Bike fit has always played a critical role in the relationship between bicycle and rider. We’re fortunate to have a long-standing relationship with one of the best fit-first bicycle studios in the country, ACME Bicycle Co., and are strong believers that a good bike fit is some of the best money a rider can spend.

An Overview

A proper bike fit consists of optimizing your riding position to best serve your cycling goals. Those goals could be to find more comfort, alleviate pain or numbness, unlock more power or speed, improve your weight distribution, inform your search for a new bicycle, and so much more. And while the materialist in me would love the rush of purchasing a new wheelset to be a bit more aero in the headwinds at Floyd Bennett Field, there’s no upgrade that comes close to a comfortable and efficient position on the bike.

With this in mind, it’s also worth mentioning that bike fit has evolved and improved significantly over the years. I can say with deep gratitude that modern bike fit has transcended the outdated and disproven “rules of thumb” we see on the internet, and it’s not an arbitrary set of numbers based on some body measurements. It’s also more than placing a rider on a three-dimensional data capture tool and relying on a computer to generate a position.

In this golden age we have experienced and knowledgeable fitters who can listen to a rider’s specific goals, assess mobility and strength, and observe how riders interact with their bikes to make informed position recommendations. This, along with the tools, research, and technology that fitters have access to today, are why an appointment with your fitter is time and money well-spent.

ACME Katonah’s Colin Tanner with TBD rider Lisa Vandivort.

A brief history

If it’s not already apparent, I’ve been passionate about the importance of bike fit for most of my life.

Twenty years ago I started my first bicycle industry gig as Miscellaneous Teenage Bike Shop Kid in a small upstate NY retailer. I cleaned bikes before mechanics started on them, stocked product on the floor, sold accessories to customers, managed inventory, and learned all that I could from the shop’s most-experienced mechanic, Pete.

When I started wrenching, Pete checked all of my mechanical work and taught me to correct my mistakes. He taught me a lot about bicycles, and sometimes he’d find a tool I’d never seen before and have me guess its use. I saw some unusual devices, including a seemingly-ancient tool for removing flat spots from rims, but one that sparked my curiosity most was a well-worn set of body measuring tools by The Fit Kit.

I have many memories of looking up from my menial tasks as Shop Kid to see Pete using those Fit Kit tools to measure clients during fit appointments. I understood very little about bike fit during that time, but the positive impact that Pete’s bike fits had on his clients was one of the many things that led me to develop a deep respect for him. He also had an impressive library of jazz recordings and transcriptions, but that’s for a different blog post.

Things have come a long way since those years. Bike fitters have leveled up their collective expertise by continuing to be the essential eyes-on-the-ground and working first-hand with riders of all kinds. But, larger entities in the bicycle industry have increased their involvement. Companies like Specialized and Trek have recognized bike fit as an opportunity to improve the experience that riders have with their bikes, and have also identified it as an opportunity to sell more products to customers.

This involvement of larger companies has complicated some aspects of the bike fit world, but it’s raised awareness for the importance of fit. It’s also improved the tools, research, and data that was available to fitters and their clients. Thankfully things have come a long way since the reliance on the previously-mentioned Fit Kit body measurement tools, but all of these improved resources still require skilled and experienced fitters to put them to use effectively.

That’s roughly where we are today, and where Jonathan and Colin at ACME Bicycle Co. come in.

The ACME Way

Even before my time on the To Be Determined roster, I frequently came across ACME Bicycle Co. when looking for recommendations for fitters to work with. Both Colin and Jonathan are widely-respected fitters with well-earned reputations for being at the forefront of the fitting industry. A quick visit to their bios reveals a long list of accolades and certifications, but the real secret sauce at ACME is their years of experience and the care that they provide when working with clients.

Booking a fit with them consists of picking a time slot on their calendars at ACMEBicycle.co and completing the Bike Fit Intake form. This is when they begin gathering information about your current bike, your riding goals and objectives, any existing pain or discomfort, and any other information that could be relevant. This form is just the start of the conversation between rider and fitter that continues when you walk in the door for your appointment at ACME.

On the day of your fit, bring your riding gear and existing bike (if applicable). Oh, and be prepared to pedal a bit.

During your appointment you’ll talk more about your riding history, your goals, bikes of past, present, and future, and more. Your fitter might also evaluate your current equipment and position if you’re working with an existing bike. They’ll then perform targeted tests of your core strength, flexibility, and mobility to understand any factors that might affect your cycling position.

At this point, the fun usually begins: You’ll hop on a Guru Dynamic Fit Unit and start pedaling. Once you’re warmed up, your fitter will work with you and the Guru DFU to start dialing in your ideal position. Speaking from personal experience, there were a two things about this part of the process that really stood out to me:

There’s a ton of value in how quickly and seamlessly Jonathan and Colin can make these adjustments while you ride. Many adjustable fit bikes require the rider to dismount for changes, or are slow to modify in general. With the equipment that ACME uses, that’s simply not the case. The Guru Dynamic Fit Unit moves quickly beneath you for position comparisons, and ACME’s Seat Cleat allows for quick and seamless saddle swaps.
The folks at ACME are great at “working out loud” and sharing the justification behind their recommendations and modifications. This was hands-down my favorite part of the experience, as it was fascinating to see and understand how my fitter was synthesizing various learnings and insights their fit process into a riding position. Colin walked me through the “why” of every position change, saddle recommendation, cleat adjustment, and more.

After your session on the Guru DFU, you’ll have a recommended riding position that can either be applied to your existing bike or a new one. If you’re working with ACME for your new bike purchase, they have relationships with an impressive portfolio of brands and can make recommendations based on your fit and preferences.

Closing thoughts

I’ve clearly become a bit of an ACME evangelist among my teammates, and all those that have made an appointment have had the same experience: Walking out the front door with a fit they love and a few good pets of the shop dog.

Regardless of what your goals for riding are, we recommend scheduling an appointment with a fitter for a conversation about your new or existing bicycle. And, if you’re in the NYC area, you can’t go wrong with our friends at ACME.