Major disappointment while bike shopping

[NbyNW]

one word: LUNA

nscrbug, if you're feeling like you have to compromise on selection because of the whole supply/distribution situation, it REALLY would be worth your while to look into custom.

For one thing, they'll appreciate your business more and you won't be some statistical probability that they may or may not make/deliver a bike for next season (and depending on who you go to, more of your hard-earned $$ will stay local/domestic);
Two, they can estimate pretty well how long it will take them to make your bike and they WILL make your bike; and
Three, you'll get exactly the components you want.

[nscrbug]

I totally understand the reasons for going "custom", as many of you have suggested. However, I have this unreasonable "fear" about a custom bike. This will probably sound silly to most of you, but...somewhere in the back of my mind, I have this notion that IF I were to go to a custom builder...go through the entire process of measuring, fitting, picking components, and what not...have the bike built up to MY specs...only to discover that it doesn't fit perfectly and I will still have some little annoying pain issues anyway. I would be SO majorly disappointed if I had spent all that time, money, and waiting...only to end up not LOVING the bike. Weird, I know......but that's how my brain operates.

[Zen]

However, I have this unreasonable "fear" about a custom bike.

Now that's just crazy-talk.

Luu-NA!Luu-NA! Luu-NA!!

[MartianDestiny]

I totally understand the reasons for going "custom", as many of you have suggested. However, I have this unreasonable "fear" about a custom bike. This will probably sound silly to most of you, but...somewhere in the back of my mind, I have this notion that IF I were to go to a custom builder...go through the entire process of measuring, fitting, picking components, and what not...have the bike built up to MY specs...only to discover that it doesn't fit perfectly and I will still have some little annoying pain issues anyway. I would be SO majorly disappointed if I had spent all that time, money, and waiting...only to end up not LOVING the bike. Weird, I know......but that's how my brain operates.

I've had this fear myself as well. Up until my current shop (GO SG and the Jedi Master Chris!!!!) and I'm excitedly awaiting my new custom frame.

It seems that for you, right now, you may not be loosing any time you haven't already lost given the lack of bikes available.

A custom bike won't really cost any more than what you were looking at stock either, which is nice.

That just leaves the nagging problem of trusting the fit.

I chose to go to an experienced, trained, expert, amazing fitter who then worked with the bike company (well, is working with). But regardless of whether or not you go that route or to a good, trusted, educated builder; you aren't going to mess the bike up by it being "your" specs. Yea, you get exactly what you want, but the pros make sure it's going to fit and not hurt.

In my case that meant a 3hr fitting session with Chris the Jedi Master and another 30min to an hour discussing further what I wanted out of the bike and other little details. He's spent the last few weeks with the builder honing geo and other specs to be just perfect, not me. No doubt in my mind that the bike won't be everything I ever dreamed of.

It may be worth chatting with some builders/fitters and seeing if you don't end up finding someone you trust/are comfortable with. You might be surprised; I was (I'd previously sworn I'd never get a custom bike).

[NbyNW]

MartianDestiny makes a good point about being comfortable with your fitter. If you are having any pain issues, a good fitter will want to know about them. Mine wanted to know what I liked/didn't like about my previous setup. If it had not been stolen he would have wanted to watch my form on the trainer.

If your fit is causing you pain or aggravating injuries, your fitter should be able to tweak things, so long as you are on a frame that is appropriate for your body. Technically, I am not on a custom frame; I would call it a stock frame made by a specialty framebuilder. With a custom paint job

I don't think bike fit is necessarily a static thing. Your ideal fit might change based on your overall health, fitness, and goals. As an example, when I was measured for my bike I had limited ROM in my hip & lower back due to an injury but I was also experiencing slow but steady improvement since I was still working with my PT.When they built the bike up initially, the fitter put me in a more upright, less aggressive position. Several months later I was ready to have the fit adjusted and all we had to do was remove a spacer.

It is now two years later and I just had the fit checked again, since my toes were feeling uncomfortable at the end of last season. Turns out one of my cleats had moved out of place. Could also explain some lower back pain I was experiencing. So he fixed that, and also adjusted my alignment and moved my saddle down and forward a tiny, tiny bit -- in theory he says that should improve the power transfer through my foot. So I'll try this out for a little bit and see how it goes.

I think it's fair to ask what you can reasonably expect from a custom fit vs. having expectations beyond that which will lead to the disappointment you speak of. Some people will talk about custom fit like it's the Holy Grail of cycling. But not everyone needs a custom frame.

When I brought up the idea of going to a custom builder, it was more because I know how frustrating it can be to play retail roulette if your body isn't in the middle of the bell curve. A shop that is building their own frames will tell you if you'll be waiting 6 weeks, 6 months or 6 years. And since they tend to be small, you can bet they will work hard to make sure you are happy with their product.

[tulip]

Those custom bike issues never occurred to me. I would get another custom bike in a second, and I probably will one day. And as NbyNW said, you're going to be waiting for a stock bike anyways. Custom might at least be worth exploring.