Evans - Bike Fitting Service

Soni

Hi Guys, has anybody on these boards received a bike fitting at Evans?

I'm purchasing a new road bike but concerned due to the following:-

Purchased my first road bike (Trek 1.5 2009) from a LBS who specialise in road racing bikes, they did a very thorough fitting, involved me being put onto a jig and all sorts of measurements taken and the bike fitted perfectly for the full 18 months i owned it and rode 65 mile club rides without any discomfort. The shop owner originally thought i was a 56 with me sitting on a bike, however once he took all the measurements and typed it into the computer, it came out with a 58cm, and when he looked more closely, he realised it was due to me having a longer than average upper torso....

So, i've now sold the bike, and getting a new one on the C2W, however my employer only deal with Evans.

I've sat on a couple of different bikes and i've been told whilst sitting on a 56cm specialised tarmac at Evans that i'm a 56, and i also visited another bike shop at the weekend and asked to have a sit on a 58cm Cannondale CAAD9 Ultegra 2010 and the guy said before he even got the bike down that i'll be a 56, however i explained to him that i have a long upper torso and asked if i could try it anyway, and when i test rode it i was hunched over at the shoulders which felt very uncomfortable.

So, i have a bike fitting this evening at Evans Gatwick, and just wondering if they do a proper fitting? As i purchased a GT Aggressor XCR from Halfords last year, lovely bike, feels great, but after 17 mile rides my glutes hurt big time and its very uncomfortable, i don't want to make the same mistake with a road bike......

And Evans don't have the bike in stock that i'm after - so how will they determine what bike fit i am? They said they put me on a similar bike on a turbo trainer?

softlad

why don't you just take the measurements you got from your old bike fitting and use those to determine your next choice....??

Soni

softlad wrote:

why don't you just take the measurements you got from your old bike fitting and use those to determine your next choice....??

I got those printed out from the original bike shop and i've still got them, i've actually brought them into work with me today and have them in the car for taking over tonight, but didn't know if they could use them or not.....

How would they interpret those measurements? I don't think they have a program with all the measurements of each bike on it do they?

Lillywhite

Soni wrote:

How would they interpret those measurements? I don't think they have a program with all the measurements of each bike on it do they?

With your long torso it might be that frame size is not so relevant as top tube length.

All frame dimensions are listed in Trek's 2010 catalogue.

softlad

tape measure is pretty useful - and most manufacturer web sites have geometry charts on them...

Soni

This is the bike fitting diagrams i have from the fitting of my old bike, how would i determine the size bike i need from this?

Pict 1

http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd35 ... Page_1.jpg

Pict 2

http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd35 ... Page_2.jpg

Lillywhite

Picture 1 indicates that a 56 cm seat tube length seems OK but with your long torso you will probably need a 130 cm stem, maybe 140 cm.

All you can do is try a few bikes and see how they feel.

Soni

I looked on the Trek website here:-

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/2_series/25e/

and 'C' 'Effective Top Tube length' on a 58/M, the top tube length is 57.2cm/572mm which corresponds to the 697 on my bike fitting diagram from the top of the bars to the seattube once you take away the 120mm (stem) equates to 577, a difference of 5mm.....

Which do you reckon i should be then, a 58 or a 56?

giant_man

I can't see Evans doing a very through and accurate measuring service somehow. Personally I would go elsewhere to get your measurements first to get the right size frame.

nicensleazy

Evans bike fitting service...are you joking? My friend bought a De Rosa from Evans cycles in the Waterllo Cut store, apparently their flag ship store. Terrible, these people just don't know what they are doing. I would say you are better off going to McDonalds for a bike fitting service, they will no doubt do a better job!

Soni

OK guys, what a complete waste of 3 hrs this was tonight!

I arrived at the store at just gone 6, and the guy i needed to see re: the bike fit was serving a guy in his mid 50's, grey hair, dressed very formally in shirt and trousers, he had just bought the 2.3 Trek and the Evans guy was also in his 50's, he asked him if he would like a cycle computer, the guy said are you going to throw it in, the Evans chap said 'yes', and went to the shelf and picked up a £45.00 CatEye!!!!

I was standing there from 18:10 until gone 19:15 waiting for him to finish, he couldn't do enough for him, almost 'do you want me to clean and lick your shoes for you sir' honestly, it was this bad, he couldn't do more for him, which was good customer service, however when it came to my turn, he could barely care less! Maybe i should have left my suit on after work instead of getting changed into my tracky bottoms and t-shirt like i did, but as i was told i would be put on a bike and on the rollers and have all my measurements checked i came dressed appropriately...

Not a chance, the guy walked up to me, i said i have a bike fitting booked in, he looked at me and straight away told me i'm a 56!!! I then told him i've been riding a 58 for the last 18 months, he looked at me like i'm crazy and said no you are DEFINETELY a 56, i then got the paperwork out that i've posted above, and he looked at it and said oh, have you got a longer mid section then?

He still wasn't convinced even after i showed him the paperwork, so he proceeded and got a 56 Trek 4.5 Madone, as soon as i sat on it, i could feel that my back was hunched over between the shoulder blades, i told him it doesn't feel right, so then he got a Trek 2.1 Pilot in a 58, i sat on it and it immediately felt better...

He then told me to sit back on the Madone, and to pedal one of the crank arms around to the top position and put my ball of my foot on it, and boy did my knee feel cramped up against my body and quite close to the handlebars also, i then tried it on the Trek 58 and it felt great..

I then took a Specialised 58 Tarmac Robiux out in the car park and rode it, it felt great, so i'm DEFINETELY sticking with the 58cm frame...

He was completely speechless that a guy my height (5ft 10") was better suited to a 58. ..

At least i now know to get a 58, but in all honestly, i could have done what i did tonight on Sunday when i was over there, instead of having to waste another 3 hours tonight just to sit on a couple of bikes! :evil:

So, now all i have to do is wait for them to get some bikes in, as they hardly have ANY 58's in and it doesn't look like they will be getting many 2010's in either.....check out there website and you'll see what i mean....Scotts are finished, Cannondales they reckon are going to be a problem to get, and Treks haven't got any confirmed date either.......

guilliano

Can't blame Evans for the lack of availability..... ALL shops are stuffed when it comes to getting stock of a lot of road bikes under £1000 because of the popularity of cycle to work schemes. Give the manufacturers a couple more years to catch up (assuming the schemes continue). Until then the only way is to get in early in the product year.

Soni

guilliano wrote:

Can't blame Evans for the lack of availability..... ALL shops are stuffed when it comes to getting stock of a lot of road bikes under £1000 because of the popularity of cycle to work schemes. Give the manufacturers a couple more years to catch up (assuming the schemes continue). Until then the only way is to get in early in the product year.

Not talking about 1K, I've got £1800.00 to spend and can't get one in my size which isn't Carbon!

avoidingmyphd

you don't sound like you really a want a bike fitting to me - what would change your mind that you are a 58? if nothing, then what's the fitting for?

Soni

avoidingmyphd wrote:

you don't sound like you really a want a bike fitting to me - what would change your mind that you are a 58? if nothing, then what's the fitting for?

Well the original reason i wanted to be fitted was i was considering the CAAD9 Ultegra, and it didn't feel right when i tried a 58cm frame at the weekend, my back was hunched over and was pulling between the shoulder blades....

And every shop i have been in has immediately looked at me and said 'you are a 56'.....

So, therefore, i was wondering if maybe the original bike shop i purchased from got my size wrong, however after trying the Trek 58's and the 56's last night i realise that i must be a 58....

However, this still doesn't help me when considering a CAAD9, as if a 58 hunches me over between the shoulders whilst on the drops, then i just don't know, maybe i need a longer top tube???

neilfitton

So you have been 'fitted' for a bike before and they told you that becasue you have a longer upper body you need a 58cm frame I would have to say that at 5'10" they have got it wrong, what you may well have needed was a 56cm frame that fitted your lower body (short legs) and a longer stem to get you more stretched out.

Seeing as you have been riding a bike that was too big for you for 18 months then of course a 56cm frame is going to feel a little more cramped but fundamentaly the 56cm is not too small.

while Evans dont have the fitting jigs they do seem to me to have told you the right size, doesnt excuse poor customer service though !

Lillywhite

Soni wrote:

However, this still doesn't help me when considering a CAAD9, as if a 58 hunches me over between the shoulders whilst on the drops, then i just don't know, maybe i need a longer top tube???

What was the length of the stem on that CAAD9 58 cm bike? As I posted earlier you can buy stems up to 140 mm long and any decent bike shop will swap a longer stem for no extra money.

Wamas

Soni,

Your bike fit geometry is for road racing comfort, which is basically commuting or touring. It is a very upright position, e.g. the drop from saddle to bar is only 25mm.
Not sure what type of cycling you do. If you are more after a sportive or racing geometry, go back to the shop that did the fit, they should still have you on their computer, and should be able to print the road racing sport (sportives) or road racing race (crits) drawing.

I am the opposite from you, I am 5' "11, have long legs and a short body. For specialized I am somewhere between 54 and 56. I use a 56 (56.5cm horizontal top tube) with a 80mm stem. I recently bought a 54 (54.5cm horizontal top tube) Scott CR1 with a 100mm stem.
I would have been a 56 on a trek as they have much shorter top tubes than the specialized or scotts - (55cm horizontal tube).

Once you have the drawing you want go back to Evans, and tell them you want to measure the bikes yourself (take a tape measure).
1. First adjust the saddle height to match either the height your drawing says (for indication your current drawings says 748mm), or what ever you currently ride.
2. Then adjust the saddle forwards or back to match the distance from the middle of your saddle to the centre of the crank (212mm).
3. Measure the drop from the saddle to the bar vertically, to do this, have someone hold the bike upright, and measure from the saddle nose to the floor, and from the bar to the floor, then work out the difference (your drawing shows (25mm), this will give you the first indication of whether you have the correct frame, but remember you can remove spacers to lower the bars if needed.
4. Next measure the distance from the centre of the saddle to the bar (697mm). This will tell you whether you need a longer, or shorter stem, again, the second indication of whether you need a 56 or 58.

Between 3 and 4 this will give you an indication of whether you need a 56 or 58. Don't just go in with it in your head that you need a 58, a 58 in one bike may be a 56 or even a 54 for another. Top tube length is what is important, not seat tube.

Hope this helps.

P.s.
Looking at the photo of your bike, you have a 100mm stem, on a bike that has a 57cm horizontal top tube.
My hunch is you would be a 56cm (56.5cm horizontal top tube) on a Spez Tarmac with a 110mm stem.
Alternatively, a 58cm (58.5cm hor tt) with a 90mm stem.
Personally, as you have short legs (4cm shorter than mine), I would be going for the 56cm.

neilfitton

You keep saying hunching over between the shoulder blades, this is difficult to understand we are talking about 2cm on the frame without looking at top tube lengths etc wouldnt cause 'hunching' it could have been handle bar width this can sometimes give a feeling of being slightly cramped or the style of drops (you may have had a deeper drop on the Trek and more compact on teh CAAD).

Bike sizing at this point is about comfort and feeling comfortable on the bike, and I still say that you are used to maybe a more stretched out position and this could be achieved by putting a longer stem on the bike or shifting the saddle back slightly, but isnt because Evans have told you the wrong size.

I offer for you to come and meet me at Crawley and I will happily spend some time with you looking at your fit, but you need to have your shoes and pedals as well.

Neil

sunburntknees

Can't see anywhere on their website that says they offer a bike fitting service as such.

Soni

Many thanks to Wammas, NeilFitton, and everybody else who has offered advise, i am so so wanting to go for the CAAD9, as i've allready had a Trek (the 1.5) and even though the 2.3 and 2.5 have a better groupset, its essentially the same bike looking....

I'm just so worried about getting the wrong size and wasting my money, as i won't be able to get another bike for quite a few years...

I have just measured my inside leg, used the book method that i found on another website, i put a (well dvd in my case) in between my legs and measured from the top of the dvd case to the floor, it measures 33" :? Therefore not that short legged after all?

I've looked at the geometery difference between the Trek 2 series and the CAAD 9 and it differs as follows:-

Trek 1.5 (based on 58cm frame size)

Top Tube = 57.2
Standover = 78.5
Frame Reach = 39.2
Head Tube Length = 17.5
Head Tube Angle = 73.8 degrees
Seat Tube Angle = 73.1 degrees

CAAD 9 (based on 58cm frame size)

Top Tube = 57.5
Standover = 82.2
Frame Reach = 39.9
Head Tube Length = 17.5
Seat Tube Angle = 73 degrees
Head Tube Angle = 73.5 degrees

NeilFitton - If you really wouldn't mind mate i would be grateful for your offer and would like to take it up mate, they don't have either the 2.5 Trek or the CAAD9 in stock at the moment, they are apparently expecting delivery over the course of next weekend. I've put a deposit on the 2.3 & 2.5 both in the 58 and the also the CAAD9 also in the 58, maybe i should remove the deposit on the 2.3 and shift it over to a 56 CAAD9 instead - they are going to love me!

Also - i mentioned about the hunching between the shoulder blades whilst on the drops - i meant the hoods (sorry :oops:)

neilfitton

Not a problem you can give me a shout on my mobile 07979608980 I am
Have you thought about the cannondale 6 it was cycling + bike of the year

neil

Soni

neilfitton wrote:

Not a problem you can give me a shout on my mobile 07979608980 I am
Have you thought about the cannondale 6 it was cycling + bike of the year

neil

Hi Neil, i really love the look of the Cannondale 6 and also the Synapse, however i'm a little reluctant to go the carbon route as i want a bike that will last at least 5-7 years and also my weight (was 17st 2 but started dieting and riding every morning on Monday of this week and now down to 16st 10) and i'm a bit worried that this type of weight on a carbon bike if i hit a pothole will result in frame failure.......

I've put your number in my phone mate and will give you a shout as soon as it shows up as in stock on their website!

Thanks Neil, much appreciated mate.

Soni

neilfitton

A carbon bike will last you especially as your weight is heading the right way and as for crash damage ...... dont crash, not sure if you are keeping your old Trek but you could use that for an everyday bike and the Carbon for weekends and sportives.

Soni

neilfitton wrote:

A carbon bike will last you especially as your weight is heading the right way and as for crash damage ...... dont crash, not sure if you are keeping your old Trek but you could use that for an everyday bike and the Carbon for weekends and sportives.

Sold the Trek mate to get this new bike, so will be an everyday riding bike unfortunately, and Evans reckon a carbon is normally kept for a 'best bike' and for racing......they reckon about 3 years life out of a carbon (don't know true this is)......

P.S. Just texted you my number mate.

Lillywhite

Soni wrote:

....they reckon about 3 years life out of a carbon (don't know true this is)......

Sounds like those guys in Evans make up it up as they go along and spout a lot of rubbish since Trek give a lifetime warranty on their carbon frames.

Gazzaputt

Soni wrote:

neilfitton wrote:

Evans reckon a carbon is normally kept for a 'best bike' and for racing......they reckon about 3 years life out of a carbon (don't know true this is)......
.

Evans take everything with a huge pinch of salt. Basically they are talking out of their arse.

Did you ask why a carbon will only last 3 years?

Soni

Gazzaputt wrote:

Soni wrote:

neilfitton wrote:

Evans reckon a carbon is normally kept for a 'best bike' and for racing......they reckon about 3 years life out of a carbon (don't know true this is)......
.

Evans take everything with a huge pinch of salt. Basically they are talking out of their ars*.

Did you ask why a carbon will only last 3 years?

They asked me whether i had another bike, i said no this will be the only one, and also said i'd be using it most days, probably every day, think it was a combination of my weight and the amount of time i would be using it...

Just looked at the Canondale manual, they mention in there about Carbon fatigue, although they do state that its sometimes better than metal for fatigue, but then they show a picture of a cracked top tube, caused by the handlebars spinning around, they say this is common and not a warranty claim, you can understand not being able to claim under warranty, but this is something i would rather not risk!

Again, alu, i can live with a small dent, but i would be constantly checking and double checking the frame for any scratches or cracks - it would drive me insane!

garryc

I bought my first road bike from Evans at Gatwick.

Although I'm happy with the bike I finaly bought the customer service was awful. (They sold the first bike I wanted to someone else after I'd paid for it, went home and waited for them to get it ready for me to collect at the weekend)

I've also tried to buy clothes and accessories from there and it goes a bit like this:
"Do you have this in stock?"
"Yes we do"
"Great I'll take one"
"Stock room is a bit busy, do you mind waiting?"
"OK"
an hour passes...
"Sorry we don't have this in stock"
"$%*&!"

This has happened 3 times now.

I'll never go back there again unless I really really need something urgent.

I'm about to get myself a new bike, I'll be going to a proper bike shop this time.

Soni

garryc wrote:

I bought my first road bike from Evans at Gatwick.

Although I'm happy with the bike I finaly bought the customer service was awful. (They sold the first bike I wanted to someone else after I'd paid for it, went home and waited for them to get it ready for me to collect at the weekend)

I've also tried to buy clothes and accessories from there and it goes a bit like this:
"Do you have this in stock?"
"Yes we do"
"Great I'll take one"
"Stock room is a bit busy, do you mind waiting?"
"OK"
an hour passes...
"Sorry we don't have this in stock"
"$%*&!"

This has happened 3 times now.

I'll never go back there again unless I really really need something urgent.

I'm about to get myself a new bike, I'll be going to a proper bike shop this time.

I know what you mean about waiting for the stock room/warehouse to get the item down, i bought a set of Mavic wheels and a 10sp cassette from them a couple of months ago, they took over half an hour, in the end the girl was telling the boy behind the reception desk that she's been waiting for so long, and she thinks they must have gone to sleep, she even tried phoning through to the warehouse and they weren't even answering the phone, she said that she's a little reluctant to say anything to them as the guy had a funny attitude with her earlier that morning...

I'm sorry but they are supposed to be the same company and working as a team, if one of the team players weren't pulling their weight and i had customers waiting around for an item at the reception desk I would bollock them big time myself and if they didn't improve i would inform the management - but the shop staff seem to be frightened of the Warehouse staff! The problem is the shop staff are very young, and the warehouse staff are older, and its obvious that the warehouse staff aren't going to take a blind bit of notice of the kids...

And by the way - them selling that bike of yours mate when you've already paid for it (even if you hadn't paid for it but reserved it) is not right....

Another thing i see when i was over there the other week was a woman customer knocking a Specialised Tarmac (carbon) over with her handbag over her shoulder whilst it had been placed/stood up against a wall! The shope staff just went over to it, picked it up, put it back up against the wall, had a quick look at it and a giggle/laugh, and walked off, i wonder if that has caused internal damage to the carbon, only for some poor sod to pay out 2K for it and then 18 months later it fail and the manufacturer says its been caused by stress!