Opinions on Cyclefit?

[jefmcg]

I was in Pearsons in Sheen, which is a new store which also provides http://cyclefit.co.uk/ as I mentioned in another thread. I got a pretty hard sell on cyclefit. The more I think about it, the more confused I am.

I've put in nearly 5000 miles last year on a folding bike - so it's upright and the seat is never at the same height twice - without any problems, but I was told I should get a cycle fit.

Is this good advice? Several things worry me:

1. I played around with http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO At the end, you get three quite different sets of measurements, depending on your riding style. As it's my first road bike, I don't know what my riding style will be, so I could still get the wrong frame after all those measurements and £200.
2. I do have a problem with my elbow, which hasn't affected my riding so far but may do in the future. However, the people I'm dealing with a probably not physiotherapists and even if they are they haven't seen the x-rays and the MRI and the case notes, so they aren't going to know if the fit will cause me problems.
3. I googled the bike they recommended (Ridley EOS). You can find online for about £200 pounds less than it's in the shop. I'm ok with that - or I was - because i thought the price difference was service and advice and making sure you buy the right bike. I'm a little shocked that making sure you buy the right bike is not included in the sticker price.
4. The other branch of their store doesn't have cyclefit. If the hard sell is justified, then is the other branch treating their customers poorly by not offering it?

(also slightly annoyed by the fact I have now spoken to 2 salesmen in different stores about buying a drop bar bike and have twice been gently steered away towards flat bars. Sexism? I reminded by how pushy my mother had to be with car salesmen "why do you want manual? I'd understand if you were a young man, but ...")
</whinge>

 

[accountantpete]

They still pushing the Ridley eh?

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/ridley-eos.79805/

I might be wrong but these fitting services seem to be the modern equivalent of snake oil salesmen.

I would take a long hard look at drop bars - they are a blessing when you are facing a headwind.

 

[vickster]

I wouldn't pay for a cyclefit if I were buying a bike from a seller. My Pearson roadbike came from *erm* Pearsons in Sutton (I went for carbon rather than the alu Ridley), it was a bespoke build and around £1300, time was spent making sure everything was ok and indeed was told to come back if needed any more tweaking

I think that Corridori in Epsom do a free fit if you buy a bike - they mainly stock Specialized and Bianchi (and Pinarello I think)

http://www.corridori.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=11

jefmcg, if you want drops, get drops. I like to commute on flatbars only but I am a scaredy cat, and the Pearson isn't a commuter!

If you like the Ridley, get the Ridley...but if you want it cheaper, buy online or ask them to include the fit - speak to one of the two brothers (I haven't been to the Sheen branch so don't know which one is there, or who the other salesfolks are)

 

[jefmcg]

speak to one of the two brothers (I haven't been to the Sheen branch so don't know which one is there, or who the other salesfolks are)

Just a quick aside: I visited their people page out of curiosity: it was one of the brothers I was dealing with - William.

 

[vickster]

It was he who helped me out with mine too, decent chap IMO

 

[jefmcg]

:-) you can tell it's raining in West London, we're both in front of the computer.

I liked him, but he lost a sale with me, I'm afraid.

 

[vickster]

I was off to the gym and then my aging parents called with a computer crisis (they are 100 miles away)! I think their ADSL was down, unplugged all and ok, phew!

That's a shame. Did you find a bike?

I was in Apex on Clapham High Street yesterday, they have a good selection of 2 wheeled pretty things (mainly Specialized)! There is also a decent shop called Cyclopolis on Balham High Street, they have Cannondale, Felt, Bianchi http://www.cyclopolis.co.uk/ , there are a couple more shops on the A24 too (never been in either)

http://www.crazyhorsebikeworkshop.co.uk/
http://www.psubliminal.com/home/

Then of course there's the big Evans in Wimbledon and Action Bikes for Trek

Time to spend the afternoon tootling around the bike shops (some are open Sunday)

If you ever need someone to drive you around give me a shout, happy to do for petrol money and a skinny latte

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

I can't really comment on Cyclefit, as I've no experience of them. However, £200 seems a bit steep!

Even assuming that it was value for money, I can't see such precise analysis benefitting anyone except a top class rider.

I agree with you about the reasons for shopping with a LBS and if I wasn't getting them I'd vote with my feet.

 

[Danny]

I can't comment on Pearsons, but when I bought my bike from Paul Hewitt he spent about an hour doing a fitting session with me. He made some changes to my riding position which largely alleviated the back problems I had been experiencing.

There was no charge for the fitting session if you bought a bike, and IIRC Paul charges about £35 if you are not going to buy one. However there was no hard sell at all - just the opposite.

I realise Leyland, Lancs is not exactly near Sheen, but you might want to check out Cyclefit in Covent Garden. I haven't used them myself but they have a good reputation.

 

[vickster]

Pearsons are a partner of Cyclefit in CG according to the website, costs £195, same thing it seems

http://www.cyclefit.co.uk/partner-stores

 

[jefmcg]

Thanks again.

Honestly, I don't think I even need a bikefit, as I've been doing perfectly fine on an off-the-shelf folder, where the seat is a slightly different height every time I unfold it. The Pearsons salesman was pretty well telling me I'd be a fool to buy without one, so I wanted further opinion on that.

Didn't go out again yesterday, Vickster, because it's really just test rides now and it was very wet around here. So far I've tried two bikes, both come with fits for no extra cost, and either I could live with. I'd like to try 3 or 4 more before settling. The one I tried on Saturday was a Giant Avail from a Giant store, and I could certainly live with that. They'd have done a fit for me on the spot, except that their software was locked. The other is a shop that only has one bike I am interested in, and it's 2011. If I don't buy that, I won't buy from them which makes me nervous to trust their advice.

Thanks for the astounding offer of a lift - I won't need it, but maybe get you that latte after I'm on the road :-)

Two independent people have recommend Bicycle in Richmond. I dropped in there while it was raining and they suggested a CAAD (8, I think) or a Bianchi. I'll try to get on both of them before I decide, and may On Your Bike (however it's spelt) in London.

(Aside: last week two things went terribly wrong in my life. I won't go into the details, but now I am using bike shopping to keep my mind busy. However, with the ensuing changes in my life, I may not end up buying a new bike for a while)