Tim Gresh
Hi, I’m Tim and I’m the owner of Gresh Fit, LLC in West Chester, PA
My parents would tell you I learned to ride a bike without training wheels when I was two-and-a-half years old. My fascination with bikes began with that maiden voyage. I only vaguely recall the event, but clearly remember colliding with a basketball pole at some point, then being dusted off my my older brother, only to get back on. I’m much older now, but I still enjoy almost anything on two-wheels.
I started Greshfit in August, 2012, having been co-owner of Velo Souplesse Cycling and Fitness Center for 3-years prior.
I’m mostly known as “the bike fit guy”, as this is where my fascination lies among the various elements that make up the sport of cycling. Fitting clients to their machines is very challenging and I’m always learning. I like to think my most challenging client was myself, after overcoming serious lower back issues.
My journey toward becoming a bike fitter began shortly after buying my first road bike and catching the racing “bug” during my sophomore year of high school. Besides impatient motorists and nasty weather, chronic lower back pain was my biggest nemesis out on the road. As a sixteen year old, I naively put up with that pain despite knowing something wasn’t right. After graduating high school, I had no plans for college and was solely interested in racing my bike. Cycling at a higher level was only achievable if I could fix the back pain, so I began investigating solutions with a greater resolve.
At this time, Steve Hogg was already my pen pal, providing guidance and an informed mind to bounce questions off. I began trying different bike positions & methods, while tirelessly seeking the right healthcare professionals. I visited numerous bike fitters and at one point, spent my entire savings on a trip to see Andy Pruitt in Boulder, Colorado. Every attempt made to improve the situation led to little or no result. After surgery on a torn meniscus, along with other injuries related to my various biomechanical misalignments, I was depressed and heartbroken. I had only two options: stop cycling altogether or continue to move forward with the hope of finding a solution. Quitting wasn’t really an option, so I continued to seek answers and convinced myself it was a battle I would win with patience, persistence and increased knowledge.
Moving forward, I compiled pieces to the puzzle with adjustments and perspectives from off-the-bike structural health, and Steve Hogg-inspired bike adjustments. This included everything from cleat wedging to laterally offsetting my seat. In 2007, after 3-years of trying, my back pain dissipated and nearly brought me near to tears of happy disbelief. Despite a frustrating battle, I realized the ordeal of seeking solutions was an amazing experience. Just as a dedicated cyclist endures training that leads to conquered goals, my struggle to solve this complex issue led to the purpose of offering others the best bike fit he or she is capable of realizing. I’m now heavily involved in the art and science of bike fitting, and Steve Hogg is still a mentor to me, almost twenty years after first writing to him.
As I mentioned before, I had no intention of attending college, but my experience inspired me to study the body and I ultimately obtained a Bachelors of Science in Exercise Physiology from West Chester University.
While fitting clients, I rely primarily on visual observation to determine position changes, as my own personal “fit issues” were not resolved with a plumb-bob, goniometer or motion capture. Every rider is different, and I’ve never felt comfortable limiting cyclists to pre-determined results. Most perspectives and techniques applied during my fits are based on what Steve has written about publicly over the years. I prefer to observe pedaling style, extension of both legs, hip rocking, knee tracking, foot stability and handlebar reach, all while my client is pedaling under load. It’s extremely important for me to view the rider from ALL viewpoints: front, back, both sides, along with a top/behind view looking down on the back and hips. Based on visual observations from each viewpoint (dynamically and under load), I mentally picture their ideal position “rough draft”. Imagining an ideal position helps lay the groundwork and dictates which adjustments I’ll make first. I always make sure to keep critical parts of various sizes in stock (bars, stems, insoles, wedges, etc). Clients are encouraged to ask questions and provide updates after seeing me and if things aren’t working quite right, we follow-up in person to address it accordingly. In the experience I’ve had to date, many clients have seats too high, cleats far forward and a need for arch support & wedging. I’m constantly humbled by the complexities of human adaptation to cycling, and strive to create a positive difference to the best of my ability.
My perspective on bike fitting, in its current state, is like looking at a battle between two worlds: engineering and medical. I’m not an engineer, but know enough to say that it’s an art and science mastered by talented and creative people who push the envelope of technology. Feats of engineering amaze us with lighter, stiffer and more precise cycling gear. I’m not a doctor either, but know enough to say medicine is also an art and science performed by talented people who, above all else, help keep us healthy, and do an amazing job of applying known aspects of human physiology to give positive results. Cycling is driven by the engineering world. I do not see engineering and advances in motion capturing, computer analysis or the like being the next level of bike fitting. The future of fitting will involve significantly greater emphasis on human physiology and function which links body to machine. In other words, I feel rider position is often seen as an engineering problem, not a medical problem. As we further investigate physiology and neurology of rider biomechanics, improved fitting technique and training will be developed.
I hope to see a greater balance between the two worlds in regards to the future of fitting. The end result will make us all happier and better cyclists. I feel privileged to be involved in bike fitting and am motivated to be part of what lies ahead!