My Visit to the Fitting Guru!

[punkypossum]

Right, here is the report for those of you that wanted an update!

Well, I got to Paul Hewitt without getting lost (tada!), so I suppose at least it was a good start... After spending ages setting up the fitting rig so it matched everything on my current mountain bike (crank length, etc.), things carried on well for a bit, the first measurement he took I had actually got right - but then again, it was only the saddle height and he informed me most people tend to get that one correct. He was right, it went downhill from there!

The bars went down about an inch (oh how glad I was about my spacer stack, although it now looks totally stupid, with loads of spacers on top of the stem, steerer will have to be cut eventually if I get on with the new position). The reach, argh!!! I knew the bike felt a bit short, but it turned out the saddle had to be moved back on the rails by about 2cms and things got worse after that, the actual overall reach has now increased by about 6.5cm!!!! by moving the saddle back and putting on a longer stem with less of a rise and obviously lower down... That is scarily wrong!!!! Only ridden the bike for the 5 miles home, so can't report how it will feel on a longer ride, but it was fine for that distance and actually felt really comfy, especially with the bars lower down although the more stretched out position will take some getting used to.

He also measured me up for a road bike, so I know what to look out for when choosing one (chances of me being able to afford one of his custom builds are slim). Turns out that, as I have a short body and arms, but long legs, I will never be able to have a bike with that cool looking position where the saddle is miles higher than the bars, because my kangaroo arms won't be able to cope with a steep drop, so saddle and bars will end up approximately the same height with the bars only slightly lower - which makes me even more determined to go for a sloping frame, as the tiny bit of seatpost would otherwise look totally stupid... (and I really like that bum in the sky look, sniff!) I also apparently need a high head tube (something like 183 normal, 203 integrated) - he did explain why and what that meant, but my brain had started to go fuzzy with numbers by this point, so I have no idea apart from the fact it seems to rule out Ribble bikes) and a top tube of 565mm...which is apparently quite short as I need a rather large frame... it was all very confusing... The only saving grace is that apparently I don't need a shallow seattube angle, but a fairly standard 73-74 degrees... This is apparently a good thing, but I can't for the life of me remember why...

We were in there for over 2 hours, by the end of it, I had numbers coming out of both ears and a lot of it had definitely started going over my head - poor puddleglum had come along and looked as if she had lost the will to live by then. However, it was a really good experience, he was dead helpful, I learnt loads and some of his points about people getting to fixated on frame size rather than position were really interesting! And it was scary how wrong everything on my bike was without me even noticing!!!!

Anyway, if this works, then it was definitely worth doing, value for money and money worth spending (especially if I ever manage to afford one of his bikes and get the money back). 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.

So, that was my experience for those of you who are considering it - just need to get used to my new look bike now, it looks really oddly shaped at the moment compared to the previous look!!!

Edit: Sorry for the long post, only just realised how endless it is!!!

 

[Danny]

I had a similar experience. Worse thing was that, despite him explaining it all about three times, when I got home and couldn't remember what some of the key measurements on his drawing meant so had to phone him up for further advice.

I'd be interested to know whether you think his proposed riding position works for you. I'm still not 100% convinced about mine, but that's really because I have had longstanding back problems which a change in position might not be enough to resolve.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

..interesting. I didnt go because he is to far away from me and I wanted to spend the cash on a bike.

I think my decision was the right one because I feel the only person who can really know what position is best for you is yourself. Only you know how you feel. I spend agaes messing with all different positions and settings and all work well enough in their own way...then I get bored and change it all again.

 

[swee'pea99]

Thanks for the post pp - and no need to apologise for the length - on the contrary, it was all good. I was particularly interested by your comments about handlebar height, since I also have relatively long legs and 'kangaroo arms' (love that!). I have to say I've always followed the standard bars a couple of inches lower than the saddle, which feels right to me. But I did get a stem with a very short extension, which has made quite a difference.

 

[fossyant]

Hence why a fitting is good if you plan spending serious money.....

I'm fairly average build, but like a long reach/flat back - hence my 13cm stems on my road bikes.

My next road bike - I'll get a fitting and compare to my current one I've been using for the last 20 years.....

Don't forget, sudden changes to position can cause problems.

 

[yello]

Excellent post pp. I've linked to it from another thread (I hope you don't mind) because I think it'll help with the poster's (Andrea) question.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

I think my decision was the right one because I feel the only person who can really know what position is best for you is yourself

Unfortunately that flies in the face of so many people's experience who have had their 'intuitive', life long riding position improved by a knowledgeable bike fitting.

 

[yello]

I thought the same thing Tim. I think pp shows that people who know what they are doing can show up even the best of intuition.

 

[Scoosh]

I can breathe again !

Great post PP and thanks very much

Too long ? I was just getting into it

As a matter of interest, have you ever had a look at the Competitive Cyclist fit calculator or the Peter White fitting guide ? If so, how near do either of them come to Paul Hewitt's figures/guidance ? If not, errrrr .......

I'm sure you are now saving hard to get your discount from Paul Hewitt !

 

[yello]

I recall doing that competitive cyclist fit and I think it gives a number (3??) of different results depending on your intended purpose. I seem to recall it even gives a 'Lemond fit'.

What it did highlight, to me at least, is that there is no such thing as one right fit for a person's measurable dimensions. It depends on personal factors (like purpose and preferences) and those are obviously difficult to measure.

Interestingly, I had a fitting in, um, that cycle fit place in Soho (name escapes me but it wasn't Madame Fifi's!) and their recommended sizings were different again! That said, I used their figures as my starting point because at least they had me on the jig and could observe me riding... the web based sizings are interesting for reference but they're a bit, um, cold - if you know what I mean.... there's nobody that actually looks at your body position on a bike, and can ask you questions about how it feels etc

 

[trio25]

Very interesting and something it might be worth me doing. So would he give me measurements for both my road and mtb?

 

[Tim Bennet.]

chances of me being able to afford one of his custom builds are slim

He has far more than just his custom bikes - they deal with about 20 different brands of frames and bikes plus his own range of 'Hewitt' frames sourced in the far east for everything from triathlon, time trailing, track, audax, touring, etc.

 

[Crackle]

Good post Punky. Tell me, did he take into accunt your riding style as well i.e. ask you about the knid of riding you did and fit accordingly? I was wondering because over the years my riding position has changed slightly, certainly not as flexible as I was, I wonder if he takes account of all that or whether a fit is a fit and that's where you should adapt to for the sake of effeciency etc...

 

[punkypossum]

Very interesting and something it might be worth me doing. So would he give me measurements for both my road and mtb?

Yes he would, and it's only one charge...

Crackle, he does ask about riding position and what you do with it, eg my mountain bike gets used mainly on the road with the suspension locked out, which makes the front end higher...If I was mainly off road, that would have changed the measurements for that slightly.

 

[gavintc]

Punky, What was the cost of the fitting service? I have considered this before - but always shied away from it, primarily worried about paying big money for limited benefit. And, if I am honest to be told that my bike needs expensive modifications. But, I have been suffering from a bad back since I got my new frame in May and wonder if I have set it up badly.