My son just had a bike fit!

[MommyBird]

My 17 yr old son went in for a fitting last night. He wants his first road bike.
His biggest gripe when we moved to the country was biking. He lived on a bike in the neighborhood but he will hardly swing his leg over one in the country. He has never been an off-road bike fan.

He has an unusual athletic history.
He was a gymnast from 2 1/2 to 11 yrs. Had to quit because he was just way too tall. This was very depressing for him as he mentally considered himself a gymnast and could not remember a time in his life when he wasn't going to the gym. He floundered physically and lost his incredible physique.
Then he discovered ice skating at 13. I pushed for figure skating as it was a logical extension from gymnastics but he didn't want to do another sport that would get him called a "sissy". He chose hockey. Expensive mistake. He has never developed that team sport mentality. Dropped it and after a few months sheepishly approached me and asked if he could take figure skating lessons. An enthusiastic "yes" was my answer.
Went well for several years and then our rink closed for four month. We had just purchased $650 skates. He had a 4" growth spurt during the off months and grew out of the skates. He lost his skating heart and the physique took another dive.
His older brother had taken up rowing and was trying to entice him to do it as well. Since he is so stubborn and didn't want to be a copy-cat he refused. I forced him to go to the rowing camp last summer and he fell in love on the first day. Now I have two rowers to watch at regattas! His physique is on the fast track back to his gymnastic days and he has made it over the hump where you no longer have to push yourself to exercise but your body tells you that you must exercise. He wants to cross-train and what could be better for rowing than biking?
Nick is pushing 6'4" at 17 and is a very late bloomer. I think he has a few more inches in him. My dad was 6'7" and grew into his 20's. My husband is only 5'10",the late bloomer gene came from him and he also grew into his 20's. He is has a thin build but is not a bean pole.

Nick measured for a 63cm. All adjustments can be made in the optimal range at this time. At what height does it get difficult to fit an off-the-rack bike?

Our favorite LBS is a Cannondale store and we are looking at a CAAD9 5 for his first bike. We want to stay in the $1500 range. The shop can get a new 2008 Six with Dura-Ace for $2300. We are in a huge quandary. The USA made carbon frame and component upgrade is a huge plus and what if he gets bitten by the competitive bug? He could outpace the $1500 bike quickly. You should see his legs from rowing alone!

He also is back at the rink. On hockey skates but not playing. He loves speed. My husband estimates he skates 40 miles each Saturday. I wish we had speed skating here.

His birthday is not until November and it is hard to justify such a huge expense mid-year. We do love to support our kid's fitness and academics. But there is always a limit.

Another bonus, our kids have near zero sibling rivalry. If we spend on one the other does not expect a balance on his side or feel slighted.

So, any suggestions or experiences to share about passing up the good buy and regretting it or buying more bike than you will ever need and regretting it? Or the opposites and being thankful for your decision?

[PamNY]

No advice, but I read the title as if your son wanted a bike and threw a fit.

I'm sure that's because I've had a couple of bike fits myself lately when I saw a nice bike that I really want.

[kermit]

If he is really into the idea I would run with it. It is an investment in his happiness...and health. He must be very long limbed, my husband is 6'6" and measured for a 61 Specialized roubaix. My only other suggestion is to shop around and see what else is out there. Any other LBS that you like with different brands? If you pick it is he gonna love it? Keep us updated.

[MartianDestiny]

Here's my take CAAD vs. Six.

The CAAD will, all things considered, make a better racing frame if he's thinking race (which, from his athletic competitiveness it sounds like he will be). Racing brings up the huge issue of replacement, etc. "Race what you can afford to replace". If you could get Six's all day long at that price; I might say put him on a Six, but the CAAD9 is going to be a little more forgiving on crash damage and a little more forgiving on the wallet if he does crash and crack it.

CAADs are VERY nice frames, many people buy them and upgrade the components and swear they ride better (as racers) than most carbon frames at twice the cost.

Plus, the CAAD (believe it or not) I think will have the better resale value if he does outgrow the frame. Used CAADs get scooped up left right and sideways by racers (experienced and beginner alike), while a used, raced, carbon frame can sit for awhile (and bring a lower percentage of purchase price) because they scare people. If you have to put in the ad "laid down a few times in races" (and you will) NO ONE is going to buy the carbon frame from you but they'll still be all over the CAAD if there's no big dents in it.

So, I say buy him the CAAD. As he gets into it (or maybe just to start) get him a nice set of wheels with the difference in $$$. A well equipped CAAD will never be the limiting factor in a race for him (unless, maybe, he starts racing over cobbles in Europe, but at that point someone else is paying for his bikes )

[MommyBird]

PamNY: I meant for it to be taken both ways. He is having a fit for a bike. He asks for few things but when he gets a desire he can be relentless. He usually walks down the stairs inquiring about the bike situation each morning.

MartianDestiny: Great info. My husband has been an avid rider but he has only raced once. Wasn't his thing. He is not overly competitive. He is just overly self-motivated. Needless to say, thinking about what would be better for racing is not on the top of his bike spec list. Thanks for putting this in perspective. Nick will find this interesting as well.

We purchased our other son a CAAD 8 for Christmas a few years ago. He didn't like the pedals or the traffic and we sold it on Ebay. Only lost a couple hundred bucks. Drew is physically a different person now and could handle the bike. He had an injury as a child that he had to work through. He was in the early stages of moving beyond the injury when he attempted biking.
The bike was an easy sale.

[Crankin]

From experience, let me say that if he has any thought of racing, be prepared to replace and replace more. Junior racers crash early and often. My DH became an expert bike mechanic because of this when my son was racing. He cracked his first frame at the Fitchburg Longsjo Stage Race... not a pretty picture; a 16 year old boy crying his eyes out in the middle of the road!
I would go for a moderate level price because of this. He can always upgrade.

[mariacycle]

i would go for a moderate level price because of this. He can always upgrade.

qft

[MommyBird]

Crankin: Was it his bike damage, injury or just his pride that brought on the tears? Perhaps a combo of all three?

I had Nick read the thread.
I could tell that he has been running the fitters info through his head all night. He went to the LBS thinking Six but came home thinking CAAD. Fitter had basically given him the same info, down to the wheels, as MartianDestiny.

Nick and his dad are discussing the build options now. Pulling the trigger on the bike after lunch.

[MartianDestiny]

Fitter had basically given him the same info, down to the wheels, as MartianDestiny.

Nick and his dad are discussing the build options now. Pulling the trigger on the bike after lunch.

.

Exciting!

I really should work in a bike shop... maybe that's my calling in life...

[MommyBird]

This is a bit after the fact, but I rode with my son for the first time last Saturday. It was a Mom, Dad and Son adventure.
This was Nick's first ride outside of the state park. He wasn't overly intimidated by the traffic. Just a healthy level of caution.
Dave and Nick are much faster than me. They did some double-backs, took some side roads and waited for me here and there.
His ride was around 22 miles. His rear is fine now but his shoes are too small. He has been using his off-road shoes and pedals. The shoes are less than six months old!

The guys took a trip to the LBS on Monday to remedy the problem. He purchased a set of Speed Play Zeros and ordered a pair of 49cm shoes. Choices are slim in this size. Cheap and expensive seem to be the only options. The mid-range shoes only seem to go to 48 and that is the size he is currently trying to wear. We went cheap this time but know that our next purchase may have to be on the high end.
We had the same problem with figure skates. Girls can incrementally go up as they improve but they skip multiple levels for mens skates and you have to make huge jumps in price.

They also purchased a pink Strada Wireless. I cleared the data on my black Strada and traded it to Nick for the pink one. The only pink accessories I can think of adding to my bike now are handle bar tape, hood covers and valve caps. I think I will pass on the hood covers. Dirty pink is not attractive. (I know there are some who would say pink is never attractive)

Nick is still not riding much. It is driving him crazy. He is rowing 5 to 6 days a week to help his brother get ready for nationals. He rows in a quad to give Drew's double some competition. The workouts have been more difficult than during the regular season. His hands are hamburger. The double seems to be doing quite well. The quad gets a head start and the double over takes it in short order. The quad is a bit of a motley crew as it is filled with whoever shows up. One day they were only a triple!

Thanks to all of the people who have left comments. Nick gets a kick out of reading them.