GIVEAWAY: Bike Fit from Bike Fit Labs & Some DZNuts

Our first ride in prep for St. George 70.3 in May
Keri, Taylor, Suzy, Matt, Debbie, Nate, Jess, Trent, Matt

Loving that the weather is warming and I am beginning to see more cyclists on the road. I started cycling only 2 or so years ago and am hooked. I am still a runner at heart, but I love to get my spin on or hit the roads as much as I can! But just as much as we have talked about running and having the right shoes, you need to make sure you have the right bike and FIT before heading out for your first big bike ride. Just as in anything we do physically, nagging aches or pains can suck the enjoyment right out of cycling and turn a long ride into a REALLY long ride. The seasons are far too short for injuries, especially since most cycling discomfort is easily eliminated through a proper bike fit. In most cases, this will involved help from a professional!!

What is a bike fit?
Bikes come in a limited number of shapes and sizes...we do not. Everyone is shaped differently! Bike manufacturers use adjustable components so their bikes can be made to accommodate a larger cross-section of riders. A trained bike fitter knows which adjustments need to be made to each of these components so that human and machine can truly become one.

Who needs a bike fit?
Anyone who plans to spend any length of time riding a bicycle will benefit greatly from a professional bike fit. A proper fit can:

Improve overall rider comfort

Help prevent cycling-induced repetitive stress injuries

Reduce or eliminate back, knee, neck and wrist pain

Reduce or eliminate “hot foot”

Reduce or eliminate saddle discomfort and numbness in the netherregions

Reduce or eliminate numbness in the hands and fingers

Reduce rider fatigue

A good fit can also improve riding performance, because it allows the rider to use multiple muscle groups in the most effective and efficient manner. Who doesn't want these things to be a stronger rider? I do!!

What happens during a bike fitting session?
The first step is they will talk to you and find our your history. How long have you been cycling? What are your cycling goals? How comfortable are you in the saddle? Do you have any injuries that you are working through? Do you have any discomfort when you are currently biking in the way your bike fits? From there they will access your flexibility and measure various parts of your body.

A typical fitting includes:

Setting clipless pedal cleats in the correct orientation and fore/aft position

Setting your seat height and fore/aft position

Evaluating shoes and insoles

Determining correct stem length, handlebar height and handlebar width

A fitting takes between one and two hours and costs between $150 and $400, depending on how much you do and how in depth the fitting is. I have had some more intense fittings where stems have been shortened with saws, etc. which would be more expensive then if they just adjusted my pedals and seat!!

Much of the fitting takes place with you and your bike on a stationary indoor trainer. For this reason, you should bring all your riding gear to your fitting and be prepared to spend 10 minutes or more riding on the trainer.

When should you get your bike fit?
As soon as possible!! Today is the ideal day to make an appointment to have your bike fit. Getting this taken care of early in the season will give you and your body time to adapt to changes made to your position on the bike before you begin any racing! In addition, it will make your training rides more enjoyable. And if it is more enjoyable, you are more likely to go back for longer and more intense riding!

Most fitters guarantee the fit for a full year, so you can go back later in the season to take care of any adjustments and fine-tuning if the need arises, or to facilitate any changes your body might have undergone through training.

Where can I go for a bike fitting?
Today there are more professional bike fitters than ever before. Most work in full-service bike shops, but some cycling-specific physical therapists and coaches also do fittings. One place that we have found is Bike Fit Labs. You can also find them on facebook here, or under Bike Fit Labs. Their mission at Bike Fit Labs is to give you the best cycling experience possible; not to sell you a bike. That’s why they have invested in the most innovative and cutting-edge 3D body mapping technology. They have also designed a proprietary fitting process and brought on very experienced fitters. This enables them to deliver the highest-value fits at economical prices. It's all about efficiency and comfort! Bike Fit Labs are going to give one of our followers a $250 fit! Because a good fit equals a Happy Rider!!!

No matter how good of a fit you have sitting that long on a bike can really hurt you (if you know what I mean). For my first outdoor long ride I had a friend tell me I absolutely needed to put this cream on. Honestly it SAVED me! I made it through the ride without any pain or irritation. The next ride I did I didn't put any cream on and let's just say I was not a happy camper during and after the ride. DZ Nuts Bliss cream is a must for any rider! Bliss high viscosity chamois cream uses only the finest and natural ingredients which treat and prevent saddle sores by:

Eliminate chaffing (which is the start and cause of saddle sores)

Anti-inflammatory action that soothes irritated skin

Wound healing actives heal existing saddle sores

Anti-fungal and anti-bacterial reduces chance of infection

So our giveaway today is a package to make you the most comfortable on your bike as possible, which will help your performance! $250 Bike Fit from Bike Fit Labs and some DZ Nuts Cream of your choice!! You know what to do to enter. The contest will go through Monday at 11:59pm. Winner will be announced on Tuesday!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!!!