pro bike fittings

[Chief]

well ive got my bike all sorted and i think i should go get a pro fitting, my coach said it made all the difference for him and that it was well worth the money.
i would like to get my saddle position and bar angle, cleat position and all the good stuff all sorted. and also maybe a new stem.
what shops around van fit bikes?
which are the best im thinking la bicycletta, but i have heard of mighty riders? never been in there where is it?

how much should i be looking to pay?
thanks
Andy

[sanrensho]

That's a tough question. Each fitter has a slightly different approach and philosophy. Some use well-known systems like the Fit Kit and Wobble-Naught (links below).

I was actually talking to Ed at Mighty Riders today about his fittings. From what I could discern, he takes a more intuitive approach and does not use either Fit Kit or Wobble-Naught. Cost is $60. There's also another guy that he recommends if you have certain physiological requirements (I have a leg length discrepancy from breaking my femur). His name is John Athanas of Pacific Multisport.

Cost-wise, $60 is the minimum you're looking at for a fitting. I would read up on fit systems using the links below, then go talk to a bunch of fitters. I haven't used any of these guys and I doubt you will find a person who has used more than one or two fitters. Therefore, I think you're best off working with a recommendation from your coach and/or talking with the fitters directly.

Personally, I would look for someone that listens to you and will account for your needs, rather than someone who wants to fit you to their system.

http://www.bikefitkit.com/fit_kit/fit_kit.html

http://www.wobblenaught.com/

Also, make sure the fitter knows that you're bringing in your bike (not looking to buy a bike). The fitter should also be asking you about your experience level and the type of riding/racing you will be doing.

[trout]

Bruce Wenting at Wentings cycle in Mission has been doing fittings for years and is a cycling bc certified coach.

[sanrensho]

Here's another link:

http://www.serotta.com/pages/size.html

[brian]

La Bicletta does them.

We have enough people at my work that ride that we just bring someone at the beginning of the year to do fittings. It's a pretty convienent thing.

[Rosscofat]

I might do the same thing. should be good.

[Chief]

wow thanks for the help
im going to drop by these places after work tommorow.
does anybody know where on broadway mighty riders is?

[sanrensho]

^^^Broadway and Ontario.

As a beginner, I think you might be more satisfied with a structured system like the Fit Kit or Wobble-Naught. If you run into physiological problems, you can consult with others and make adjustments as you go.

Still, go speak with Ed and others so you get some alternative opinions.

[Chief]

i went into la bicycletta today and there fittings are 30 bucks but they dont offer apointments and the "low" times im working so im going to phone mighty riders tommorow and see whats up because a apointment would work better for me
but la bicycletta seems like a good deal for sombody who can get there mid afternoon

[sanrensho]

Just offhand, $30 seems really cheap for a fitting. It makes me wonder what your getting for the money. Did you ask them how much time they'll spend with you? What system they use?

If there's a choice between a basic fitting and full fitting, go for the latter, since you're going to spend the money anyways.

Ed indicated that his fittings take an hour. The other guy he recommends spends up to two hours. I would think an hour would be the absolute minimum for a first time fitting.

[Chief]

he said 45 minutes im going to go with mighty riders anyways because they do it by appointment

[sanrensho]

I'm not sure exactly how Ed does his fittings, but try to get him to put things down in writing including your personal measurements and the fitting measurements.

Also, ask him to put down in writing what he thinks would be ideal frame measurements (seat/top tube length, angles, etc.) for when you go shopping for a new frame/bike in the future.

[pete@nsmb.com]

I'm not sure exactly how Ed does his fittings, but try to get him to put things down in writing including your personal measurements and the fitting measurements.

Also, ask him to put down in writing what he thinks would be ideal frame measurements (seat/top tube length, angles, etc.) for when you go shopping for a new frame/bike in the future.

Bingo. Setting up your bike once is great, but having those numbers for future bike purchases, to calculate the ramifications of upgrades, or in case you take your bike apart to travel and need to put it back together again, will allow you to re-build it to exactly the spec you had before.

I've never gone for a fitting, but I've been lucky with set up so far and the guys I ride with are helpful with positioning - plus I've never had any knee, back problems related to riding...on the other hand, I will go for one sometime to either confirm that I'm in a good position now or to get a pro fitter's advice about tweaking what I have now. Curious to know how it works out with Mighty Riders or wherever you end up and what process you go through.

[sanrensho]

I've never gone for a fitting, but I've been lucky with set up so far and the guys I ride with are helpful with positioning - plus I've never had any knee, back problems related to riding...on the other hand, I will go for one sometime to either confirm that I'm in a good position now or to get a pro fitter's advice about tweaking what I have now.

I'm in the same boat. No problems to date and I've been riding for quite some time (with some huge gaps where I didn't ride at all).

I would also mark down your bike position BEFORE the fitter makes adjustments. That way you have a comparison point and reference for what did or did not work for you.

At the very least, mark your old cleat position, seatpost height, seat fore-aft position and seat-to-stem drop.