £89.99

The original Cobb saddle. Developed in the U.S.A by world renowned bike fit and aerodynamics guru John Cobb, the V-Flow features a deep cut away and relatively soft memory foam. A great choice for smaller riders (and ladies) riding with tri bars on a road bike who suffer from frontal saddle pain or numbness. Available to try before you buy so you can test a saddle out and see if it works for you.

Cobb Cycling V-Flow Plus – £99.99

A development of the original V-Flow saddle. Slightly harder memory foam offers more support for heavier riders or those riding longer distances. A more pronounced drop away on the nose of the saddle further reduces the chance of frontal saddle pain or numbness. Another great choice for triathletes or time triallers using clip on bars on a road bike. Also available to try before you buy.

Cobb Cycling V-Flow Max – £114.99

From the same designer as the innovative and very popular Adamo saddle, the V-Flow Max is the perfect choice for riders looking for comfort on time trial or triathlon specific bikes, especially over long distances. Short profile, firm memory foam and radical cut away dramatically reduces pressure caused by the front of the saddle. Available to try before you buy. Test it before you decide to keep it!

NEW Opening Hours – Bristol and Derby

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

We’ve just updated our opening hours at both the Bristol and Derby locations.

Bristol hours are now

Monday : Closed
Tuesday : 10am – 6pm
Wednesday : 10am – 6pm
Thursday : 10am – 6pm
Friday : 10am – 6pm
Saturday : 9am – 5pm
Sunday : Closed

and Derby hours are

Monday : 10am – 8:30pm
Tuesday : 10am – 8:30pm
Wednesday : 10am – 8:30pm
Thursday : 10am – 8:30pm
Friday : 10am – 6pm
Saturday : 9am – 5:30pm
Sunday : Closed

Book a Precision Bike Fitting or an appointment to discuss sizing and specs for a Planet X or On-One bike NOW!

Retul Athletes :: Ready to Ride in Kona

Monday, October 4th, 2010

A host of Retul fitted and Retul sponsored athletes are primed and ready to go at next weekends “Big Dance” in Kona. Retul sponsored rider Craig Alexander is back to defend his crown and looking strong whilst the UK’s Julie Dibens from Team K-Swiss Trek looks to make things interesting for the usual suspects in her first crack at the  Ironman distance.

Looking to qualify for Kona next year? Now’s the time to start optimising your body position ready for some killer bike splits and super fast runs next season.

Read about our different levels of fitting service and BOOK YOUR BIKE SCIENCE BIKE FIT ONLINE TODAY!

Follow us on Facebook

Saturday, October 2nd, 2010

If you “Like” Bike Science, follow us via the new BIKE SCIENCE Facebook page. We’ll be posting news, offers, bike fit tips and all manner of other useful stuff. Why not post a REVIEW or ask us a question on the DISCUSSION board?