Read the signs and adapt
Read the signs and adapt
Plenty of riders will stick blindly to their setup and may blame their own physique for any shortcomings on the road.
Very often, however, that is only one part of it, with aches and strains also tell-tale signs of a poor fit.
Burt says: “I think if you’re getting pain and dysfunction and are unable to do all that you want then that’s the most obvious sign that it’s your fit that isn’t right.
“There’s the great quote that the machine is adjustable, the human is adaptable. Some people are more adaptable than others, of course.
“What you have to look at is what you’re doing in the week, what you can’t control. If you’re a 40-something man who is suffering back pain then is it the back or the position? Well, probably a bit of both but what you have to do is then look at that position and adopt ‘evolution, not revolution’.
“If you want to be in a certain aero position on your bike, then I would suggest it is important to first find a position in which you can ride without pain, and start to adapt from there.
“Ride for a period of time without pain and then – slowly – adjust it and turn it into something more powerful and more aero.”