Fit: weight ratio between saddle and handlebars

[bounceswoosh]

I'm looking into a fitting...but I would rather not spend $200 right now and I'm considering saving for a custom bike instead... If I save diligently I might be able to have one in about 2-3 years which would be awesome

I know that a fitting would probably do me a world of good but I would like to find someone I trust who will give me what I want instead of underestimating me because I am a woman or an inexperienced rider When I go to the store where I bought my bike, I always feel like they're trying to sell me something and that the sales staff are insincere.

I know a proper fitting would greatly improve my ride but I have trouble justifying the expense on such expertise unless I find someone whom I trust. I'm considering going to the my local Seven dealer where I could also test ride a Seven

I agree you should absolutely find someone you trust who treats you with respect --

That being said, if I were considering a truly custom bike, I would first want to know that I had the best possible fit on my current bike. Otherwise, how do you know that the specs of your custom bike are really the best for you?

[kermit]

I would invest in the fit for now if I were you. You need to make sure that you are not tweaked so far out that you wind up with a problem that will turn to an injury. Instead of your LBS who don't sound like they have your best interests at heart, look for a local trainer or club that might know of a fitter.

[Ana]

I agree you should absolutely find someone you trust who treats you with respect --

That being said, if I were considering a truly custom bike, I would first want to know that I had the best possible fit on my current bike. Otherwise, how do you know that the specs of your custom bike are really the best for you?

Oh, it's true! All right, a fitting it is...

[Ana]

I've decided to get a fitting but I do not care for the shop from which I purchased my bicycle. They are also out of the way, although my annual tuneups are free so I try to hike out there/take the bus twice a year.

I do not have a vehicle (my bicycle is my primary mode of transportation) but can cycle to another shop which I generally like.

Which of the following would you be more inclined to do:

1) Pay $200 for a full-fitting down the street (literally 3-4 blocks) that is "guaranteed." They are a certified Seven and Serotta dealer.

2) Go 15 miles to a local bicycle shop for a $60/hour fitting or a $150 full-fitting. They also deal Independent Fabrication bicycles.

Any thoughts? Or recommendations for shops/fitters in the Ann Arbor area (I posted another thread in open cycling topics already)?

Thanks!

[VeloVT]

Hmmm... it depends on what each fitting includes, and whether you need it. And, of course, how much of a sacrifice an extra $50 or $100.

Is that $60 for a one-hour fitting, or do they charge $60 per hour and take as long as necessary?

Is there someone experienced whom you trust in the shop with the $60/hour fitting? If so, that may really be all you need for now. You can cover a lot in an hour. As I said, my $75 fitting (which lasted 1.5 hours) was very, very helpful, much more helpful than the $150 fitting I had first. I think this is because the man who fitted me has been doing it for 30 years and just has lots and lots of experience. By contrast, the $150 fitting was done by a PT in his mid-30s, and while I don't know how long he has been doing bike fits as part of his PT business, I'll bet it's a lot less time. Come to think about it, the shop that did the fitting for me is also a Serotta dealer (though that's a very, very small part of their business I think), and they are certified Serotta fitters as well as certified Specialized fitters. But even more importantly than that, the man I worked with has been riding, selling and fitting bikes for a very long time.

Actually, the shop that did my fitting actually had a few more involved and more expensive fitting options... and if I had either intractable problems or very specific goals, I might have opted for one of them, but it wasn't really necessary for me at the time. You may find the same is true for you...

[Ana]

Thank you for your input!

Admittedly, I have very little experience in exploring the fitting experience and depth of fitting knowledge in the shops I am considering now. I have only found 1 LBS I really like and they do very informal fittings and are very far away on a busy road. I like their staff a lot and to give them my business but I'm not sure they offer the caliber of service for my OCDness.

I do not frequent the shop 15 miles away, mostly because it's quite far for me to go without a car and without my fit problems being resolved (and my endurance is not very good anymore)--neck and shoulder pain, heachaches, etc.

The shop 15 miles away has been open for 5 years. Here is a link to their site.

I know very little about the shop that deals Serotta and Seven but they seem like they know what they're doing. Perhaps I will e-mail the guy who offered to do my fitting and ask him about his credentials? Here is a link to the site.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

I really want to get on one of those adjustable fit devices I think they've got to be great tools for tweaking fit!

[aicabsolut]

Really, this fix shouldn't be that hard. Set your bike up on a trainer. Move your saddle back a few mm. Sit on it. See if you can support your weight if you take your hands off the bars. It shouldn't take a crazy amount of core strength, though, yeah, you won't be able to do a lot without sitting upright. Just test to see if that feeling of falling on your face goes away. If not, move the saddle back some more. Try again. Do it until you find that spot. Then put a plumb bob on a string and with your foot at 3 o'clock, drop the line from about the center of your kneecap. If you're significantly far back (several cm) from the pedal axle, then you might need more of a total fit overhaul. If you're close to the pedal axle, then this is probably a good position to try out on the road.

If you've moved your saddle back a lot, then you're going to want to spin for a bit to see how comfortable the reach to the pedals is behind the knee. You might want to lower the seat a little bit to compensate. (not the same amount as the aft movement--try a couple mm at a time).

[Ana]

I'll make small adjustments myself and to see if it will the resolve the problems I'm having. A stem swap will probably be in order if I move my seat back.

One of the reasons I'd like to see a fitter is because I'm afraid my frameset might be too big for me overall, perhaps so much so that my bicycle really does not (and may not be able to) fit me well. But I do not feel that I am able to make that distinction with my lack of experience and while on the bike.

I'm going to keep looking into a professional fitting thing though