Bike fitting

[firenze11]

I finally finished grad school and came home which means I have been reunited with my bike! I took him into the shop on Monday since I've been away for a year and have some issues I wanted to have fixed. We've moved so it's not the LBS I bought him at and they were telling me they could do a fitting for me.

When I bought him, the owner just watched me ride in a circle in the back parking lot and told me I looked a little stretched out. He just put a shorter stem on the handle bars and sent me on my way. I was new to cycling and had never ridden road-type geometry before so I thought that was ok. Since then, I've started to wonder if I need a real fitting which is why I kind of perked up on Monday.

I'm a little hesitant though. I've done a bit of research and it seems like professional fittings start around $100 for an hour. This shop said they normally charge $25 plus whatever parts are needed. They seem like a really nice shop but I kind of wonder if this is toocheap for a good fitting.

What do you think? What do you expect to pay for a fitting? What should I look for in a good fitter/fitting appointment?

Thanks, as always!

[nscrbug]

Fittings will vary widely from shop to shop. All depends on how extensive the fitting is, and how much time is involved. I had a fitting that took close to 2 hours. I was fit on a "fit cycle" - sort of looks like a "spin bike", but with interchangeable parts (handlebars, pedals, saddles, stems, etc.). Once I was sized up properly on the fit cycle, my fitter then transferred all those measurements to my actual road bike. He then put the road bike on a trainer, and had me ride it for almost a full hour...tweaking things, here and there. Then, I took it outside for a test ride...came back for another quick adjustment, then out again for another test ride. When I was finally happy with the way it felt, I was done. Now granted, I did buy my bike at this shop...so the fitting was complimentary with the bike purchase. But had I just walked in and wanted a fitting, I think the cost ranged anywhere from $150-300 depending on the extensiveness of the fitting.

As a comparison, I was just in another LBS last weekend...and was quoted a price of $180 for a "3-D Body Geometry Pro Fitting"...this was at a Specialized dealer.

[Yelsel]

There are different depths to fitting -- for $30 to $60 you can expect basic measurements (crotch height, torso length, arm length, feet length); bike adjustment (seat height, seat fore/aft, recommendations on top tube / cockpit length based on fit formula and a short trainer session). The cockpit length (butt to hands) is the most difficult to adjust, and the standard $50 fit is just going to spit out a formula based on your measurements and the riding angle input into the program. I generally ride at a steeper angle than input into the system, so my cockpit was at the upper limit of suggested cockpit length. This is where having a better LBS to work on this aspect of fit is extremely valuable.

I did the basic fit at a Specialized dealer (their advanced fit system is based on the Andy Pruitt / Colorado Medical Center fit program, I don't know about the basic $50 fit). I wanted to have accurate measurements (warning: you have to ask special for these, it is not part of the printout, which just has the "results".) It was also a fast way to get the seat height dialed in, because I don't know ppl that can stand around watching my butt on the trainer. There was not much trainer work, so there was not much useful information on the reach adjustment / cockpit length. There is an issue with my left knee collapsing inward slightly (sigh, collateral damage from an upper tibia stress fracture in my right leg that I've been working on) - I knew this was a problem with weight / balance training, but it was affecting my pedaling also, so now I have in-shoe shims. So that alone was valuable, since I like having working knees.

Talk with the LBS about what their $25 fit entails. My ideal would be to have measurements, start with a "stock" setup from a fit system that I understand and endorse, then lots of trainer time to really dial in the fit. Unless you are paying in the $150-250 range for motion capture / laser points / etc., then any fit is going to basically get you in the 2 cm range, and you need start tweaking yourself from there. So $25 is a bargain.

Information that I wish I had: % weight on fore / aft wheels (need to find another scale for this); more information on ideal crank length, since with a 32" / 81 cm inseam, suggested lengths range from 165 mm (TA) to 175 mm (inseam in cm * 2.16). I have 170 mm on now. The most important thing I'd like is better cleat alignment, which only comes with expensive fits, or presumably helpful LBS.

[Ruby Rider 2]

I was told the specialized fitting would cost $100. Do you know what's covered and how that might differ from the $50 one? Not sure what I should be asking for.

Didn't buy the bike there but bought the shoes and other stuff.
thanks
RR

[Miranda]

My first bike that was fit to me about like yours was "oh, looky honey, you can clear the top tube standing... 'it fits' ...". Grrrr, I'm stopping from writing my book report how things went from there. Guess the good was on how I found this forum (help, I have things bleeding on my body). Always a silver lining, right?

When I sought after my two frames sizes smaller fits like a tee bike I have now.... I first paid $60-ish in Mayberry prices for the best / only fitter locally highly recommended by every cyclists I respected from the gym. This was for the body measurements thing only... and an ideal geometry / calculations of what would work best with me.

The shop where I bought my roadie girl at does the fitting very nicely for free... measurements, pc print out, switching out stems on trainer, watch yourself ride in mirrored room, spin the lot, switch things up, repeat--whatever. If you want this new video taping thing, it was $100something plus. Mayberry cost of living. Biggie city within road trip distance... same thing $300ish at a different shop.

"Nice people" were also a different shop I went to for help locally (besides the selling shop who scr*wed me) said my bike "uumm, fit.... could switch parts etc.". OK, it was TWO frames sizes too big. Did I cover that--ahh, yea. So, 'nice' does not always= knowledge.

Are there any other cyclists you know to ask? Or contact the president of a local bike club (NOT associated with a lbs). Or call around shops... even if it's a bit a travel. My roadie girl now was a 5 hour round trip drive. Worth every single mile and penny!

Good Luck! AND welcome home back to the saddle.

[firenze11]

Thanks for all the info. I picked my bike up and asked them to describe their fittings. The wrench told me that it would take around 15-20 min and he'd just watch me on the trainer and change things in and out "as needed." Sigh. I'll be looking elsewhere. I really think I need something a bit more in-depth than 20 min by eye.

Miranda: I can't believe your bike was 2 sizes too big! I really identify with the "oh, looky honey, you can clear the top tube standing. . .'it fits'. . ." That sounds identical to what happened to me, even though all the bike shops I've been to have been very nice (but sometimes in a pat me on the head kind of way). When I got the bike back, threw it on the trainer, and hop on, I just don't feel right. I don't know if it's because the bike is too big, because I've been gone for a year and only rode on spin bikes so I need to get used to it, or just because I'm still really new. It's frustrating because I really like riding but I'm never fully comfortable.

[spindizzy]

Firenze:

Congratulations on finishing grad school.

A bike fitter I would recommend is JP Tesolin at Via Ciclante in Streetsville ( West Mississauga). He (even according to my coach) is one of the best bike fitters around. He is meticulous and wants to make you one with your bike. I imagine it is around $150-200 but I got mine with my bike purchase. I've met people there from all over Ontario. He uses lasers and levels and goniometers....and way longer than 20 minutes....

http://www.viaciclante.com/

[zia]

Thanks for posting this question. I am feeling a little disenchanted with my $50/30 minute fitting, but am not sure what spending more gets you... and am reluctant to pay for a second fitting. Lots to think about. Especially since every one of the LBSs here has a completely different offering. Lasers, video-taping, what-have-you...

[Maxxxie]

I got a bike fitting done by a physiotherapist who does bike fittings for a living. He operates from a specialist sports medicine clinic, so has no vested interest in selling floorstock (have you ever noticed how marked-down floor stock bikes are always magically the right size, according to the salespeople?).

I paid around $200 for it, and it was worth every cent. He told me the bike I was on was too big for me, adjusted it as best he could, then gave me recommended measurements for a new bike. I took those measurements to my bike store, told them I wanted a new road bike, and they were able to recommend a bike based on those measurements. When the time came to pick up The Beast, they plonked it on the trainer, dialled the measurements in according to the physio's recommendations, and had me ride for a bit. In the end, they ended up tweaking it by tilting the bars up a tad (one or two mm). That was the only variation from the physio's recommendation. And the bike fits perfectly.

A bike fit is definitely worth the money spent. The only recommendation I can add to the excellent ones already in this thread, is that you consider getting a fitting from someone impartial.


Max

[zia]

Max, that's a useful perspective. But where do you find such a person? I've asked around, but everyone goes through their bike shop.

I'm looking at a basic, bike shop, $150 "performance fitting," which is 1.5 hours long. Or, for $300, and another hour, there's the "SpinScan Pedal Stroke Analyzer Software," range of motion assessment, and "Specialized's Body Geometry Dual Angle Technical Assessment."

That's a lot of words. I'm not sure if it's worth the extra money. All I want is for my shoulders not to burn. But if I'm tweaking that, why not go all out?

Or, there's another guy who claims to be independent but works in a bike shop who seems to offer the same thing at the same price.

Around and around I go. But these anecdotes are very helpful.

[Maxxxie]

Hi Zia,

I think from memory I found out about the bike fitter from a mate, who in turn found him via a google search. Something like "bicycle fitter" or "bicycle fitting service", maybe coupled with "physiotherapist" or "biomechanic".

My thoughts are that the bike fit is just as important as the rest of the bike. I'd go the whole hog, but acknowledge that's a fair bit of cash to lay down.


Max

[zia]

My husband would call you a bad influence.

Let me ask, though: do you really think all those *extras* are worth twice the price of a regular fitting? (And six times what I paid for my cheapo one?) I honestly can't describe what those extras are or why they're valuable. (I should probably ask the bike shop that.) I'm very competitive with myself and like to be comfortable, but it's not like I'm heading out to win the Tour de Whatever. And I will admit that I don't feel like I'm getting the power out of my bike that I want to. But that might not be entirely due to fit -- ha!

[lunacycles]

The fitter's experience--on the bike and also looking at people on the bike, plus having a good set of ears--is a lot more important than lasers or fancy equipment. It is worth asking around for who people in your community recommend.

A lot of people hold a concept around what a good fit is, and that may apply to them, personally, or even to their buddies, but not necessarily to others. You don't want someone who holds a strong bias, but someone who asks you questions and listens to your answers, then applies their wisdom and experience to work with you til you are happy.

p.s. a lot of shops carry whatever fitting service/tools works for the brands they sell. The built-in bias reflects the philosophy of the company. Not to steer you clear of them, just to suggest you may want to be aware of this.

[tprevost]

I took both of my bikes over to Velogirl to get fitted and she made some adjustments that made a huge difference. It wasn't cheap but worth every penny to have avoided the overuse problems that would have likely occurred if I hadn't had it done. (they were already starting, just not horrible )

[Running Mommy]

didn't read thru all the replies.. But, I would ask if they are certified. I wouldn't pay any amount for anyone who is not.
And second, just because they say they have some high tech video system does not mean that it's all that.
A good friend spent 300 clams years ago at a high end shop. All they did was set the video camera and computer up to record him riding. The computer then spit out measurements, they changed his bike and went on his way.
Over the years he went back a couple of times because he never felt like he was getting max power.
After a frame warranty/swap issues he made some changes himself that ended up causing a nasty ITB injury. He decided to try our FIST certified fitter, and low and behold, he has been PR'ing races left and right! He was amazed because he finally has the power he knew he was missing.
And she does everything manually.
Video analysis is nice, and is helpful to a certain extent. But any industry vet will tell you the best thing is the dog and pony show that it creates. It shouldn't be used exclusively.