My Visit to the Fitting Guru!

[Scoosh]

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.

gavintc - it's £50. Have a look at Paul Hewitt's site, the fitting service page. The Advice link has good stuff on frames - geometry, construction, suitability and frame materials.

 

[summerdays]

Thanks for the big write up ... I would like to have a fitting sometime - to see how far out my own version is.

 

[trio25]

Might be something I could ask the rents for Christmas. Probably worth it now I'm doing more riding.

 

[punkypossum]

I have just been on another ride, as I'm planning to go for a long ride tomorrow, I better thought I double check this new position... It felt a bit extreme at the moment and I was not feeling 100% right and getting a few mini twinges, so as I did not want to risk it all going wrong tomorrow, I have have tweaked the bike a bit by moving the saddle a tiny bit forward and flipping the stem to the upright position. The bike is now halfway between what he did and what it was like before. Considering it was a massive change from my previous position to his, there is still a noticeable difference, it feels better than before, but not as extreme, so that will hopefully give me time to get used to it, and then I can gradually change it back to Hewitt style when I get used to it a bit more... Still definitely think it was worth going tho!!

 

[Scoosh]

Still definitely think it was worth going tho!!

I'm thinking that way too .......

 

[summerdays]

I'd be interested in an update in a month or whenever appropriate, as to what you finally think and whether you get back to his suggested position?

 

[Danny]

gavintc - it's £50.

But you get this back if you buy one of his bikes.

 

[Scoosh]

I've booked in for a fitting @ Paul Hewitt's next Friday.

Might even get a bike at the same time .... Anyone got one of their Audax machines . It's a fitting there, check out the bikes, then along to Buy-a-Bike-Direct to check out their Jamis Quest. Should be a good day

 

[rich p]

..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.

Didn't you put your tourer up for exchange cos you'd bought the wrong size BTFB?

 

[ufkacbln]

It is quite amazing!

When we went down to St John Street to look at a couple of Thorns, we had given sizes, but they took one look at my wife and said "too big" and provided a bike thet seemed to be about half the size!

My wife - who loved her Dawes and has toured many happy miles on it was very sceptical, but after an hour was amazed how much more comfortable it was.

We ended up buying the smaller frame on the 100 day return and haven't looked back.

 

[Baggy]

It felt a bit extreme at the moment and I was not feeling 100% right and getting a few mini twinges, so as I did not want to risk it all going wrong tomorrow, I have have tweaked the bike a bit by moving the saddle a tiny bit forward and flipping the stem to the upright position. The bike is now halfway between what he did and what it was like before.

I did exactly the same after being fitted by a coach from our local club (£20, bargain! ). It all felt like a bit too much in one go so I put everything half way back and then adjusted it over the next month.

It was a really interesting experience, and I came out with my saddle further back and 2cm higher and the bars 2 spacers lower. I'd been riding the bike for 2 years and it never quite felt right, but after I'd got used to the adjustments it felt sooo comfortable, I felt much more balanced on the bike and it sorted out the knee pain I was getting.

Hope it works out well for you.

 

[fossyant]

Mine was set up with the Frame builder and Bernard Hinault's Book - Road Racing Training and Technique - very detailed set up, but I'll say it took a few years to be 100% happy, and it's not changed since...... I have my reference bike (the Herety), and the others have to fit as close as possible, including the MTB.....

 

[Baggy]

Bernard Hinault's Book

The guy I saw uses the Hinault method crossed with his experience of 20 years of sorting out cyclists.
Both my bikes are set up the same now and all the measurements are kept in a Safe Place (i.e, I can't remember where, but somewhere hereabouts ).

 

[GrahamG]

Anyone got one of their Audax machines

I've got a custom Alpine Audax (Columbus Life tubing & carbon fork) - it is the absolute tits, although I suspect that the fit has more to do with that than the frame qualities, I'm a cynic when it comes to all the flowery adjectives used in C+ reviews!

In response to some of the other posters, my set up changed quite dramatically as I've a similar physiology to one or two of the ladies on here being relatively short in the body compared to legs and with short arms to exacerbate the situation. I ended up with the bars coming up about 70-80mm, saddle going back an extra 20mm, saddle height was fine, reach was extended by about 40-50mm. I had previously used some of the online measurement/set-up tools and came out with nothing like it.

I've put a few miles in (not as many as I'd like thanks to an injury) and have been supremely comfortable, the bike seems to soak up all the bumps even with 23mm tires. None of the tired arms or aching lower back that I'd always had previously, so I couldn't be happier.

My only niggle was that when I got the frame through, the transfers were all bubbly which looked well dodgy up close, however that was quickly resolved and I've basically got a free respray whenever I want to cash it in.

 

[Nick1979]

I've got a custom Alpine Audax (Columbus Life tubing & carbon fork) - it is the absolute tits, although I suspect that the fit has more to do with that than the frame qualities, I'm a cynic when it comes to all the flowery adjectives used in C+ reviews!

How much does it cost roughly? I can't find the price of custom builds on his website.