First – don’t get me wrong. I’m not a Luddite. I love many things that have come along in the technological revolution. But, we still must be careful how much gravity we give these tools and applications that actively or passively claim to replace humans.
I’ve talked some about the bike fitting calculators which can be found at various locations online and how; while they may be based on good equations, there are two inherent flaws when it comes to claims of delivering “correct fit” or “correct frame size”:
1. The accuracy of the resulting dimensions is only as good as the accuracy of the measurements used in the equations. Garbage in, garbage out.
2. Unquantifiable factors such as injury history, desired riding position, physiological asymmetries, riding history and goals are not accounted for. Additionally, flexibility and ranges of motion also weigh heavily into determining a rider’s optimal on the bike position. These factors are glaringly absent from these applications because they introduce an “X” factor which cannot be caluclated.
So in the end – using such applications as a guide or a starting point is not bad and may help you narrow the herd a little. But, until an application comes along capable of evaluating and somehow quantifying the unquantifiable; there will be no replacement for the hands and mind of an experienced bicycle fitter.
Now, go ride! (And if it hurts – go see your fitter.)