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Bike Fit: Triathlon And Gravel Racing

6 June 2022

Wade Moreno

If you've signed up for a triathlon or a gravel race, finding the right bike fit can impact your performance and comfort. Here are some things to consider when getting a bike fit for a triathlon or gravel race bike.

Triathlon

A triathlon bike should be fast, portable, efficient, and comfortable to ride. When getting a bike fit for a triathlon bike, don't forget to consider how you'll use the bike when you race, train, and travel.

Efficiency

One of the biggest dilemmas when choosing a bike fit is whether you'll ride with aero bars or conventional handlebars. If your triathlon bike will be used for time trial situations, aero bars are a necessity. When getting fitted for a triathlon bike with aero bars, make sure that you adjust your bike frame to accommodate more length. Although the amount of length you'll need to add will depend on your body type, most bike fits involving aero bars require sizing up.

Comfort

To make your triathlon bike more comfortable, you might want a bike fit that allows for a full range of motion. This might require expanding the seat post height and/or having augmented positioning for your gear housing. When you work with a bike specialist, make sure your bike fit involves multiple configurations. To optimize your comfort, attempt to change one variable at a time. This can allow for optimized bike fit adjustments that deliver the highest levels of comfort.

Portability

Most triathlons involve shipping or toting your bike to and from different training and racing locations. One of the biggest mistakes some triathlon athletes make when getting a bike fit is opting for a bike that requires professional help to set up. Thus, when you are required to disassemble your bike for travel, you might struggle to get the bike to fit the same way when you reassemble it. The best bike fit specialist won't just fit you to a bike, they will also give you the tools and knowledge you need to set the bike up when you're on your own. If you're working with an online bike fit specialist, be sure to ask them for tutorials to help you understand how to set up the bike on your own.

Gravel Racing

One of the fastest-growing styles of bike racing is gravel racing. When getting a bike fit for gravel racing, adjusting the shock absorption to account for your height and weight is crucial. If possible, work with a bike fit specialist who will allow you to test ride bikes on uneven, off-road, surfaces.  

For more information, contact a local bike fitting service, such as Plan 7 Coaching.

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