Customising fit on a new bike...

[punkypossum]

Just wondered, as it looks as if I will finally be able to get my very first road bike in the new year, would the shop swap things like the handlebars for me when I buy it?

At the moment, I'm leaning towards a giant defy (subject to change) because of the longer headtube (which would work better because of my long legs, short arms and body proportions), but from speaking to various bike shop people I would need narrower 40cm handlebars...Could I expect the shop to swap the bars for me free of charge or is that an extra I have to budget for? I know they will usually swap a stem, but the whole bars....?

 

[Landslide]

It may be that the bike may come with bars of the appropriate width already.
If not, then there's no harm in asking about switching bits. Some shops will do so happily, some shops won't.
Bear in mind that if they're your LBS (and you're happy with their service to date) then both you and them have much to be gained from continued custom. Ask nicely, and see if you can come to an agreement.
Be nice and polite, but firmly haggle in such a way as to point out that if they don't play nice, you won't place the order.
If the shop insists on charging full price for the parts plus fitting, then make sure you get the original bars etc. so you can put them on fleabay!

 

[jimboalee]

Giant Defy is an 'entry level' race bike, except for the Advance 1 which will hold its own in Elite class.

Are you intending to seriously race? Yes, tweak it. No, go with the std set-up.

I've got 3 road bikes. One, as featured on another thread is a Spesh SWorks. It is tweaked for me.
The other two are set up similar but not exact. All three are different frame sizes, according to what theory was in vogue at the time of purchase, but longer and shorter pins and stems have not been bought.
My old Pug is not much different from the day it was ridden away from the shop 33 years ago, and still rides well, although it is a 58cm and my SWorks is a 54cm.

Only if it seriously out of proportion for you, you will adapt to its dimensions. Tweaking a bike is for raceboys and long distance riders.

 

[punkypossum]

No, not planning to race, but I sat on a defy in the shop and the bars are enourmously wide - the guy said they would be big even on most blokes, and according to my actual shoulder width, I would be even better off with 38 instead of 40, but there is apparently a compromise in handling if they get too narrow. On the original bars I literally had to spread my arms, which felt and looked rather odd, so I think racing or no racing, a change might be in order...

 

[Crackle]

So! You have skinny shoulders, long legs and short arms, not to mention that funny shaped bum of yours (How are you getting on with that saddle by the way, I feel I have a vested interest in its suitability).

As has already been said, depends on the LBS. One I asked about changing the handlebar wasn't willing to do it without me paying, though I think I could've bargained him down to parts only. I guess it depends how busy they are and how much margin is in the bike, you can only ask.

I presume the narrower fit is all part of the PH fit advice. I would urge caution. I rode a bike with too narrow a handlebar width for many a year until I knew better. When I changed the difference was profound. Just be sure you need the narrow fit, especially with some of the more modern bar shapes on the drops.

 

[punkypossum]

So! You have skinny shoulders, long legs and short arms, not to mention that funny shaped bum of yours (How are you getting on with that saddle by the way, I feel I have a vested interest in its suitability).

As has already been said, depends on the LBS. One I asked about changing the handlebar wasn't willing to do it without me paying, though I think I could've bargained him down to parts only. I guess it depends how busy they are and how much margin is in the bike, you can only ask.

I presume the narrower fit is all part of the PH fit advice. I would urge caution. I rode a bike with too narrow a handlebar width for many a year until I knew better. When I changed the difference was profound. Just be sure you need the narrow fit, especially with some of the more modern bar shapes on the drops.

Well, as I've just returned from Germany, the saddle unfortunatley hasn't had any further outings, but I will keep you updated!

Thanks for making me sound positively deformed by the way - I feel like I need to post a picture to prove that I am actually human at this point...

As for the bar width - if it was just PH advice then I would give the wider bars the benefit of the doubt, but we are talking four different bike shops and during my test sits, the narrower ones did feel considerably better...had to chop inches of my mtb bars as well, and the improvement was amazing! If I have to pay for it, I suppose I'll just have to do that...see how it goes nearer the time...Me being me, I will probably discard the defy anyway and end up with something totally unexpected!!!

 

[mickle]

I have to disagree with jimbolee on this, I don't think adapting to the dimensions of a bike is a valid proposition. PP is an uncommonly tall woman, who has experienced bike fit problems in the past and is making a big effort to educate herself on the subject.

Go for the 40cm PP. Any shop I've ever worked in would charge only the difference in price between the new bar and what they could reasonably expect to charge for the (now 'used') OEM bar. It is quite labourious changing a drop bar but it's something one would expect a decent shop to do FOC.

 

[jimboalee]

My appologies PP.

Of all the jobs on a bike, changing the handlebars must be the most fiddly and tedious.

Usually, the likes of Giant get the componentry correct ( for the average MAN ), but if you are a tall slender lady, the LBS should conceed to change the bars for you FOC ( not going to expand on what FOC stands for, there are ladies present ).

A good LBS will simply put the OEM bars 'on the rack' for someone to buy, or do something scrupleless like damage them and sent them back under warranty. That's what car dealers do.


Regards.

 

[Blonde]

I have, over the past two years, gone from using a 38, to a 40, to a 42. I can honestly say that I can hardly tell any difference between a 40 and a 42 size. Two sizes you might notice (ie 38 to 42), but much less so with a difference of 2cm centre to centre. Using a slightly wider bar will mean you run less risk of developing a curved back and/or pigeon chest in the long term, and you may well find you can tell the difference either. As above posters have said - it will also depend on the type/shape of the bar, but with the non-antaomical, (curved) and shallow drop bars that I prefer, (Deda Newtons or smilar) I just use a 42 - another bonus is that the size is more readily available in any bike shop, without the need to order in. Put it another way - a slightly wider bar (within reason!) is better than one that is too narrow.

 

[HeartAttack]

If the bike isn't right for you in every way then yes get things changed so it fits you perfectly, as mentioned your LBS should come to a deal with you on swapping things over, though not always, ask and see what they say, Giant dealers are 10 a penny so you could always try elsewhere

 

[punkypossum]

Thanks everyone, IIRC the original bars on the giant are a 46...which is quite a bit more than required...will see if fluttering my eyelashes gets me anywhere!

 

[Scoosh]

PP, you have been to PH - the Guru - for a fitting and IIRC he will fit you properly to any bike you buy from him

He also said if I did want to buy one from him, they would remeasure me again free of charge to make sure everything is right.

His website is not playing on my conputer (sic !) just now but he doesn't only do high-end, custom bikes. I reckon he could find you something to suit - and you can get your £50 for the fitting taken off ! Tell him your intended use, budget etc and see what he comes up with ??? Might not be a mainstream name but it should be good value.




... or have you already done all this and I'm teaching granny .... ??

 

[punkypossum]

PP, you have been to PH - the Guru - for a fitting and IIRC he will fit you properly to any bike you buy from him
His website is not playing on my conputer (sic !) just now but he doesn't only do high-end, custom bikes. I reckon he could find you something to suit - and you can get your £50 for the fitting taken off ! Tell him your intended use, budget etc and see what he comes up with ??? Might not be a mainstream name but it should be good value.




... or have you already done all this and I'm teaching granny .... ??

I know, PH was very good and I'm happy with my mtb position now, much better than before. However, this is after readjusting it to somewhere halfway between what he suggested and what it was like before. I have since sat on various off-the-peg bikes, some of which were pretty close to the geometry he suggested, some were totally different, but despite this a lot of them felt more comfortable than what he suggested for a road bike for me. So, I'm keeping my options open....Learning to trust my instinct, while still taking his advice into account...

 

[Young Un]

Slightly off topic - but what is PH's full name as I am thinking of having a fiting sesion done due to my knee problems.

Steve

 

[punkypossum]

Slightly off topic - but what is PH's full name as I am thinking of having a fiting sesion done due to my knee problems.

Steve

It's a secret!!! Do you know the password???

Scoosh did you go and see him in the end? What did you think?