GURU takes the science of bike fitting to the nth degree
The world runs on data. It can be qualitative or quantitative. It can provide insights, information, and direction. It can change industries or lead to scientific breakthroughs. On a day-to-day basis, the decisions we make in our professional and personal lives are being driven more and more by data.
At MomentFeed, which is a SaaS (software-as-a-service) company, we consume and leverage data in everything we do, from sales and marketing to customer retention, product development, hiring, and fundraising. Why? Because we have to. Because the company that makes the best use of data is the company that wins. The same can be said for individual cycling performance.
In the following series, we'll explore a range of data-driven methods for maximizing performance and efficiency. These data can be static in form of bike and body geometry, and they can be dynamic in the form of biometrics, power output, and fitness levels. Why? So you can go faster. By collecting, analyzing, and processing how all of these data can impact and improve performance, you're able to take a highly objective and scientific approach to dropping your buddies on a climb or crushing their personal records on Strava.
We'll start with the GURU Bike Fit System. When you buy a high-end bike, most shops include a basic fit that sets the seat height and fore/aft position. The first issue is that this approach isn't personalized. It's the same formula for everyone. More importantly, it's a bit of cart before the horse. You want to start with a professional bike fit in order to know what style and size of bike is ideal for you. And the GURU system was designed from the ground up to do just that.
There are three primary aspects of the GURU system:
1. Rider Scan: This 3D camera precisely measures and captures your complete body geometry including height, inseam, shoulder width, and arm length. No need for tape measures. It's a completely digital experience. Using these data, you can determine things like recommended bar width and saddle type. This also gives the system a starting point for the fitting process.
2. Dynamic Fit Unit: This is a stationary bike with an infinite range of motion that adjusts in real time to accommodate your body geometry, riding style, and individual nuances. The saddle and handlebars can move along multiple axes in millimeter increments as you ride, which offers the unique opportunity to evaluate dozens of settings within a single hour. It's also possible to measure power output in various positions if this is something you want to optimize for.
3. Fit System Software: The Rider Scan camera monitors your riding position and body angles as you pedal on the Dynamic Fit Unit. This image, along with the bike geometry, are displayed in real time as you ride. The GURU database also has the specs for hundreds of different bike models, which enables you to take a virtual test ride on any one of them. And when you arrive at the perfect fit, the software can cross-reference that with the bike database to make recommendations that can include custom stem lengths and stack heights.
As someone who rides north of 100 miles per week on a competition-level road bike (Cannondale EVO Di2), I went into the GURU fitting with the confidence my bike positioning was close to perfect. My assumption was that a scientific fitting would validate what I already knew, which had value. Yet I was more than open to being wrong. The result was a bit of both.
Two of the key measures, saddle height and overall reach, were spot on. But my bar height was too low by a single spacer i.e. about a centimeter. I preferred a lower position for downhill handling, but this meant I had to angle my saddle back in order to relieve pressure on my hands, which put too much pressure on my sit bones. This seemingly minor adjustment made all the difference.
The GURU software recommended a more relaxed frame geometry, such as the Cannondale Synapse or Specialized Roubaix, as opposed to my race geometry. And it would be possible for me to ride a 54cm as opposed to the 56cm that I ride. At the end of the day, though, personal preference plays a significant role.
You'll walk away from a GURU fitting with your individual fit document. It includes the key measurements that you or a shop would use to setup any bike you could want to buy or ride. If you're traveling and renting a bike, this is your setup. In other words, this is how your body geometry data translate into an ideal cycling position.
Note: I was fit at Sho-Air Cyclery in Orange, California. The GURU website can direct you to a local shop that offers the program.