Custom bike fit questions?

Tomorrow afternoon I will meet with my fitter and we are going to work with Gunnar's initial design on his fit bike. His counterpart at Gunnar has indicated they may recommend I go with a true custom size rather than one of their stock sizes in order to meet my fit requirements, physical limitations, etc.

If this is their recommendation when they send him their design he is going to ask them the exact reasons they consider it necessary, and what I would give up if I went with a stock size. The custom up-charge for the frame is $300 and while I will do it if needed, I want to make certain that it really is appropriate. This would still make the total price of frame and fork no more than that what I would have paid for a Luna frame, so it is not unreasonable if we do need to go this route. My fitter has also told me that Gunnar/Waterford almost never recommends this route as the range of stock sizes is enough to fit most people.

Outside of the whole custom/stock question - are there other questions I should ask at my fitting tomorrow? I do understand if we do go custom there will be more fittings to come in order to dial everything in. Tomorrow I will know which direction we need to go, and that will be a significant step forward :)

UPDATED: My fitter just called me and he does have the final Gunnar design. They are indeed recommending a custom design based upon the Crosshair, not the Sport. This is due to multiple reasons, my proportions, need for a very upright position and other physical needs. They don't have a stock size that will quite fit me in either Sport or Crosshair. Their 48cm is too small and their 50cm they feel would be too large for my reach, I need a 49cm - leave it to me to be "special" :cool:

Fit is what matters - and Gunnar recommended 26 inch wheels without even knowing that is my preference - so that is all good. I have had significant fit issues with both of my bikes, so if this is the best way to assure I have the right fit then so be it. I will need custom wheels so I don't wind up with heavy overbuilt (for my needs) mountain bike wheels, but I really do like the versatility of 26 inch tire sizes.

Any other questions I should ask tomorrow at my first fitting? I understand there will be others to come.

Having just gone through this with the build of my Landshark... what's key is to tell the fitter 1) how you like to ride... how far, how long, what type of terrain etc. 2) any and all problems you have ever had riding. For instance, after 20 miles your lower back starts to hurt, or you have foot or knee problems or your arms of shoulders get sore and tired. Remember and mention every problem, no matter how small. 3) Your age is important, if you are young this isn't really an issue but if old or older like me, you need to consider what changes might occur to your body in the next 5 - 10 years. I am 60 now, in 10 years - 70. I have to assume flexibility may be an issue.

A good fitter already knows the questions that need to be asked. If he hasn't already told you, bring the bike in that you currently ride the most. He should see how you been riding. Generally they set up the fit bike to match your current bike and then start making changes. Also remember to bring in your bike shoes! and pedals... [if you just bring the bike and your shoes - you are set]

There really should only be the one fitting cause once the frame is built you can't change that. Once the bike is built up, then small adjustments can be made.

Good luck... enjoy the experience!

Thankfully I have worked with this fitter extensively since last June when he turned my beloved LHT from a bike that I could not ride to one that I can spend all day on, so he knows all of this. He knows how I like to ride and how I want this bike to differ from my LHT. This is very helpful. The design he received yesterday from Gunnar is the result of previous conversations, and initial measurements from both me and my LHT that he provided.

The purpose for tomorrow's fitting is to see how well the initial design will work on the fit bike - then he will send suggestions - they will tweak the design and I will have another fitting based in the tweaked design. Apparently this can happen 4-5 more times until we have the final design that will actually be built. It is more complicated since we are going with a true custom size rather than one of their stock sizes...

This is all quite exciting :D

Sqeeeeee I can hardly wait for all of this to be over and I will have my beautiful new bike!

Wait until you get to the real hard part.......the color. :)

Sounds like a great opportunity, would love to have you "blog" this from beginning to end as it would be very enlightening for the rest of us.

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Originally Posted by Laguna

Wait until you get to the real hard part.......the color. :)

Sounds like a great opportunity, would love to have you "blog" this from beginning to end as it would be very enlightening for the rest of us.

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I know what color - though I can't go back and look through them again or I will change my mind :)

Go here and and look for Candy Plum over Charcoal - color dated 10/31/06. It is beautiful :)

I am sure that I will have plenty to say about this process - hopefully not TOO much :o

Oh.My.God - that is the most beautiful color!

Love the color!

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Originally Posted by Kerry1976

Oh.My.God - that is the most beautiful color!

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Isn't it?

:D :cool: :D

The fitting went well today, my fitter is quite pleased with their initial design. While my design is based on the Gunnar Crosshairs, it will not be a cyclocross bike. The idea is to give me the lightest weight steel frame possible while maintaining the same level of stability that I have with my LHT. Therefore there won't be lots of brazeons, and the fork will be actually be what they use for the Roadie rather than for cyclocross. The design is built so that if I decide in the future that I want a more aggressive riding position I will be able to do so.

I will still be able to put racks and do very light credit card touring should I choose to do so, but as far as I am concerned, that is what my LHT is for. This bike is really not designed for carrying a lot of weight. THIS will be my go-fast bike, and we think that we can get the overall weight of the bike down to 20-22 pounds by the time we are done. Considering my LHT weighs 35 pounds, and she weighed 30 pounds when I brought her home, the sheer weight loss will help me in the hills.

I am very excited, and the order officially goes in next Friday - that is when I put down my deposit (pay day). The upgraded fork Gunnar suggested did bump the price, but I think the lighter fork will be worth it. The amount I am paying in taxes though made my jaw drop :eek: I knew taxes would be a lot but not THAT much!

Apparently a couple of years ago my LBS had another Gunnar built that was the same color I've selected, and they said it was just plain beautiful :)