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The Bike Fit Academy
705 members • Free
3 contributions to The Bike Fit Academy
Feb 7 •
Seeking Advice: Fine-Tuning My Setup for Scoliosis
I’ve been living with scoliosis since childhood, but it wasn't until I started using an indoor trainer recently that I truly noticed how my asymmetries affect my cycling. I'm 48 now, 185cm tall with an 89cm inseam, weighting 95Kg and not that flexible with my legs, and I’ve spent the last five years cycling actively. However, the static nature of the trainer has highlighted issues I never noticed outdoors. I have a professional bike fit scheduled for this spring to guide my next steps. In the meantime, I’ve used online resources to make the following adjustments to my 2025 Cube C:62 Attain Race (Size 58): - Cockpit: Swapped the stock 100mm stem for a 90mm stem. - Seatpost: Swapped the 20mm offset post for a 0mm offset post. - Saddle: Replaced the stock saddle with a Selle Italia Max SLR Boost TI 316 Gel Superflow (I am also getting a Novus Boost Evo Endurance TM Superflow to compare for free) to resolve genital numbness (this worked perfectly). - Foot Support: Added Sidas 3D slim insoles for high arch support. - Wedging: Right foot: Two cleat wedges. Left: one Inshoe forefoot wedge, one heel wedge - Cleats all the way back and inside (increase stance), feel spot on. The Results: The current setup feels nearly spot on. Combined with my height and fore-aft adjustments, I can now maintain a steady 110 RPM with almost no "dead spots" in my stroke. The Current Issue: My left foot feels slightly "cramped" specifically when transitioning over the top of the pedal stroke (172.5 crank length) and generally after the adjustments my completely loose right foot feels more stable than my left, left foot is not swimming or our of control, it just feels a tad cramped. There is no pain or numbness, just a physical sensation of tightness or restriction at that specific point, no hands or back / lower back issues during my sessions. Looking for Feedback: Does anyone have advice on addressing that "cramped" feeling at the top of the stroke? Also, I would love to see more content or videos specifically addressing bike fit adjustments for riders with scoliosis or similar spine issues.
0 likes • Feb 10
I experimented with a shim on the right shoe, but it re-introduced some old pressure on the outside of my forefoot (forefoot varus), so I’ve reverted to the previous setup. Had a solid session today back in the "normal" configuration, overall good, though with some minor left hip issues. It feels like I’m in the right ballpark, but I’d love to dive into the data to see how I can further reduce the pelvic rotation caused by my scoliosis.
0 likes • Feb 12
Hi Simon, thanks for the follow-up! To clarify, the "cramping" is more of a sensation that my left hip is "closed up" at the top of the pedal stroke (12 o'clock) not at the foot (feet feel perfect and properly positioned in the shoe) . Given my functional asymmetry, I expect some of this, and since there’s no real discomfort, I’m not overly concerned. I suspect the ultimate fix lies in off-bike strength work rather than just bike fit adjustments. Regarding the wedges: I agree they can be tricky, but they’ve been a game-changer for me. Before adding them, my right foot was constantly supinating (even with high-arch insoles) causing outer foot pain and a total lack of pedal control regardless of saddle height. The wedges corrected my foot tracking and finally balanced my power delivery on both sides. For now, I’m going to stick with the current setup until my professional fit. With my current saddle height and setback, the position feels solid, no muscle overloading, no rocking, and my spine and contact points feel properly loaded (no pain or numbness) I spend nearly the entire session on the hoods with no complaint.
Feb 5 •
Sore Arms and saddle discomfort
43 year old trying to re-kindle my love for cycling. I got a road bike a couple of years ago and Zwift ride for indoor / winter riding. I've struggled to get the right fit on both - over recent months I find myself getting numbness in my groin after 10-15 mins on the Zwift ride and then both arms get sore - mostly the forearms . I don't stay near any bike shops for a bike fit so have tried the online/virtual offerings as well as a variety of saddles over the last 12 months and just cant get rid of either issue. I assumed the issue was weight being to far forward and putting a strain on my arms and pressure towards the front of the saddle but the changes I've made don't seem to help. Will try get some clips added in the next week but any tips or suggestions as to where I'm going wrong would be appreciated.
0 likes • Feb 9
Could be different things: - Saddle height (A saddle to high will add weight to your hands depending on the aggressiveness of your bike). - Saddle fore aft or stem length - Saddle type (I experienced numbness indoors as well, switching to a saddle with a cutout pressure relief was a game changer) but this would be the last component I would look into, getting numb in just 10 minutes is an indication that something else is not correct rather the saddle type. - Saddle tilt (if you already tilted the saddle too much downwards) would push you forward and if your saddle height is on the higher end it would still contribute to the numbness Since you have no choice for a bike fit, I would say start with a classic example, lower your saddle really low and start moving higher from there. You will also get a better understanding of what are the symptoms of excessive or low saddle height. Note that indoor trainers are notorious in surfacing fit issues, as you are pretty static and if you also work with erg mode on is not the easiest to micro adjust your position for comfort. I am able to cycle for 3+ hours outside but I had a very hard time getting past 50m indoors until I made some adjustments (primarily change saddle).
Feb 6 •
🎥 First Bike Fit Academy Webinar ✅ - thank you!
Brilliant to see so many of you join the first Bike Fit Academy webinar 🙌 Really appreciate the engagement, questions, and follow-up conversations. The goal of this session was to zoom out and look at why bike fit problems keep coming back, and why random tweaks rarely fix them, and the discussion afterwards shows just how relevant that is. If you’ve watched it: - What was your biggest takeaway? - Did anything shift how you think about your own fit? - What else would you like us to dive into? The recording will be available from tomorrow morning for a limited time, before moving into the Bike Fit Academy webinar library, so catch it while it’s there. Thanks again for being part of this - this is exactly the energy and thinking we hoped to create here 🚴♂️
1 like • Feb 7
I really appreciate what you mentioned about knowing what you want before you ever step into a fitting studio. Having access to open-source information and community knowledge allows a rider to show up with a fundamental understanding of their own mechanics and goals. A bike fit isn't just a set of measurements; it’s a collaboration. If the rider doesn't know what they want to achieve, even the best fitter is shooting in the dark.
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Active 3d ago
Joined Feb 5, 2026
Eindhoven, Netherlands
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