Bike Fitting

Didn’t I have my bike fit when I bought it?

Having your bike properly sized is a great first step. It provides you with a bike that has the correct frame dimensions, but it is just the first step to a properly fitting bike.
  • A bike fit builds off of a properly sized bike and fine tunes the seat position, peddle alignment, handlebar adjustment and more.

 

  • In addition, a proper bike fit looks at you. Nobody is built the same, so your bike needs to be adjusted to fit your unique body.  At Great Northern we adjust your bike to accommodate for your individual strengths or weaknesses.   For example, if you are battling and injury, we will adjust your bike to minimize the stress placed on that injury.

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Our expert team of physical therapists have over 65 years of combined expertise treating sports and orthopedic injuries.

Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention

Can bike fitting help injury prevention and recovery?
Bike fitting is a crucial component to injury prevention. During a classic 100 mile ride a cyclist performs 20-25,000 revolutions per leg. When a bike is not properly fit, cumulative trauma disorders in the foot, knee, hip, or spine can occur. Small alignment adjustments can take pressure off injured tissue and transfer load to tissue that is better able to tolerate the stress. 

Your own personal body alignment and range of motion constraints may require foot position adjustments, changes in saddle position, and altering the stem height and angle. A correction in your technique may also play a vital role in injury prevention and recovery

What about performance? will I ride faster?
A proper bike fit can improve your performance!  There is always a balance between optimizing comfort and efficiency while at the same time minimizing drag.  If you are too upright you will be fighting drag unnecessarily. 

However, if you are positioned too low to minimize drag, you can decrease your comfort and efficiency.  A proper bike fit must take your individual physical characteristics into account when setting up your bike to best fit you.  We measure the motion you have in your hips, ankles, and spine and position your bike to maximize your comfort and performance.

Reviews

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I have come to Great Northern off and on for several years but this past year I had two knee replacements 6 months apart and had many appointments during that time. My recovery was outstanding both times but I also appreciated the personal care and the way my sometimes-changing challenges were addressed. I thought there a great balance between understanding where I was at but pushing me to do a little better. I worked with Kara mostly over this past year but have also worked with James and a couple others. I think all the therapists were knowledgeable and helpful and I would definitely recommend them. As I age, I’m sure I will be back but I’m confident they will be there for me.

Cynthia

Patient

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I had a wonderful experience working with Kate Dolan in 2021. I was experiencing urinary "urgency" and signed up for Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy with Kate. Kate is a fantastic teacher. Within a few sessions, I had no more episodes of "I'm going to pee my pants, now." As a bonus, Kate also helped me a lot with lifelong constipation issues. I really think every woman should do a few sessions of pelvic floor PT--you learn so much. At Great Northern, I've also had great experiences working with Christian Appel for my frozen shoulder and knee arthritis, and with Jim Sykes for bike fitting (a much-needed service in Bozeman). I will return to Great Northern for any PT needs in the future. (So many activities, so many joints, so many years behind me; the next injury can't be too far off, haha.)

Lisa

Patient

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Started PT with Christian Appel here for strengthening a-three-times-operated-on left shoulder that hurt just about all the time whenever I moved it or lifted anything. Christian commits his full time and attention to me each time I've been in. He is patient and kind. My shoulder is much stronger and more functional. It feels really good and solid. We're close to ending our sessions but more range of motion and strength apparently is available. The gym is spacious, airy and bright, and the equipment in it covers a broad range of needs. The administration is great, keeping me well-reminded of my appointments and being available and helpful when I need to reschedule or have other questions about my care. I have had plenty of interactions with others on staff and all of them have been wonderful. I've had PT at several Bozeman providers and I place GNPT at the top of them all by a wide margin. Highly recommend.

Bill

Patient

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