Personal Enhancement Team: 5 People You Need to Know
Regardless of your individual goals or where you fall on the competitive barometer having an off-the-bike network to improve your overall health, comfort or injury recovery is critical. To better understand the theory behind this I ask that you think of your body and flexibility as a traditional window blind.
The strings holding it together represent your muscle tension, the frame your skeleton and the horizontal slats your pelvis. If you pull the strings evenly the blind rises evenly, but what if one string is higher or tighter than the other? Then the blind is crooked and uneven and perhaps the slats are slightly turned. Given that scenario, how could you ever be comfortable or perform at the best of your ability – not to mention the increased intrinsic risk of injury?
In most cases a professional bike fit can alleviate and correct for several issues however many need to be solved off the bike. P.E.T. findings are often shared, adjusted and corrected based on one segment’s complementation of the other with the single unified goal of serving the needs of the client.
Meet 5 people you should know.
1. Full Time Bike Fitter/Biomechanist
Everything should start with a professional bike fit, as biased as that may sound. This will create a baseline and alleviate some issues while hopefully leading to the root cause of your issue(s) whether they are comfort, power or rehabilitation. Anytime you get a new bike, or make a major modification to any one contact point (saddle, shoes, handlebar), it’s time to get re-fit.
2. Cycling Coach
Many will say “not for me” but if not you then who? Don’t think of utilizing this service as a deficiency correction, but as a structural guide to help you achieve your goals. A coach will add structure to your riding program and give you the accountability needed to pursue your goals. Like bike fitters, coaches will largely fall into two categories – Coaches (static) and Physiologists (dynamic). Coaches tend to be more advice driven and derive plans based on your heart rate or “PER” (perceived exertion rating). Physiologists will often have advanced degrees in clinical exercise, kinesiology and other biomedical fields offering years of practical experience.
