Bike Fitting Testimonials

"Dario was recommended to me this winter when I was in the Santa Rosa area for some winter training and was having some knee problems. He did a great job assessing my position on the bike and addressing my knee injury. His wealth of knowledge coming from many angles allowed him to isolate my positioning problems resulting in a proper bike fit.

A few weeks later I brought the TT bike in. Although it wasn't immediately apparent on the trainer while we where doing the fit, once I got out on the road I was amazed how well-adjusted he made things for me. Instead of having multiple changes to make, I didn't feel like I needed to change anything. After one ride I was out performing hard workouts without making any adjustments. For a professional cyclist who targets GC finishes in stage races, this is a huge burden off my shoulders and allows me to progress more quickly. I recommend working with Whole Athlete to stay ahead of the curve, preventing injury and just feeling solid on the bike. Their experience and wealth of knowledge has allowed me to focus my training and racing with confidence."

-- Anthony Colby, professional cyclist

"On sunday I did 3.5 hrs z1/2 on mostly flat roads. The bike fit is so much more comfortable and safer with handling being a dream. For the first time ever I can comfortably sit in the drops for long periods. Further, while in the drops I can get out of the saddle and push and I feel like my whole body is working in concert with the bike. Great power transfer. And the best measure is that after 3.5 hrs of steady riding I pulled into my driveway and felt refreshed and not all beat up. Very nice!!"

-- Bill, road, MTB & cyclocross racer

Well things are looking and more importantly feeling great! Today, I started the test ride at 9:00 AM with a group ride. Figuring this would be a great way to see how the fitting would feel and to determine if the agitation in my right calf, which prompted me to come in and see you, would still be bothersome. As you know the start up whites hill can be a bit brisk and an excellent place to evaluate any improvements. After golf course hill, shadows hill and passing the reservoir I was feeling confident I was now correctly fit on my bike. At Petaluma-Point Reyes Rd I parted from the group and headed towards the Cheese Factory eventually making my way to Petaluma and then back home.

What really surprised me is that not only the pain I was experiencing in my right calf gone, but I was able to stay in the drops most of the ride. In over four years of riding I have not been able to ride comfortably in the drops for this length of time! It appears we inadvertently solved more than one problem. Furthermore, the new shoes and handle bars are a big improvement in comfort and performance. You’ve helped me rediscover my joy for the sport and to finally be able to focus my efforts on training and getting faster. Dario, I greatly appreciate your expertise, and this was hands down one of the best investments I've made so far in my cycling career. Thank you!

-- Jeremy, MTB & road racer

"I'm not a competitive cyclist, so I was a bit apprehensive about going to Whole Athlete for a bike fitting. All those racer types who are young and strong don't quite match with a middle aged female. A cycling friend recommended Dario, so I decided I'd spend the money, even though I had previously paid for a professional bike fit elsewhere and still had lots of discomfort on long rides.

Dario made some simple, subtle changes in the fit of my bike and with my shoes that have made a big difference in my comfort level, such as trading my handlebars in for a narrower version. No one had ever measured my shoulder width or suggested this to me. I also received some great tips on improving my cycling.

Dario and Peter also referred me to a prosthetic specialist, Brett VanNatta, for some challenging cleat placement on one of my shoes, which involved moving a cleat to the heel portion of the shoe, due to orthopedic problems. Wow! My power and endurance have significantly improved! I plan to return to Whole Athlete when I purchase a new bike next year. With my meaurements and Dario's notes already in his computer, he'll be able to direct me to the best bike for my needs. Definitely money well spent! "

-- Judy, road cyclist

"My road bike feels great. The knee pain I was beginning to have is completely gome. My back and shoulders feel more comfortable and supported. My saddle height feels so much more comfortable and efficient. The cleat positioning is more comfortable for my ankles and knees. All in all, I love the fit. I feel more confident, powerful, and comfortalbe on the bike."

-- Christina Yglesias, junior road & track racer

"Just wanted to give you an update on the bike fit that you did for me on my road bike and mountain bike...Everything is terrific! I did an 80 mile road ride on Saturday and kicked ASS. I felt much more comfortable on the bike, and was not as sore as I would normally be after riding hard for 80 miles. On Sunday I rode on the mountain and did a lot of climbing. My position felt much more natural and climbing up rocky ridge and rock springs was definitely easier!

Thanks very much for your help!"

-- Tim, road, MTB, cyclocross racer

"I've been riding the new fit for a few weeks now and it feels awesome. I definitely feel like my legs are more productive, and the larger muscle groups are working. My knee pain is also going away. I've been stretching like you showed me, and I took your advice and went to Edith Chan for acupuncture, and she put some things in focus for me that I hadn't even thought of. Thank you very much for the great work."

-- Igor, multisport athlete

"Thank you for the expert fitting. I rode 14 miles with my husband yesterday and all the problems I had experienced prior to seeing you had disappeared. My feet and fingers did not go numb and my forearms, shoulders, and upper body were so much more comfortable. What a relief! I had no idea that riding could be such an enjoyable experience. Now that I'm not in pain, I'll be out on the road more often. With gratitude,"

-- Torri, recreational cyclist

"I wanted to write to you and tell you how things were going with my knee and new fit. After our last session, I took almost two weeks off the bike to let my knee heal. After that, I eased back into riding and liberally used the anti-inflammatory massage oil. That was back in January. At first the knee was still a bit tender, but I have now been riding and racing for the last few weeks, and I feel great. The knee feels strong, and I feel comfortable and powerful on the bike. Thanks for taking the extra time with me to ensure that I could find a cure for my knee problem."

-- Matthew, road racer

"A million Thanks. I rode today after my bike fitting from yesterday. There was a bigger, better improvement than I could have imagined. I actually felt comfortable for the first time in a while on my bike. I planned on taking it easy, staying in zone 1 for 2 hours. I ended up feeling so good that I pushed it for 2.5 hours. I felt great. The bike handles and rides much better, my body feels great and I am so grateful for your help. I also found that I can spin between 110-110 rpm much easier and also effortlessly. I am excited to gradually start my training back to race condition over the next few weeks. I was surprised by how much difference the right fit can make. I should have been to see you last year. Thank you again."

-- Christopher, road racer

"It's absolutely amazing. I feel so much more comfortable... feels like a new bike. Everything feels better...the seat, the pedals, and handle bars. For one thing, I was putting a lot of the weight on the handlebars before....now I'm in perfect balance...like you said.."neutral". I'm sure my power on the pedals has improved with the change in seat height and cleat position. I didn't realize how much energy I was wasting before. What a difference! I couldn't believe how effortless it was going up Camino Alto in zone 1. I definitely should have had the bike fit before I got tested...I bet I'd have higher power numbers now. Thanks a lot."

-- Victor, cycling enthusiast

"Just wanted to thank you for my bike fittings. I did the Mt Tam Double Century on Saturday and what you did really made a difference. I felt a lot more stable descending and didn't feel like I gave up anything climbing. I really appreciate it, thanks again!."

-- Anthony, cycling enthusiast

"Let me just say....Holy Crap! It feels like I'm riding a whole new bike. The hamstrings at the tops of my knees don't burn anymore and I actually feel all the leg muscles engaging. Funny how that works when fitted properly...I also tried some short distance with higher power to see how my body would feel. My legs wanted to keep going and didn't feel tried. My heart was done though. I just need to get my fitness back and I should be stronger than last season. Once again, thanks for the fit. I should have come to you the first time...I wish I would of known about you then!"

-- Aaron, road racer

"I wanted to write to check in via my bike fit I did with you about one month ago. It's really making a difference. I feel comfortable and powerful thus far and the watts are coming back up after several months of little or no riding due to a hamstring issue. Anyways, I'm very happy and confident in your fits and I just want to say thank you again."

-- Nate, multisport athlete

"I just wanted to say thank you again for all your help fitting my TT bike. All your efforts set the stage for a great bike leg at the World Triathlon Championships. I had the fastest bike split in my age group and I had the third fastest bike split out of all the women, 630 of them!

My sincerest gratitude for all your help. It's made a huge difference in my cycling performance. Thank you very much!"

-- Pam, triathlete

"The new position is giving me an extra 10-15 watts right out of the box. Efforts in the flats feel wonderful and i'm naturally gravitating into the drops now. Back/ hips need a little time to adjust, but I think there's no doubt that this new position will ultimately be more comfortable, aero and more powerful. Nice work!"

-- Mark, road, time trialist, MTB cyclist

"I wanted to say thanks for the yoga poses, they're really helping and the bike fits are working out great. I thought I was pretty dialed in before, but pleasantly surprised what a difference your recommendations made. The changes were instantly recognizable. My pedal action felt more fluid and on the road/trail my comfort, power and speed are up.

I appreciated your honest opinion, attention to detail and that nothing was rushed or overlooked. Its reassuring to have a contact who clearly understands the body, on and off the bike, and how to integrate the two with great accuracy. I wish I had come to see you earlier!"

-- Greg, road & MTB cyclist

"I can't thank you enough for this bike fit! I took an extra long way to get back home -- and this is after riding over the Marshall Wall -- because I can't believe how good it feels to ride that bike! I had banished it to local trips only because I was so uncomfortable on it. Now I think I may put the dirt tires back on it and go have some fun!"

-- Katie, road, MTB cyclist

"I just wanted to send you a quick thanks for doing such a great job on the bike fit. I appreciate that you listened to my need for increased comfort on the bike. The result has been a much more fun and painless ride and greatly increased performance too.

Within a couple of weeks of the fit, my sustainable power for an hour increased by over 10% and has continued to move upward since then. From a performance standpoint, the benefit is two-fold:

1. Mechanical efficiency has increased which has led to greater sustainable power AND

2. Being comfortable on the bike has made it much easier to train near threshold pace for long periods of time which also has lead to greater sustainable power.

Thanks again. I couldn't be happier!"

-- Harold, multisport athlete