Evan Plews
I was fit by Tom Coleman himself in Idaho in June. I had a weak position
when I went and had heard from my coach that the WN system was the best
thing going. I believe I learned a lot from the experience, but the
bottom line is that I quit using the WN fit in October because I saw no
improvement in power or endurance. In fact, I was horribly uncomfortable
most of the time.
I worked in bicycle retail for 7 years and my honest opinion of all
fitting systems has been that they were a sales gimmick. The WN system
is based on some physiology and common sense but it has flaws. I do not
know Mike or John personally, but I would imagine that they have
discovered WNs limitations. Hopefully they have the knowledge and skill
to overcome them!
Let me put a few myths to rest:
WN web self fit is not worth it. If you think you need fitted, you
probably need someone to help you.
WN claims "laser precision" but the lasers is only used for leveling and
measurement error alone likely means your fit is +/- 5 mm. (Remember
sig/figs from high school?)
WN suggests SOLE footbeds. From experience I stongly suggest custom
orthotics or shoes. I suppose the SOLE footbed is better than the excuse
most cycling shoe companies use for an insole!
WN claims any bike "size" can be made to "fit". This is true if only if
you plan on using it for your trainer. My experience is that effective
TT length coupled with seat tube angle is super critical to fit AND
handling. Most people only have a window of +/- .5" OR +/- .5 degrees.
Be careful here!
My road fit was fairly comfortable and seemed to provide decent power
output. My MTB fit was unrideable. The algorythm must be flawed since
the same measurements were used to derive each fit.
So my advice is this:
If you don't have clue about fitting a bike WN and a LOCAL fitter (like
Mike or John) is a great place to start. Just make sure you they are
willing to continue working with you to "tune" the WN baseline fit to
your specific needs and riding style. If you have have been riding for
awhile successfully then I suggest reading all the books you can,
learning the physiology, watching successful riders, and experimenting
with a powermeter so you get a fit that works for YOU!
I totally respect and credit Tom at WN for trying to develop a better
system. I believe WN is on the right track and may evolve into a real
"solution". Unfortunately, WN is not there yet. I am proof of that...
Good luck to anyone who has read this rant!
Feel free to ask my any specifics off-line, too if you like.
I also like what CB's advice about the Fitstick. This is a great make
sure you keep something that works for you!
EP
JOHN FORBES wrote:
Yes, it is a measurement based fit. However as Mike and I require and
the web site asks, you must try the fit on a trainer and under
observation of someone who can give you appropriate feedback
The at home fit gives you a fit based upon your measurements and is
often the only option for those who live in an area where no shop offers
a Wobble naught fit. It costs $49.00. Here in the Portland area we have
two trained fitters, myself included, who offer the fit and the
experience that fine tune it. For instance, I ask the rider numerous
questions about riding style and goals. I check how limber they are,
letting them know why that's important.
A fit Mike or I offer takes at least two hours and costs $130 because of
our expertise. We guarantee our fits.
I'd sure hate riding without strong hamstrings. I could go back to my
neophyte years and just pedal with my quads thus sacrificing 70% or so
of my power stroke.
The web site is huge and there are areas that need revision but the vast
majority is informative and positive. Check it out, Wobblenaught.com
Thanks,
John Forbes
2126 NE 12th Ave.
Portland, OR 97212
503-331-6658
----- Original Message -----
From:
Gilbert.-@providence.org<mailto:Gilbert.-@providence.org>
To: ob-@topica.com<mailto:ob-@topica.com>
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 10:34 AM
Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] anyone used wobblenaught ONLINE?
-----Original Message-----
From: Ormerod, Gilbert
Sent: Fri 12/17/2004 10:32 AM
To: joswig-@earthlink.net<mailto:joswig-@earthlink.net>
Cc:
Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] anyone used wobblenaught ONLINE?
Not to rain on anybody's parade, but I have a few concerns about the
online site. The information, while voluminous, isn't all that accurate
or applicable.
For example:
"The average adult walks at a cadence of approx. 90 to 120 steps per
minute. This holds true for your pedal stroke! Changes in this smooth,
coordinated pattern markedly reduce efficiency and greatly increase the
energy cost. With advancing age, fatigue, the number of steps per minute
decreases. "
Grab a watch and go for a walk. You'll see that the average cadence
while walking is 50 or less. What they are talking about is foot
strikes per minute, which doesn't equate to cadence on a bike which
measures, essentially, what only one foot is doing per minute, not both
feet.
Also....
"Declaration (sic)
* Knee: The hamstring muscles contract to slow down the swing just prior
to heel strike so that the heel can strike the ground quietly in a
controlled motion. If the hamstrings are weak, heel strike may be
excessively harsh, causing thickening of the heel pad, and the knee may
hyper extend. "
This apparently is a cut and paste from something describing walking or
running. Why include information on heel strike when discussing bike
fit? It's a non-issue! If your heel is striking something while
pedaling you need more help than a simple bike fit.
What they are offering on the web site is just another STATIC bike fit.
Any static fit can only be considered a starting point, because if you
line up eight cyclists with the exact same body measurements, you will
very likely have eight different optimal bike fits. This will primarily
be due to differences in flexibility and strength, though
neuro-physiologic factors will also play a role.
Start with a static fit, but you still will need to do a good deal of
tweaking to get things just right. Having someone like Mike or John
help with that would hopefully take care of most of the fine tuning, but
you're not going to get that kind of assistance through any online fit.
Gil Ormerod
Providence Sports Therapy / Cycle Analysis Sport Lab
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