Bike fit: A comprehensive guide to a comfortable ride

A cyclist sits on a bike while three people assess his bike fit
(Image credit: Justin Sullivan | Specialized)

Cycling is a sport built upon repetitive movement, with extended periods of time spent in the same position, turning the pedals 90 revolutions per minute (rpm) for hours on end. 

The term 'death by a thousand cuts' can ring true in relation to a bad bike fit. A misaligned knee or inturned ankle won't cause pain at first, but ride for two hours at 90rpm and you'll have performed over 10,000 revolutions of your pedals, and those small misalignments can quickly turn into major injuries. 

Josh Croxton
Associate Editor (Tech)

Josh is Associate Editor of Cyclingnews – leading our content on the best bikes, kit and the latest breaking tech stories from the pro peloton. He has been with us since the summer of 2019 and throughout that time he's covered everything from buyer's guides and deals to the latest tech news and reviews. 

On the bike, Josh has been riding and racing for over 15 years. He started out racing cross country in his teens back when 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets were still mainstream, but he found favour in road racing in his early 20s, racing at a local and national level for Somerset-based Team Tor 2000. These days he rides indoors for convenience and fitness, and outdoors for fun on road, gravel, 'cross and cross-country bikes, the latter usually with his two dogs in tow.