Now is the time to connect with your local bike shop for a seasonal tune up and a bike fit. Many endurance athletes have never had a bike fit. For endurance athletes who put in countless miles on the bike, a good bike fit is crucial. A good fit will maximize your power output, provide the most comfortable, yet aerodynamic / aggressive, position to you and decrease risk for overuse injury. For endurance athletes who crank out countless miles on the bike, setting your body up in the best position possible to decrease risk for injury is essential for longevity in your training, racing and lifetime riding.
Your fit will change based on a variety of factors. Generally, I recommend a bike fit at the beginning of every season and with each new bike purchase. Fit changes with season, your fitness level, weight, flexibility, age and goals, there are many different factors that go into a bike fit. Depending on the type of bike(s) you have and the style of racing you do on each bike, you may even be fit differently to each bike.
It may take time to get a bike fit this year. Some bike shops are not doing fits yet due to Covid, the fitter does need to be close throughout bike fitting. I would recommend reaching out now to your favorite or local bike shop to see if or when they are doing fits and book an appointment within the next few months. Ideally, you would be ready to hit the road come spring with your bike fit and tune up checked off the list.
If you are in the process of, or considering, getting a new bike this year or at any point in the future, always remember fit the bike to you, not yourself to the bike. It is crucial to buy a bike that first fits you and THEN get fit, not try and fit a bike to you that doesn't fit you. Think frame size first, it's important to choose a frame that fits as well as possible in the first place. Be an educated consumer. It is imperative to test ride before you buy and I would recommend testing out a variety of bike brands to find the best one for you. A good bike shop will expect and encourage you to take a test ride.
Beat the crowds and get it done or scheduled now so you are ready to hit the roads come spring!