So, my story. From those of you that have been around awhile, I got in to road cycling in February 2010 (I never claimed timing was a strong suit of mine). I ended up in size 47 cycling shoes because the shop owner/fitter told me that was my size. A shorter, more upright stem swap on a 54cm Synapse, some cleat positioning (Shimano SPD MTB cleats) and I was sent on my way. My sit bones were killing me, like I was getting a 2x4 rammed in to my pelvis.
We moved to MD (thanks, Army!) and I met a fitter here, and that's all she did: fitting. New saddle, some cleat positioning (same shoes and cleats) and I was sent on my way. Well, it was a improvement, but she said the frame was too small for me so that it'd never be really "right." Next bike was a Giant TCR (well, I had a Defy that was defective, so I jumped from that to the TCR), in a size M/L. Longer, lower stem, same saddle that was on the Synapse and it was love, pure love. Stupidly sold that bike along with a Raleigh touring bike I was commuting on.
After a stroke, some trikes, a velomobile and then a 56cm Trek Crockett. I never, ever could get really comfortable on it and that shop's fitter seemed to just slap together some adjustments without any measurements. Chafing, groin infection that took over a year to cure, horrible. I went to a Cruzbike but didn't really like the fact I couldn't see behind me and the handling was waaaaaay too skittish for my liking. It was a great bike, just not for me.
A friend opened up an small, independent shopping only selling Specialized©®™. I bought a new Roubaix Comp in a 56cm frame. My friend is adamant he does not fit beyond a basic saddle height adjustment.
2 months later, I headed to a very well-known shop in Baltimore that also sells Specialized ®©™ and advertises its fitting acumen. 3 hours later I had a Specialized ™©® BG Fit performed. I was told it was take a few weeks to feel comfortable and I went from the stock Roubaix saddle to 155mm Toupe saddle.
Since then I have been so uncomfortable. Not just the hand pain/numbness etc, but the worst is the groin numbness about 12 minutes in to a ride. The numbness was so bad, passing urine was numb as well. The numbness would last a few days at a clip. Standing during rides would help some, but it was detrimental to training especially during the valleys of recovery on TrainerRoad because I am standing and loading up my legs when I should be recovering. After speaking with
@John_V I looked up RETULl and found out that a shop in Maryland about 1.5 hours from me not only uses RETUL, but also uses the GURU DFU, basically a a fully adjustable bicycle fitting machine. The GURU is on a turnable so the RETUL system can get a 360 degree view.
The fitter, Stu, has been doing this a long time and is an engineer by education. He's in to the scientific aspect of it, but also notes there is some art to it. 5 hours later, my shoes are significantly smaller (duh!), I'm on a 143mm Power Saddle, my bars are slammed and my saddle is significantly higher and set back further. To have the GURU machine go from my original fit (my bike was measured and those measurements were transferred to the GURU for a baseline) versus my new fit is incredible. Hand pain is gone, and I can feel my legs stretching now when I pedal. The groin numbness is gone and I feel pressure on my sit bones once again. I now can feel it when I pee (it sounds ridiculous, but once you're numb down there for a few days, you get used it).
It wasn't cheap, when you add the fit, the shoes, the saddle and the time and tolls to get this done, but it truly was a revelation in how much comfort can be achieved once positioning is correct. For those of you that have been following me on Strava, you'll see I put a few hours in each week on the trainer. I think this new fitting is going to help me with those numbers since I will not dread the discomfort and genital numbness that came with my time on the saddle.
For what its worth, I spoke to my primary care physician and when you find out the damage that is done from compressing those bloood vessels and prostate, I'm glad I convinced Mrs. Drachen to give me the credit card and cut me loose to get my fit right.
I have some work to do with stretching my hips and a LOT of work to do on core strength but I now I have a direction and marching orders to go with it.