When I was asked to become a flowrider for Cube and could conquer the gravelroads on the new 2020 Nuroad WS from Cube, I was thrilled. When I was asked to pick up the bike in the Cube flagshipstore in Vlaardingen, where it would be fitted in their bikelab I was stoked. When it was actually fitted, I was flabbergasted.
I had a bikefit done before and normally you can apply these measurements to any other bikes you buy thereafter. But, or actually two buts: first of all my first bike-fit was done on my Aeroad, which was all about aerodynamics and speed, this bikefitting’s goal was that my newbe gravelbike had to be as comfortable as possible. Secondly, the first bikefit was done the traditional way with stickers and on my own bike and this was going to be in a bikelab, with 3D camera on a smart bike!
So I drove to Cube’s beautiful flagshipstore in Vlaardingen and literally felt like a kid in a candystore! So many bikes, cycling clothes, cycling shoes and cycling lovers, all in one building.
After my bike arrived, pedals and shoes were chosen, we were whisked away to the bikelab. The lab’s professor (an aeronautical engineer – I kid you not, this was actually what the guy studied) was already waiting for us. He took my details (name, weight & age) and we talked about possible injuries or weak areas of the body. We decided to choose a tour bike fit as my gravel bike set-up was going to need to offer me a great deal of comfortable pleasure on my coming rides. A 3D bodyscan was made, my foot position and back flexibility were measured and after that the computer automatically set-up the smartbike.
Time to cycle! A bit uncertain I hopped on the bike. New shoes, new pedals and a new bike-set up. A lot to take in for this semi autistic road cyclist. I needed to grab the handlebars in the lower position and pedal for about 15 minutes at a slow cadence, around 60. I was warned that the bike would slightly adjust itself during the ride, and as this happened – I felt like a kid for the second time that day – on a sort of fairground attraction this time!
After 15 minutes the camera had done it’s job and the computer it’s mathematics. My ‘perfect’ bike measurements were calculated and the bike was ready to be set up.
This was an accurate and precise job to be performed by the bike professor in his ID match bikelab. No experiment but the set-up of a cleverly calculated unique position, catered to my specific and personal body needs. And what this body needs now? To go out and ride this beautiful bike. To go out and go with the flow – as Cube’s flowriders do.
KimQ76 