Going for a bike fitting

[Fujichants]

I actually have an appointment set up at my LBS for a bike fitting...and i'm just wondering if these guys are good enough to fit it right for me...its a Performance Bicycle store (there are several here in Southern California). I also googled bike fitting in Los Angeles, and this came up http://pvbike.com/index.cfm

The fitting at Performance Bicycle costs $40. I want to find out how much PV Bicycle Center charges...does it look like it is worth it with their high-tech, state of the art bike fitting studio?

What is the average cost for a bike fitting?

The BF is giving me strange looks because he thinks its useless. But i'm starting to experience pain in my shoulders and back, and my butt goes numb from time to time.

[KnottedYet]

Generally bike fittings seem to cost about $150 and take 2 hours.

They come with guarantees, and you have a certain time in which you can come in for a refit if there are issues. (about 6 months seems to be average)

A good fitter will usually have graduated from some sort of course, and a really good one will have a background in personal training or physical therapy or sports medicine.

If they are doing a bike fit for a woman, they damm well better know some of the "quirks" of women's fit.

Read Andy Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists before your fitting. It will help you know what is going on and get the most out of the experience.

Are you actually in LA or are you any where near San Leandro CA? Chris Robinson at Robinson Wheel Works is an amazing fitter.

High tech and state of the art doesn't mean squat if the fitter doesn't feel bike fit in his bones. I'd rather be fit by a guy with a plumb-bob and a brainful of knowledge and experience than by a twit with computers and lasers.

Performance has a reputation of being kind of like Wal*Mart. I've encountered some astoundingly bad service at Performance stores here in Washington, but if you know exactly what you want and don't need any help you can get by.

[Fujichants]

I am actually in LA. I find Performance good for getting cute clothes on sale, but the majority of the people who work there either don't care or don't know anything. There's only one guy there that I trust with my bike, but he doesn't do fittings.

[KnottedYet]

Can you call a sports medicine clinic (or sports physical therapy clinic, or whatever it gets called) in your area and ask who they recommend for fitting?

Or call some bike shops that carry Trek or Specialized and ask if they have any fitters who have done the 1 week Specialized fit course (very intense) or the 2 day Trek Fit-U course.

Both these approaches emphasize fitting the bike to the rider, not to some idealized set of measurements.

If all else fails, contact Michael Sylvester and ask who he recommends in LA. http://bicyclefittingservices.com/ He teaches Trek's classes, and he developed the Serotta system.

[Fujichants]

Thank you so much for your quick reply! I will definitely be calling around tomorrow. I'd rather pay more and have my bike fit me perfectly, rather than skimp on it and still end up with aches and pains.

[Mr. Bloom]

This is Silver. WELL WELL WORTH IT!

Got one in Indy last week for $150 and it took three hours. Also got a saddle, shoes, and shims for my shoes bringing the total cost to $395 (which Mr. Silver just found out about as he typed this for Silver)

[Bluetree]

PV Bikes is a reputable place. They do Specialized BG fittings.

In Los Angeles, I'd recommend Nate Loyal (Helen's/Santa Monica), Ted Ersnt (Ted's/Manhattan Beach), and the guys at Cynergy (Santa Monica) or Surf City Cyclery (Huntington Beach). If you are near the SG Valley, Stan's Monrovia Bikes does Serotta fittings.

I'd stay away from Performance as if it were the plague.

[Fujichants]

I was thinking of calling Cynergy. I love their store! I always leave my wallet in the car because i'm afraid i'm going to end up charging one of their Specialized bikes or Bianchis to my card!