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Bike Fit In London

badhorsybadhorsy Posts: 107
edited January 2011 in Road beginners
Hi all,

I've been having intermittent neck/lower back pain on my road bike. I've never been "fit" to the bike - I bought the bike from Evans and the staff member sized me up by eye, but left me to adjust everything. Although I think one reason for the sore neck is that the stem is slightly too long, I was thinking about getting a professional fit. I'm 6"1 with a 58 Specialized Secteur (the 58 frame has a 120mm stem).

Can anyone recommend a good place in the London area (preferably Central) that would do a good bike fitting?

Thanks!

Posts

  • cornerblockcornerblock Posts: 3,228
    A DIY bike fitting! Good old Evans. If you want something central, Condor on Grays Inn Rd will do a fitting. Not sure how much they charge now. Usually free if you end buying a bike from them. Very good though, they have a set up bike which they can adjust to get the right fit.
  • sungodsungod Posts: 15,256
    also...

    islington - http://www.mosquito-bikes.co.uk/
    covent garden - http://www.cyclefit.co.uk/

    i'm sure there are others

    last year i had a bike fit at mosquito as i was getting a custom frame made (and i'd get a full credit for the fit price)

    result was great, lots of info and clear details to set other bikes up, took about two hours, much of it on the sizecycle, really improved my position on my existing bike, plus the new frame was tailor made to match
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • weaponsweapons Posts: 367
    Not central, but if you can get out to west London, I recommend the bike whisper.

    He's less scientific than those mentioned above but he eradicated a knee niggle I had last year. I've recommended him to about 5 others and all spoke positively of him and he is well regarded on this forum.

    Google bike whisperer
  • badhorsybadhorsy Posts: 107
    Hi guys,

    thanks for the suggestions.

    I have to say, that's the first I've heard of the bike whisperer - but in looking at the website, they really do look pretty awesome! And some of the reviews they are getting are pretty stellar too.

    I might look into making an appointment with them. Do they typically give you a detailed run down of your optimal 'fit', so that you can apply it to any bike that you get in the future?
  • Chip \'oylerChip \'oyler Posts: 2,323
    Le Beau Velo in EC2 have fitting sessions

    http://www.lebeauvelo.co.uk/index.php?o ... &Itemid=38
    Expertly coached by http://www.vitessecyclecoaching.co.uk/

    http://vineristi.wordpress.com - the blog for Viner owners and lovers!
  • giant_mangiant_man Posts: 6,878
    +1 - Cycle Fit in Covent Garden, great service.
  • owenlarsowenlars Posts: 719
    badhorsy wrote:
    I might look into making an appointment with them. Do they typically give you a detailed run down of your optimal 'fit', so that you can apply it to any bike that you get in the future?

    They do indeed.
  • HoopdriverHoopdriver Posts: 2,023
    Steer well clear of Mosquito Bikes in Islington.
    http://www.My-Bicycle-and-I.com
  • Canny JockCanny Jock Posts: 1,051
    Chip \'oyler wrote:
    Le Beau Velo in EC2 have fitting sessions

    http://www.lebeauvelo.co.uk/index.php?o ... &Itemid=38

    I've used them, and thought it was excellent.
  • badhorsybadhorsy Posts: 107
    Hoopdriver wrote:
    Steer well clear of Mosquito Bikes in Islington.

    How come? Website makes them sound quite good!
  • HoopdriverHoopdriver Posts: 2,023
    I found then to be absolute pirates. And I speak from (costly!) experience, having been fitted for and bought a Pegoretti from them (the Pegoretti was/is great - my experience with Mosquito was not), and then had them do a full service (and nearly wreck) my touring bike. I would never advise anyone to go there, and I have heard of quite a few others and known some personally who also had bad (and expensive) experiences there. Avoid.
    http://www.My-Bicycle-and-I.com
  • itboffinitboffin Posts: 20,049
    The bike whisperer in Ealing http://www.thebikewhisperer.co.uk/

    Lots of people on this forum have used and recommend, including me. They transformed my riding comfort & performance - word of warning allow lots of time as it's very much a two way process.
    Rule #5 // Harden The censored Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • Ed MosesEd Moses Posts: 90
    Another vote for Cyclefit in Covent Garden. I had a full fit with them a couple of years ago which worked well and have just been done/updated for a new bike (should have been a Christmas present, but the snow stopped me picking it up - now resolved).

    I would also say that a full bikefit needs to be a two way process - say what sort of riding you really do or want to do before you go! It is an enjoyable process and your bike/riding should be better afterwards.

    Ed
  • sungodsungod Posts: 15,256
    Hoopdriver wrote:
    I found then to be absolute pirates. And I speak from (costly!) experience, having been fitted for and bought a Pegoretti from them (the Pegoretti was/is great - my experience with Mosquito was not), and then had them do a full service (and nearly wreck) my touring bike. I would never advise anyone to go there, and I have heard of quite a few others and known some personally who also had bad (and expensive) experiences there. Avoid.

    never had a problem with them, bought two bikes, one full custom, plus a bike fit
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • mrolimroli Posts: 3,622
    Never had a fitting from them, but have used them for other stuff and the Bike Whisperer is kind of the opposite to the impersonal Evans/chain bike shop service that you'd get. I had a fitting when I bought a bike from Condor and it was good - but it was pretty much get on the jig, move it around, ask how you feel and away you go. The Bike Whisperer fitting is a LOT more involved, they'll do you on 2 bikes (I think) and is on my list of "to do" things - not that I'm unhappy with my current settings, I just think they'll make it better.

    They are proper good guys and I can't rec them enough!
    http://www.georgesfoundation.org
    http://100hillsforgeorge.blogspot.com/
    http://www.12on12in12.blogspot.co.uk/
  • itboffinitboffin Posts: 20,049
    Never under estimate the power of actually talking to the person being fitted, just because the measurements say it fits doesn't mean it'll feel comfortable.

    I tore my ITB before finally admitting that I needed a fitting, I pleased to report that most of my gut feeling set up was spot on but as we all know a few mm here and there makes a world of difference.

    do et!!!!!

    Oh and while you're at it get your shoes & cleat setup mmm blissssssss
    Rule #5 // Harden The censored Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • hounslowhounslow Posts: 153
    sigma in hampton wick do fittings, and you can browse their new (massive) store.

    http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/VirtualShopTour.asp
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