THE LAST NOVEMBER THE 17th CLAUDIA TREMPS, PROFESSIONAL TRAIL RUNNER OF LONG DISTANCE, VISITED US. THIS TIME HER VISIT WAS FOR A BIKE FIT FOR HER ROAD BIKE.

Claudia Tremps is a regular sportswoman in our installations. The Institut Català del Peu and its sporting biomechanical department, Fitmetric, as biomechanical professionals and podiatrists, we are part of the professional team which help and work with Claudia in her sporting course. She usually visits us at the beginning and middle of the season for analysis and podiatry check-up, of the race biomechanics, measurements of other performance parameters like strength, power, etc. This time, her visit was for a bike fit and monitoring of performance parameters. As you will know, runners, and even long-distance runners, usually use cycling as a part of their training in the pre-season. Cycling, makes them working strength and cardio easier, involving musculature with biomechanics, which facilitates them to go on working the strength, to accumulate volume and not to tire the muscles out the same way the race does. Besides, it is about a sport of a very low articular impact, for what is essential for cyclists to have periods of training without this impact which can be very damaging in a long distance. In the case of Claudia, it was necessary to assess her position and to carry out the necessary adjustments with the aim of improving her performance, that we call bike fit. In Fitmetric it is a usual service, and, every time, we notice that cyclists carry out this study. Cycling is a sport of a low articular impact, as we abovementioned. But it is also a sport in which performance depends on the ability of the sportsman/sportswoman, and, of course, that the articular-muscle biomechanics is the right one. A good cyclist with a wrong position can make him/her to get injured. Therefore, if cycling is an additional activity for a cyclist, he/she has to pedal in the bike as a real cyclist. Not only to perform well and doing him/her utmost, but also to prevent injuries. That is the reason why bike fit is necessary, if you are a professional, amateur or an occasional cyclist. In the case of Claudia, the changes in her position were mainly by adjustment of height and backward movement of the saddle, power and some instructions for the improvement of her pedaling technique. The changes for her were very remarkable at once, feeling much more comfortable on the bike and they avoided some problems she had behind  the knees in specific moments when pedaling. We wish she will have a great pre-season and a very great season, without injuries, we will continue working on the prevention and everything she will need.