Savvy Bike

This will be my 5^th AIDS/​Lifecycle and I decided to buy a new bike and have Lori fit me to my bike. The bike fit was great! I came away with knowledge about handle bar width, seat placement, and peddle stroke. I though I knew a lot but with the instruction from Lori I was able to improve on my hill climbing, I also found huge improvement on my decent down hills since I was outfitted with the proper handle bar width! Can’t wait to tackle the ride in Month!

I have been riding my bike for a few years and although it’s been great there was always the feeling that I was not quite in control.
Lorri and I had a great bike fit last week and the difference in my rides is miraculous. I would love to take the claim that overnight I just became that good on my bike, however it clearly was due to the adjustments that were made.
No more neck pain, no more hands freezing up and I actually can walk upright when I get off the bike now.
All that and just a really nice evening spent with a very nice person — We laughed and had a good time!
I can’t say enough about how grateful I am!

I recently started biking with some regularity again, after having spent several years out of the saddle except for the occasional casual ride. Having ridden in AIDS/​Lifecycle 1 – 4, I knew the importance of a bike fit, and knew that even if our bikes don’t change, our bodies do change over time, especially when we change fitness levels (either for the better, in my case, or for the worse).
I was starting to get some numbness in, shall we say, a private region, which is a pretty clear indicator that there’s a fit problem /​saddle problem. As I was acquainted with Lorri from the Ride, and I knew she knew her stuff, we worked out a time for me to come by for a fitting.
(Men, don’t be intimidated. Lorri understands your fit issues, and you can talk to her about them. And let go of any stereotypes or biases you might have in your head about what women can or can’t handle. Your stereotype is invalid. She absolutely knows what she’s doing, and there’s no reason in the world you should have ever assumed otherwise!)
We spent about 3 hours or so tweaking all aspects of my fit. Lorri introduced me to the latest and greatest thinking in saddle and bar technology, gave me some tips about visualizations when riding and even an alternative way to get into position on the bars to emphasize the right posture and correct approach. She fit me for a new saddle, new bars, and new bar stem, all of which she had in stock (at a completely fair price, I might add). She pointed out a problem with my shorts (I’ve shrunk some, and they’ve stretched some, so they’re not a terrific fit anymore– a real problem when you’re in a saddle for hours at a time.
I didn’t take advantage of it on this occasion (because I could tell right away the saddle we picked was going to be fine), but Lorri also has a program for saddle fitting such that you can try a saddle for a few rides before you decide it’s the right fit and commit to a purchase. This is a great option to have if you have trouble finding the right saddle (and it’s important to do so!).
If you haven’t had a bike fit before, and you’re having any kind of discomfort when riding at all, you should get one! Go see Lorri; your butt (and your bits) will thank you!

I had Lorri fit me on a road bike recently and am very glad I did. While I don’t have a lot of money left over after paying rent and my student loan, it was an investment that was well worth it. Thank you Lorri for making my biking that much more enjoyable.

I took Bike Skills 101 and 201. I was so uncomfortable on a bike before the class, people were wondering if I knew how to bike. The classes taught me how to be confident and control the bike, and actually enjoy the downhill. Lori is a very good teacher. She goes back to simple basics and just makes sense. Her personal style is very funny and straight forward. I would recommend her clinics for new and experienced riders.

This review is long overdue. I took the Bike 101 and 201 clinic last November and was I glad I finally did! I had been wanting to do this all of 2012 but a back injury and then an accident got in the way.
I have been cycling on and off since I was a child, back when I was fearless and would ride with «no hands» on the handlebars like it was second nature. As an adult, I was more fearful and cautious that even picking up my water bottle & drinking while riding was tough to do. Anyway, even with about three years of cycling experience as an adult I still learned so much from Bike 101. What I love about it is they tell you (in detail) how to do a skill, demonstrate it, and then let you practice over and over until you get comfortable enough to keep practicing ‘at home’/on your own. They also watch and follow you around while you practice and give constructive/​positive feedback. I also love the fact that the information they give you is backed up by science :) so you know and understand how and why it works.
Shortly after the accident, I realized that it was not just a bike malfunction. I could have full control of that situation if I was equipped with the knowledge and skill set. And now, having taken both Bike 101 (basics) and 201 (ascending and descending), it has given me so much more confidence that I will eventually overcome the mental trauma caused by that accident. I have been getting better at descending applying everything I have learned from Lori’s classes.
Needless to say, I am getting the fun back in descending with the skills I have acquired from Lori’s clinic and the confidence that I have re-​acquired!
These classes are highly recommended!

Lori and her team are awesome! Lori over flows with a passion for cycling and it’s extremely contagious!
I signed up for the Bike Skills 101 (Fundamental skills) and 201 (climbing and descending skills) class. Since I have thousands of miles of cycling experience, I assumed that the 101 class would not teach me anything I didn’t already know and only took it because it was a prerequisite to the 201 class. Boy was I wrong! That class shined a new light on all the skills I had assumed I already had. I left the 101 class with a better understanding of braking, cornering and balance.
Now on to the 201 class; I enjoy climbing, but lacked confidence on descents. Lori and Bob (assistant coach), went over some climbing and descending theories and then took us out to a portion of Alpine road to practice seated and standing climbing techniques, straight line descending and more technical descents. They rode behind each rider and provided 1 on 1 feedback. This was pretty cool; felt like having a personal coach! Left this class with a new found confidence and excited about practicing these techniques on future rides.
Looking forward to taking more of her clinics in the future and to get my girlfriend, future father-​in-​law and mother-​in-​law to sign up for the 101 and 102 classes.

I was out for a long ride Sunday and flatted on the way home — no biggie, except that I’d been out on my other bike Saturday, and had left my saddlebag on the other bike! As I’m walking toward some shade, a kind voice asks if I need any help — that’s how I met Lorri. She not only had extra kit, but changed the tire, too! I barely had time to find out about Savvy Bike! Thanks, Lorri, for the helping hand, and I now have a new favorite bike shop in Redwood City! :^)

My son was experiencing back pains while riding his recently purchased bike. After we eliminated all the physical reasons, it was time to take a closer look at his bike. We chose Savvy Bike to do his fitting. 3 hour session with Lorri ended up not only to be a fitting session but also a lesson on how to ride a bike, how to climb efficiently, how to eat appropriately during long rides. Now, pain is gone and lessons are learned. Thank you Lorri!

Many many years ago (5 maybe?) I took one of Lorri’s 2 day bike skill clinics. At the time my biking consisted of riding to work and the Sunday Velo Girls Tiburon loop club ride. The clinic changed all of that. I learned how to properly steer, suck wheel, climb and a lot of other skills that have become second nature. The clinic gave me the confidence to finally attempt Mt. Tam, Old La Honda and lots of other previously intimidating rides.
I recently picked up cycling in a group again and am reminded how valuable all the skills I learned are. I was recently told what a steady wheel I had — a testament to Lorri’s coaching for sure!

For several years now, I’ve wanted to be comfortable on a bicycle whether it be for exercise or just commuting, but honestly, I’m a big scaredy cat. I have ridden sporadically for the last few years, but I finally realized that I could use some extra help in the confidence department. That’s where Lorri comes in. Really, she’s amazing and an excellent teacher. She will teach you about every part of your bike, it’s purpose, and how to effectively use it. Based on your skill level, she will work with you and teach you what you need to know and exactly how to do it. Lorri starts by explaining how to do something while showing in a stationary position. Then, will do it. Then will ask if you have any questions. Following that up with doing it with you.
Lorri made me feel comfortable and encouraged. I highly recommend her to any new cyclist or someone needing to brush up on some old skills. I assume she’s also a fantastic coach for a professional cyclist too.