What's Happening

WPPTC Now Offers Bike Fitting

Mention This Blog Post and get $50 Off Your First Bike Fit!

WPPTC now offers bike fittings.

Did you know there are over 22,000 people who commute by bike here in Portland? That ranks us seventh in the nation! There are so many people choosing to bike these days, and for every rider, there’s a different reason to ride. Whether you’re spending your days hunched over your handlebars leading the pack, weaving through traffic on your mismatched fixie, or just hoping you’re using your turn signals correctly, be proud to be a part of such a fantastic community!

If you’re one of the many lovely people who choose to bike or would like to be, ask yourself: “When was the last time I had a professional bike fit?” For some of you, it’s been years, which means it’s time to schedule an appointment. Many others haven’t even heard of bike fitting. They tend to ask what exactly bike fitting is and go on to ask why it’s so important, so that’s what I’m here to answer.

Most people seek a bike fit once something has already gone wrong. Typical injuries include: knee, hip, low back pain, foot, hand, perineal numbness, Achilles, hamstring, or patellar tendonitis. If you’re biking with pain, don’t wait — come in as soon as possible! If you’re not in pain but ride frequently, it’s a good idea to be fitted to prevent an injury.

Blake Tucker-Jones, PTA is a Certified BikeFit® Specialist

Bike fitting is about identifying what is unique about you and adjusting your bike to match. We may find symmetry beautiful, but in reality, our bodies are far from it. Rather than forcing your body to adapt to a rigid machine like your bike, we can adjust your bike to suit your body’s unique structure and function. This will improve your comfort, power, and efficiency while relieving those nagging aches and pains. With bike fitting there is no one-size-fits-all approach. We must take into account not only how you look on and off the bike but also your goals, riding style, and past medical history. If your bike is not fit specific to your body then over time, wear and tear increases due to the imbalanced forces through your joints and across muscles.

This is why at West Portland Physical Therapy Clinic, we take time to discuss your history and review any current complaints you’re experiencing before the screen. We then begin to assess your functional movement patterns, joint range of motion, muscular strength, and flexibility before having you hop on the bike. Your bike is placed on a trainer so you can pedal while we make real-time measurements using Dartfish Video Analysis Technology. Based on our analysis, we can make accurate adjustments with live feedback of the results. Our work is done when the bike seems to disappear from beneath you.

Summer is in full swing, and there’s no better time than now to come in for a professional bike fit to improve the quality of your ride and ensure your safety. Our bike fitting is just $175. Whether you ride or someone you know does mention this blog post during July for a $50 discount off your first fit!