Bike Fitting for $150? Is that right??

[stpbound]

Hi everyone,

After getting fabulous feedback on my last thread, I've decided to look into getting a road bike and will be going to an LBS (Gregg's in Seattle) soon. I looked on their website and a basic bike fitting is $150. I was shocked!

Is this what a bike fit goes for? What the heck do they do for $150??

thanks!
stpbound

[mimitabby]

That is kind of high, but at Sammamish bike i think i paid 100 or 150 but you can keep coming back until it WORKS for you. (i went back twice)

[velogirl]

I charge $150 for a bike fit. My typical fit takes two hours. I also guarantee my fit, which means if a client isn't happy, I will see them again at no charge (as long as they haven't changed anything wrt their fit). In six years, I've only seen three clients more than once.

All coaches/fitters/bike shops are different in their fees. Some charge by the hour. Most don't guarantee their fit. Some charge additional for cleat positioning. Fees tend to be lower at bike shops than with coaches/fitters. And fees tend to be lower in smaller cities than in large cities like SF or Seatle. I personally think you get what you pay for. If you pay $75, you're likely to get less attention (and less expertise) than if you spend $150.

Regardless of where you go for fit, find out the fitter's experience and credentials. How many fits do they do a week? Do they fit a lot of women? Where did they learn their trade? Do they have any certifications?

Word of mouth can be a valuable tool. If someone is happy with their fit, find out where they got it.

I encourage you to think of fit as an investment in your riding career.

[velogirl]

Here's a bit about what I do in a fit. Again, everyone is different in their approach, but you asked what they heck a fitter does for $150 so here's my answer.

First, I take an extensive set of measurements of your bike in it's current set-up. This is our baseline.

Then, I set your bike up on the CompuTrainer. This is a trainer that interfaces with my PC.

Then, I take a look at your feet, shoes, and cleat positioning. I also check your flexibility and measure your shoulders.

Then, I have you ride for about 15 minutes. During that time, I give feedback on what I see (including suggestions for how to improve your technique). I also observe the computrainer output. I use a rolling hills type course with my clients, so I can observe the way they use their muscles in a variety of terrain (uphill, downhill, flats). I analyze your overall efficiency and your power output. I analyze the balance between left and right leg. And I analyze how you recruit and utilize the various muscles within your pedal stroke. And I give you feedback about this.

Then, I take a set of measurements of you on the bike.

I may make changes to your fit immediately (saddle height, saddle fore/aft, bar angle, stem, shim levers). Or I may suggest changes you can make later (bar width, stem length and angle).

I also have a saddle demo program through Specialized, so if you're not happy with your saddle, I can measure you and set you up with the saddle that best meets your needs based on body type and riding style.

And we talk a lot. I interview you about your riding history, health history, injuries (past and present), surgeries, work environment, riding goals, etc. All of this information helps me understand how to best meet your needs.

I finish up by taking a second set of measurements of your bike (reflecting any changes we made). You go home with the measurements along with a list of specific recommendations for component changes and technique drills to improve your riding.

[MINIskirt]

My LBS gives you a basic fit with bike purchase, but they charge $150 for a full fit. They also let you keep coming back at no charge until it's right.

[makbike]

I too paid $150 for my fitting back in December. I do believe they are now charging $165.

[Kathi]

Here's a video that explains what a fitter is looking for when they do a bike fit.

http://activecitiesusa.com/?q=node/69

A friend of mine had a bike fit before she bought her bike. The shop charged $135 for the fitting but credited her $60 when she bought her bike from them. The shop also readjusted her old bike.

In some shops, if you buy a bike over a certain price range, the fitting is free.

[KnottedYet]

Mimi - what did Erik Moen charge you? And did your health insurance cover any of it?

www.bikept.com

[mimitabby]

I think he charged me 150 dollars ! ( or maybe 160!) and my health insurance DID cover it once my doctor wrote a prescription for it.

and I get to go back too.

[stpbound]

I think he charged me 150 dollars ! ( or maybe 160!) and my health insurance DID cover it once my doctor wrote a prescription for it.

and I get to go back too.

Hi Mimi,

Did you just ask your doc to write it and he/she obliged? Or, did you have some sort of cycling-related ailment that allowed the doctor to write for it?

Thanks!
stpbound

[stpbound]

Here's a video that explains what a fitter is looking for when they do a bike fit.

http://activecitiesusa.com/?q=node/69

Thank you, Kathi. That was very informative.

[stpbound]

Mimi - what did Erik Moen charge you? And did your health insurance cover any of it?

www.bikept.com

KnottedYet and Mimi,

How does it work with the LBS to have another person doing the fitting other than an employee of the bike shop? For instance, if I had Erik do it, how would I use the info that I got from the fitting to go pick a new bike out from a shop?

Thanks! You gals are the best!

stpbound

[salsabike]

Erik did my fit and offered to meet me at the LBS to fit me on the bikes I wanted to test ride. He has known the LBS folks for years---his wife reps bike stuff---and they didn't object at all. Now, that was over a year ago, and they have since been paying more attention to doing bike fits at the shop. But my guess is that would still work. Erik will be able to tell you that. Also, Erik had already fit me on my old bike and had recommended numbers that I brought with me, so when I was looking at bikes at Gregg's, I just said, "Show me bikes with top tubes no longer than XXX length."

[mimitabby]

I told my doctor, I want to go to Erik Moen for a bike fit. My wrists hurt when i ride.

She wrote it up. (It doesn't hurt that her son in college rode some kind of race with Lance Armstrong)


her name is Dr Laura Perry and she's in Burien :D

[Kathi]

It looks like Gregg's has some fitters who are trained by Serotta. Here's a link that explains the different levels of training that Serotta offers their fitters and the Serotta fit philosopy. http://www.serotta.com/pages/calendar.html#fun
http://www.serotta.com/SICI.html

I've worked with 3 different Serotta fitters and have been very pleased with the results.

Serotta has a protype bicycle that is adjustable. The fitter can set it up to your specs. so you can try out the position. Then adjustments can be made according to what is comfortable for you.

You also get a written form with all of your bike specs on it. Very helpful if anything gets changed. Unfortunately, not all bike shop personel understand what the numbers mean.

I went to a Serotta fitter in Cincy to have my bike refitted and I had all the numbers on it. When I was looking for my custom frame and wanted to demo bikes I went to a shop in Boulder and they were able to take the numbers off the old bike and use them to set up the demo bikes. One bike I demoed was too big for me but it was set up so well that I could have sworn it fit.

When I bought my custom frame the shop insisted on doing their own fitting, just to be sure they had the specs right. Unlike others who have built custom bikes I've not had to change a thing on my setup.

Also, keep in mind that even though the Serotta fit system is wonderful, the fitting is only as good as the person who is doing it.

[mimitabby]

At Sammamish bike you can get a serotta fit too; but only if they are setting a new bike up for you. I did NOT get the serotta fit there, I came in with my own bike.