There can often be a murky fog of mystery surrounding bike fitting. Sometimes, it’s as much an art as it is a science, and separating sound advice from the marketing Kool-Aid, and an experienced and impartial bike fitter from a “motion capture system operator” can be tricky.
We spend just as much of our time in the studio debunking various myths and old wives tales as we do bike fitting.
So, here are 5 common bike fitting / cycling myths that we still get asked about, that need debunking, in a bid to arm you with more knowledge to make better informed decisions. The aim is to help you maximise your cycling potential and enjoyment of our weird and wonderful sport.
Women’s Specific Bikes & Components.
This is one of the most common things we get asked about, particularly regarding bike frames and saddles. The women’s specific bike or saddle does not exist.
You are unique, an experiment of one, so what works for the “majority” of women, according to the cycling industry (whoever they are, usually men) may well be the exact opposite of what might work best for you!
Do you need a wide saddle with lots of padding, or a narrow saddle that is quite firm?
Is a flat saddle best, or one that is more ergonomically shaped?
Perhaps the stereotypical shorter and taller “women’s specific frame” might be completely the wrong shape for your particular body?
The only way to know is to test various options (ideally with the guidance of an experienced bike fitter) so you can understand what works best for you and your riding goals. (Yes, you can ride different saddles for different disciplines!)
Measuring Sit Bone Width = Saddle Nirvana.
While we’re on the subject of saddles, this is a firm favourite myth we like to debunk. If anyone tries to sell you a saddle by measuring the width of your sit bones, be VERY wary!

Unless you’re riding a Dutch bike, it’s highly unlikely that the main points of contact between your pelvis and the saddle are your sit bones (Ischial tuberosities).
As you hinge from your hips and rotate your pelvis forwards, the main point of contact between the saddle and your pelvic structure is the pubic ramus.
This is the ridge-like structure that runs from the sit bones forwards, and gets narrower as it gets more towards the front of your pelvis.
It is by contacting the saddle in this way that we create the most surface area of bone in contact with the saddle and therefore the most stable platform from which to support the hips. It’s also why most saddles get narrower towards the nose.
This area of the pelvis can’t be measured by sitting on a gel pad – the only way to figure out what saddle shape might work best for you is to test some different options out. There’s far more to selecting a good saddle than just the width!
A Lower / More Aggressive Position is Faster / More Aerodynamic
It’s no longer the mid ‘90’s, when Big Mig was winning time trials with a handlebar position so low that his nose was almost touching the front wheel (maybe a little exaggeration!).
We know so much more now about the biomechanics and physiology about what makes a rider go fast, and most of the time, for amateurs and weekend warriors especially, it’s not a lower front end or what we’d deem a more aggressive position.
If you are riding a position that increases postural stress and contributes to a reduction in your ability to actually generate force, then there’s some low hanging fruit to pick before you go searching for aero gains.
Ask yourself; “Do I have the required strength/capacity/mobility to maintain my position for the duration of my event, at the required or desired power output?”
Do I have to break out of my position to stretch my back / relieve shoulder or neck tension for instance?
A position that allows the body to move and transfer force as effectively as possible, for as long as possible, will likely be a better bet than trying to contort yourself into too low of a position in search of aerodynamic gains.

Shorter Cranks = Less Power
Another classic myth from years gone by but one that is still difficult for rider’s to get their head around.
Power is a result of leg speed (cadence) x torque. What riders often feel when moving to a shorter crank length is the reduction in torque, which commonly gets confused for a reduction in power.
There are instances, such as CX racing or XC mountain biking where a rider may benefit from a longer lever (crank length) to generate the required torque to clear a particular piece of terrain or obstacle when shifting gears wouldn’t be possible due to the extremely high load being placed on the drivetrain.
For road riding however, where the drivetrain load is commonly significantly less than off road riding, torque can be changed by selecting a different gear to navigate any given change in terrain.
If a shorter crank can improve a riders symmetry and stability when pedalling, and torque can be maintained through modifying gear choices, then it’s a win-win.
Some folks won’t necessarily need shorter cranks, but it’s well worth finding out if there could be any potential performance and comfort benefits.
There’s so much that goes into crank length – if you’d like a deeper understanding of the theory behind it, Matt Appleman has written a fantastic article on the subject.
A Bike Fit Will Fix All My Pains
Harry Potter doesn’t do bike fits (as far as we’re aware anyway).
Whilst a bike fit will lead to increased comfort and a reduction in pain when cycling, simply moving the contact points of your bike around is not a silver bullet that will solve all of your problems.
The human body is a complex entity, and setting reasonable expectations as to what a bike fit can help with and what it might not solve is an important part of the process.
The bike is only 50% of the overall system and it is finite in it’s capacity to be adjusted.
The body, as well as the bike needs to be optimised as best it can, so that rider and machine can work together in sync.
Realising this can open up a whole host of doors to improving your cycling, through working with different specialist practitioners to make you the best version of yourself.
Maybe your strength and conditioning could be improved?
Maybe there are complex asymmetries / movement patterns that have been embedded over time that need to be worked through with a Physiotherapist / Osteopath?
By taking a more holistic, proactive and process oriented approach, you’ll likely get a lot more out of yourself and your bike.
Words by Mat (one ‘t’)
If you’ve made it to the end of this article, thank you and we hope it’s been useful for you.
If you have any questions about bike fit myths get in touch, we’re always an open door and there’s no such thing as a silly question: info@foundation.fit
If you’re looking to take ownership of your bike fit, you can book a session by clicking the button below:
Could you be a more powerful cyclist by riding less? Find out more here
What is effective strength training for an endurance athlete? Watch to learn here