How did you find (or are still searching for) "the one [bicycle]"?

While I'm saving my pennies, I've been seriously considering my dream of getting a custom road bicycle frame. I am a relatively new rider and have my beloved LeMond Tourmalet (aluminum frame, size 49 WSD) and my trust Trek 830 for commuting (mountain bike hardtail, cro-moly, size 14.5"). As you can imagine, they are entirely different bicycles and while I desire a road bike that rides more comfortably on the road, I have almost no base reference for the makings of a custom frame other than "different."

The best possible solution to help me figure out the things I like about different geometries and materials without purchasing another bike is to do inordinate amounts of test riding. While I am prepared to do this, test riding bicycles with too many variable factors makes it difficult to decipher which factor on which bike you find comfortable (different sizes, top tubes, set ups, grouppos, etc).

The issue over which I am ruminating is how I will know exactly what I am looking for in a custom frame if I only have extensive experience riding one road bike. Custom opens up plethora of opportunities and I want to take advantage of as many of the aspects of custom as I can (when the time arrives).

I would like to note that I have never had a professional fitting and plan to get one when I decide to purchase a custom frame. I had an impromptu fitting a couple months after purchasing my road bike but overall am very unimpressed with the results and have since then tweaking the fit on my own. I realize that there is usually an involved interview process that accompanies a custom frame build but I would like to know at least some basic information that relates to my desired bicycle fit properties beforehand.

Please also note that I have read most of the threads which include details about purchasing and deciding on custom frames :) But am more interested in the process leading up to the best bike fit you've found :)

Any advice is welcome but I would really like to hear from those of you who own more than one bicycle (and I believe it is most of you ;) ) and how you came to find "the one" (i.e. the bicycle you love and fits you best). In addition, I'd love to hear from those who are still searching and the struggle or history of your search!

I am looking forward to reading your stories! :D

When you buy a custom frame (I did) the people who set you up and make the frame are usually fairly knowledgeable about bike fit. It's their business to.
After I got my frame, I rode it for a little bit and then went to Erik Moen, who is a physiotherapist and specializes in bike fit. He just had to tweak the bike a little bit, the bike shop did a fairly good job.

Actually I also saw Erik Moen for a bike fit on my old hybrid bike and advice on getting a road bike. He said, you really don't need a custom frame; you should be able to get a good stock bike that fits you well because there is nothing unusual about your body type. I took the bike fit info he gave me, met him down at the bike shop and test rode three bikes that were in the right size range (top tube being most important for me) and that he fitted properly before each test ride. I got a Bianchi Eros Donna which I love and which fits very, very well.

Ana, I'm currently in the process of getting a custom frame--a titanium Moots--with the hope that it will be "the bike.". Like you, I've only had one road bike and was unsure of whether I knew enough to venture into the world of custom. I'd note that I wanted a custom bike in part because standard geometries don't quite work work for me. I also decide to go custom because there are limited options out there in titanium frames.

Unlike you, I've worked extensively on my current bike with a fitter. He has a good understanding of the problems I've had with fit, what kind of riding I do and what we've tried to do to address my fit issues. it. I would note that some of my fit issues, however, are unrelated to the frame itself, but instead have to do with the "q-factor" (or width) of my crank.

I largely chose to go with Moots because my fitter works for the shop that serves as the Moots dealer here. I just felt more comfortable going that route. I don't think, it's necessary, however. A good builder should be able to work directly with you without a middleman. Still, I think having worked with a fitter who helped me understand my unique fit issues, which in turn gave me a better understanding of what issues we wanted the custom bike to solve. Some of those solutions were addressed by the frame itself; some by the components that we chose.

The part of the custom process that was harder for me was articulating how I wanted the bike to handle. IMO, this is where my limited frame of reference was most evident. Did I want a bike that was stable or responsive? Stiff or compliant? While I talked to my fitter at length about these things, it remains to be seen whether I chose wisely.

I still think it might be to your benefit to get a comprehensive fitting on your current bike, if only to make that bike better to ride. Once the bike is set up properly, it will give you a better frame of reference about fit if and when you go the custom route. It may also tell you whether you even need to go custom.

My Luna is "the bike" for me. I've been riding since the 1980s (racing back then) and was never very comfortable. After a very bad crash in 2003, my old classic 1983 Vitus was no longer rideable, and it never fit me well anyways. It took me two years to decide to get another road bike. In the meantime, I just commuted by bike on my Jamis Coda and did not do road rides.

I had heard of Luna Cycles through a racing club in Baltimore and through my old shop in College Park, Maryland (Proteus). I was intrigued, so I went to the website and admired Margo's custom bikes from afar. There was one pre-built bike that caught my eye, but I didn't do anything about it.

Then one of my dear friends in Santa Fe, NM had a baby and needed help with things, so I went out there for a week to play nanny and help out with chores. While I was there, I went to see Margo with the intention of seeing in that pre-built bike was still available and to see her "factory." She laughed at that, because her factory was her and her dogs in her garage.

I tried out that pre-built bike, and it was like riding a cloud. Margo said that it was a really good fit for me, and that a bike made custom for me would be very similar. I think we had to switch out the stem, but maybe not even that. It fit me like a glove. I had my checkbook with me, so I bought it right then and there, and Margo shipped it to me a few weeks later. I had it built up and an extensive fitting done at Proteus.

It is the absolute most comfortable and responsive bike I've ever ridden. I don't even feel like there's a bike under me. So while I did not go through the custom process, the bike was made by someone who really understands fit and bikes and bodies. FWIW, my body type is pretty average--I'm neither short nor tall. I'm a smidgen less than 5'6" tall. I have long legs with very long femurs and a short torso.

Maybe I just got lucky, but in all my decades of riding stock bikes, I've never ridden a bike like my Luna. And now I have a Bike Friday, that was made based on the measurements of my Luna, and it's very comfortable, too.

I would get another Luna without hesitation, and someday I will (cross bike, touring rig, MTB, Luna Una...). That's my story.

I finally found 'the one' my cervelo RS. My journey has been a long one. For me, it was a combination of finding a bike with the optimum geometry for me, and then a knowledgable person to tweak my fit.

1. The fist bike I bought that I was 'fitted' to by a Fit Kit was 2001 19" terry classic that I bought in a good bike shop. I loved this bike, and found that as I adjusted to riding more aerodynamically, my body could stretch out more and first I got a longer stem, followed by switching out the flat bars for drop bars.

2. This bike was destroyed in a crash, and my son found me another bike on ebay, advertised as a 2001 19" terry classic, but was actually a 17.5" (error in C-C vs C-T measurement). It turns out these frames have a very similar geometry (even TT length) so all I had to do is raise the bars and saddle by 1.5" to replicate my fit. Life was good. But, as I improved the bike felt heavy to me, and I wanted a bike that would travel, so I go a Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro.

3. The Pocket Rocket Pro was made from the measurements of my terry so fit the same. But then I had issues with a 3 cm LLD from my accident. It finally took going to a specialist who very precisely fitted my cockpit, i.e. built me a custom crank, and optimized my cleat position, saddle height, and for-aft position, but he left reach 'up to me.'

4. My PPR was stolen, so it was starting over. I thought it was time for a light racy machine, so I test road a Trek Madonne at my LBS. Felt awful. Couldn't get fit on anything. Turned out I have really long femurs, and couldn't get enough set back since most frames in my size have steep seat tube angles. So, I made a survey of every bike I had that worked, and noticed they had a 73 degree STA. So, I did a search, and the only bike I found with a 73 degree STA at the time was the 17.5" terry titanium isis. Even though I knew the 19" was a better fit, it had a 74 degree STA, so I went with the 17.5". I rode and loved this bike for years, but then got an opportunity to purchase a 2008 48 cm carbon cervelo RS on closeout pricing. The problem with my 17.5" terry isis is the fit was a compromise, the 19" fit me better in all ways except that damn STA. I was already on the edge at 73 and couldn't tolerate 74, so while the 17.5" had the right STA, it was a little small in all other ways. I only realized this after riding the 48cm cervelo RS.

5. From looking at the geometry charts, I knew the Cervelo would be perfect. It had the 73 degree STA I needed, the tall head tube I needed, all the stuff I knew I needed but never found before in a stock bike. I test rode her and it was a dream, at that point I knew she was 'the one'. The design w 650 c wheels handles better and fits better than my 17.5" terry w 700/24 wheels (and didn't have TCO, something important to me but I know not to everyone). But more importantly, my fitter also found me a super laid back seatpost I didn't know existed so I could optimize my setback. Then he showed me a bar w both a short reach and a short drop, so I could ride in the drops comfortably at last. He actually brought my reach in a tad, which made all the diff in being able to use all my hand positions (I had been optimized to ride my hoods but was too stretched out to ride my drops). He also talked to me about how to position my body on the bike (shorter reach but then bending my arms a bit more on my hoods), subtle things but they really optimized my position. I never felt more powerful on a bike before.

So, what I learned in all this is you need the right bike, but the right people to really optimize your fit. Its also not clear I was flexible enough to have been fitted to this bike when I started out, it really has been a journey of body and bike. Before buying the cervelo, I had in the back of my mind that my next bike would be a custom, but I was scared, what if I spent all that money and didn't like it. I also wasn't ready to spend the $ on a custom (putting 2 kids through college) but then the cervelo closeout became available. Its also got full Dura-ace 10, which is also way nicer than my Ultegra 9. I also never realized how big a diff. the cervelo carbon and terry titanium isis would have in terms of weight, stiffness, etc. I am suddenly a much stronger ride. I always thought once you got into a certain weight range we were talking about seconds on the hour but my time speed instantly went up by at least 10%. But its not just weight, its also my position is more powerful on the new bike. I also think you get a better fit on a new bike purchase than a retrofit. The shop that sold me my terry did a poor job in fitting it to me by comparison, so fitters vary widely in their expertise.

Note, I am not dissing the terry titanium Isis. I know Catherine loves hers and I think hers is sized and fit better than mine was. I still love mine though, she is now my trusty commuter (I know gals, a titanium beater, sounds like overkill but at least the titanium stands up to the weather better than anything!).

Sorry, if this is way more info. than you ever wanted!

Hi Ana... Well, I can't type a post that I'm with those that have found "the one", but like you I am looking. I think I'm a step ahead though. I recently went for a professional bike fit.

My current bike fit I knew was not so great. Last season I had a fit appointment with this shop to see about improving my current bike. Some things happened, and I had to cancel. In the meantime, I researched and figured out quite a bit on my own that my bike frame was more than likely too big for me.

I had pretty much concluded that I would end up starting over versus attempting to retro-fit. I talked to the fitter, and the fit to help determine sizing was less $ than the full blown ride in the trainer fit. I took my current bike anyway and the fitter measured it as well.You might call around to some different shops and ask about their fit process.

How I finally decided to go where I did recently was on the recommedation of some riders from the gym. They are people who I have a lot of respect for as experienced cyclist. If you don't have any close friends to ask like that, maybe you could call an independent bicycle club (meaning not associated with one particular shop that has group rides). A non-biased club might be able to tell you whose good in your area. It would be a starting point.

Like you, I don't feel that I 100% really know what I want to do the "go custom" route. The fitter said my body doesn't have anything glaring that says that's the only option for me. I do have some things I know I don't like. With that, and hopefully with the fitter's skill, I'm leaning towards getting a stock frame.

The test riding is a real problem if need a non-average size, IME. So far I have called some lbs in larger cities that are hours away driving and they have straight up told me they do not standardly stock that size. My plan B is to half wing it. I'm going to try and find what I'm looking for in the closest next bigger size I can ride. If I like some things about it, but know the fit feels weird... I know it should feel better fitted properly in my size. That's half crap shoot:rolleyes:, but the best I have come up with so far.

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Originally Posted by tulip

It is the absolute most comfortable and responsive bike I've ever ridden. I don't even feel like there's a bike under me. So while I did not go through the custom process, the bike was made by someone who really understands fit and bikes and bodies. FWIW, my body type is pretty average--I'm neither short nor tall. I'm a smidgen less than 5'6" tall. I have long legs with very long femurs and a short torso.

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How did you discover you had long femurs? Long in general or long for your height?

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Originally Posted by Ana

How did you discover you had long femurs? Long in general or long for your height?

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I'm not the person you're asking but will butt in anyway. :rolleyes: I suspect she means long for her height, which affects the optimum geometry of any bike you should choose (or have custom built).

I realized I had long femurs for my height when I had to push my saddles all the way back on their rails PLUS use a setback seatpost to get my knees over or behind the pedal spindles on my bikes. Without this, my knees would be in front of the pedal spindle when a plumb bob was dropped from my knee straight down. On my older Terry Isis with a 73-degree STA, I could get my knees behind the spindle with the setback seatpost and saddle all the way back on the rails, but on my Aegis Swift with a 75-degree STA, I could just get my knee over the spindle with the same saddle and seatpost. I wouldn't be able to ride bike with a steeper STA than 75 (I'm short so many bikes in my size have a 76 degree STA), and even 75 is not optimum since it requires me to have my saddle so far back. Like Trisk, I need a slacker STA (for me, 74 would probably be fine, she needed 73). Once I realized this, I developed a bit of a fascination with it, and when I was sitting beside a woman of similar height, say in an auditorium, I'd line up my leg with hers and eyeball where our knees were in relation to where we were sitting on our butts, and typically, my femur was slightly to quite a bit longer than the other woman's.

Ana,

My DH and I are still about 3 years away from buying and assembling "THE ONE" bike of our dreams but we had a discussion yesterday with a mechanic (and one time road and mtn. bike racer and pro team mechanic) on how do you find and decide on the one bike of your dreams. He had some great advice that I'd like to share with you!!

First off he said that all the brands, Trek, Cervelo, Cannondale, Giant, Felt, Pinarello etc all have great bikes that would and could be "THE ONE". But foremost in getting the right bike for yourself is finding a knowledgeable bike mechanic that can listen to what you want in a bike and fit you as such. There are different fabrics for the seat stem that may make endurance riding more comfortable for you if that is your main interest and way that you ride. There may be a different fork stay that would work better with your body build. At first we thought that we were going to have to go out to all the different bike shops and "test drive" them...........he said no. First off find the right guy with the knowledge and then work with him/her. Also he said that we should be noting after our rides what we like and/or don't like about our current bikes. This will also help in the process of deciding what components and measurements will make it "THE ONE".

Hope this helps and have fun in the process!!! Jo Ann:D

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Originally Posted by Triskeliongirl

Sorry, if this is way more info. than you ever wanted!

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No, that's exactly what I was looking for! :)

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Originally Posted by Ana

How did you discover you had long femurs? Long in general or long for your height?

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What Emily said. I was told I have long femurs when I used to ride horses. Apparently (and it's not something I ever noticed) I look good on a horse and I would have made a great dressage rider because of my long legs and long thighs. Not so great for jumping, which is what I was into.

As for bikes, I didn't get into the angles and all because I haven't taken the time to figure it all out. But I do know it's important for the knees to be above the pedal spindle. I'm very relaxed when I ride, probably due in part to my decades of riding and watching professional racers, but also because my bike fits so well.

Here's a photo of a pro rider with excellent position on the bike. He has long femurs, too.

http://www2.trainingbible.com/joesbl...voight-of.html

I would only add that I don't believe in The One in life. There is not One Right Answer or One Right Person or One Right Bike. This is what life has taught me. My Luna is wonderful, and my next one will be, too!

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Originally Posted by tulip

I would only add that I don't believe in The One in life. There is not One Right Answer or One Right Person or One Right Bike. This is what life has taught me. My Luna is wonderful, and my next one will be, too!

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Very wise and very true, so sayeth the proud owner of two Lunas.

Femur length should always be taken into consideration when getting a fit OR custom bike. I always get that measurement. It is pretty much the baseline of the frame design. Oddly, I find that a lot of builders do not.
I sound like a broken record on this point, but a lot of very small stock bikes come with fairly or extremely steep seat angles. This is to reduce reach, but is a magic trick that really creates more problems than it helps. If you have a long femur and are set up on a bike with an overly steep seat angle, you have fairly good odds of developing knee problems. If you have front of the knee pain on your small stock bike, look at your knee's position over the bottom bracket/crank before all else. If you want to know where your position is relative to "neutral"/"ideal" pm me and I will explain how. It's not hard.

Tulip: I have left the garage and am in a "real" shop now! Come visit on your next time through.