Transcendent BIke Fit from Jerry Gerlich

I reside in California, and have ridden and raced for decades, and worked in the cycling industry at a shop and wrote bicycle reviews for various national print magazines. I am now in my 50th year, have had lower back surgery, and a year ago had a total hip replacement. Age and adversity can drastically affect how one performs on the bike, and, certainly, how one feels about riding. I love the sport of cycling, but couldn’t feel as comfortable and perform on the bike as well as I thought I should. Time and Mother Nature seemed to have teamed up to squelch my enjoyment of my favorite sport. Or so I believed.
Jerry had been encouraging me to come to Austin for a fitting. I never made the time and never justified the cost. Finally, when the group rides with the young guns became a downer, I dialed Jerry’s number and booked a weekend.
Jerry brings a lifetime of bicycle experience, a degree in Kinesiology, and Steve Hogg intense training and annual certification to his professional fitting career. That being said, he is one of the most amicable, slap-you-on-the-back-laughing, rock drummer intense guys you will ever meet. Jerry is REAL. He is honest and dedicated, genuinely concerned, and quirky as hell.
We spent over 7 hours on my fit. This was not a complete bike fit, merely shoes, insoles, cleats, seat position, and stem length. He measured, he muscle-tested, he stretched me, he asked endless questions, and he guided me through his process so that I would understand what we are trying to accomplish and what our goals are. You see, we all change physically over time, but we always seem regimented in having to have that slammed 120mm stem at -6 degrees, our seat completely back on the rails, and a plethora of titanium bolts (and a hip in my case…).
Jerry approaches fitting with hyper attention to the individual. We shouldn’t necessarily look like the pro peloton riders (some of them could use proper fittings, too). We should consider our own physiology, our goals for enjoyment of the sport, and be open minded for how to make the most of our cycling experiences. Jerry’s skills and talents have done that for me. He compiled a detailed spreadsheet of every measurement (before and after). He followed up with me at least once weekly to assess and discuss. Before you consider spending your hard-earned money on that new superbike or trick wheelset, go visit Jerry, or the other Steve Hogg approved fitters and get value you where it matters most-on yourself, the engine. Whether you are a top-level Cat 1, a mid-pack Cat 4, or aspiring for a personal best on your next gran fondo, this will be the best cycling investment you can make.
My maiden voyage on the new fit was odd feeling. The bike seemed small, different. My shoes with custom G8 orthotics feel great (as do the custom molded orthotics for my street shoes he made), as does my cleat position. That slightly nagging knee pain had vanished. My hip flexors weren’t cramping. A few more rides in, I started noticing things. Or not. That new SMP Dynamic saddle we installed-never thought once about it. It just felt right. Oh, and any numbness in the nether region has never occurred since. I wasn’t squirming around on the bike to find the sweet spot, or adjust for fatigue or to try to gain power. My pedal stroke is much more fluid. My hands fell perfectly onto the hoods, and (Holy Grail) I could ride in the drops, for as long as desired…Most surprisingly, the first couple weeks of riding I noticed my Strava. My heart rate was lower at the same points of rides. I was getting more trophies and PR’s—without even trying to earn them, just pedaling at reasonable efforts. These improvements equate to this: I’m faster. Better weight distribution and appropriate positioning makes the bike handle better which means more speed through corners. More efficient use of muscle and a smoother stroke means watts increase and fatigue is staved off longer. All of this truly leads to a better race result, staying with the first group, or pipping your buddies at the sprint line.

The position Jerry created for me dramatically increased my power and comfort on the bike. He has enhanced and extended my performance and enjoyment of the sport of cycling. The bike and the sport feel like that old friend again. So, thank you, Jerry, my old friend.
Sincerely,

Bradford Karns