The measures five critical dimensions for bike setup.

BIKE SETUP MEASUREMENTS

The measures the spatial relationship of the points where a rider touches the bike: the saddle, pedals, and handlebar, in relation to a vertical scale centered on the bottom bracket. 

Once measurements are made on one bike, the can be set as an accurate jig to duplicate or modify that setup on any bike (except recumbents). 

POSITION HEIGHT = The vertical distance (cm) from the shoe's insole to the intersection of the vertical scale and a scale lying flat on top of the saddle.

SADDLE ANGLE = The angle between the vertical scale and the scale lying on the saddle. 

SETBACK = The distance (cm) from the intersection of these scales to the back of the saddle. "Traditional" setback (to the nose of the saddle) is simply this dimension minus the length of the saddle. Measurements to other points, such as the lowest or widest part of the saddle can be easily made.

BAR ANGLE = The angle between the vertical scale and a scale extended from the same intersection point to the top, center of the handlebar (Some riders prefer to lay a broom handle across the brake hoods of a road bike, and to use this for both road and mountain ride positioning).

REACH = The distance (cm) from the intersection to the top center of the handlebar. Again, a broom handle or dowel laid across the hoods of a road bike can also be used. Measuring this way automatically adjusts for different handlebar dimensions on a road bike, and correlates to bar position on an MTB. 

 
ADJUSTMENT FOR "EFFECTIVE CRANK LENGTH"

Effective crank length = crank length - shoe insole height above the center of the pedal's spindle. 

Setting the Insole Height and Crank Length scales physically offsets the Position Scale with respect to the Bottom Bracket. These settings should always reflect the bike being measured or setup (and the pedal/shoe combination that will be used on it). Bear in mind that the absolute numbers are less important than the differences between pieces of equipment. 

Position Height thus reflects the rider's anatomy rather than the combination of equipment and anatomy. 

 

Bike Bit Measurements with the FitStikBIKE FITTING MEASUREMENTS

THE INSEAM AND SADDLE HEIGHT SCALES

INSEAM = The distance from the BASE of the where it touches the floor to the TOP of the CROSSBAR. I.E. to where the CROSSBAR contacts the crotch. Inseam is measured without shoes.

SADDLE HEIGHT = The distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the BOTTOM of the CROSSBAR (which will lie on top of the saddle). This is a "traditional" saddle height measurement and does not correlate to the FitStik's bike setup measurements. 

NOTE:  For the Inseam and Saddle Height scales to read accurately, the Crank Length and Insole Height settings must be set so the FitStik is at its shortest overall length, i.e. Crank Length = 190, and Insole Height = Zero. 

 

OTHER MEASUREMENTS

Looking at the chart above, note that the scales measure the distance between different points: INSEAM measures from the TOP of the crossbar to the BASE of the stick. SADDLE measures from the BOTTOM of the crossbar to the CENTER of the crank adapter's hole. Knowing this, other measurements can be made. For Example:

TORSO and ARM LENGTH MEASUREMENTS

TORSO LENGTH: Place a pencil or other short rod through the hole for the CRANK ADAPTOR. Then, with the CROSSBAR held up firmly in the crotch, adjust the FitStik to place the end of pencil in the sternal notch (the V-shaped notch between the collarbones). Read Torso Length on the SADDLE HEIGHT SCALE.

ARM LENGTH: With the arm outstretched to the side, grasp the crossbar in the hand and slide the stick so its base touches the ribs where they intersect the pectoral muscle. Read ARM LENGTH on the INSEAM SCALE. 

Other measurements can be made as well.