Need advice: custom build or not

[Biciclista]

When I decided to go custom, I went to the shop of a custom builder (Elliott Bay Bikes who builds Davidson bikes). After an hour of talking (and riding on a bike in a stand) I was most confident that these guys knew as much as most fitters and I was not disappointed. The minute I got on that new bike 4 months later, I knew I had done the right thing. GOOD LUCK!

ps I went custom because I got tired of doing things to my bike to help with my issues that compromised the bike itself!

[nscrbug]

When I decided to go custom, I went to the shop of a custom builder (Elliott Bay Bikes who builds Davidson bikes). After an hour of talking (and riding on a bike in a stand) I was most confident that these guys knew as much as most fitters and I was not disappointed. The minute I got on that new bike 4 months later, I knew I had done the right thing. GOOD LUCK!

ps I went custom because I got tired of doing things to my bike to help with my issues that compromised the bike itself!

+1 to THIS statement. I opted for custom (I went with Ti) this time around, because after spending a LOT of money on fittings and parts, and seeing no improvement with my pain issues...it finally dawned on me, that the 3 bikes that I have purchased in as many years, just never did fit me right...and I was tired of continuing to throw money at them in an effort to make things right.

[Dogmama]

If you have cervical spine issues, you may spend a bunch of $$ on a bike only to find that you still cannot ride long distances.

Welcome to your '50's!

[Crankin]

Just be forewarned, that I am still having issues with things after my Guru fit and the custom build of my ti bike. I have lots of issues when things feel different and thus, I still don't feel right on my Guru. Some things might require a component change (cassette, bars), because I just feel I am not riding my best on this bike. Slow and shaky for the first 30 minutes and then back and knee pain. I am ready to give up. Going to raise the saddle and just try to ride the bike more. My Kuota might not be be a perfect fit, but it feels right.

ETA: sorry for the typos at the end there. I was trying to type on my I Phone, without my reading glasses.

[goldfinch]

Besides the fit issues, are you doing anything to make sure that your core is strong? I had a lot of neck, shoulder and arm pain, so much so that I went to a physical therapist. I got a set of exercises which I now do religiously to strengthen my core plus address arthritis in my neck. It has made a world of a difference in my biking comfort, provided that I never let up on the exercises.