My bike after a bike fit!

ugo.santalucia

smidsy wrote:

Raffles wrote:

much........much...............much better

looking. That does not mean it is a better fit though does it.

The point is that you need to know how a bike should fit you and only then can you ascertain if you have it set up properly.

Just because something looks right does not mean it fits.

I have a pantographed quill stem matching the frame... a couple of cm short for me, but I rather adapt to the bike than changing it as it is impossible to find another... body shape is adaptable, style and beauty aren't...

Bar Shaker

I had a Retul on my newest bike.

On my last bike, I spent many months moving things and feeling the difference, gradually homing in on what was my ideal, by going past the ideal and then back, not quite as much, so yo-yoing to the target settings. It took a long time and was a good end result.

The old bike was what the Retul was done on and the dimensions transferred to my new bike. The changes to what I had determined were negligible but made a marked difference. The saddle was moved up 4mm and forward 7mm. Such a difference should have been almost imperceptible but was obvious when riding and was obviously better.

My bike fit was part of buying the new bike so cost me nothing. I could have spent months fine tuning my new bike or could have crossed my fingers and transferred the main dimensions from my old bike.

Having had a Retul and it showing that my months of fine tuning was pretty much spot on, I firmly believe that the science is good. Faced with months of fine tuning again (together with the associated risks of knee and ankle damage) getting a Retul fit is a no brainer.

There are people who will never believe in bike fitting and its relationship to human physiology. Some will even seize on any failure to correctly apply the technology as proof that it is bad science or quackery. I have benefited from it so I like the science and, in this day and age, I would be amazed if sports science had not worked out the optimum body angles for delivering power to a bike.

That doesn't mean to say that no operators will make mistakes when applying the technology.

de_sisti

I think the OP should name the bike-fitter, even if they have had good review on the internet.
Having good review means that an individual/organisation, etc, are performing well. If not, then
it should be reflected in what people say about them.

So, OP, prevent some other newbie from wasting time and money, as you did.

ooermissus

I too have just got back from a fitting and am worried about the new position recommended to me.

Bar Shaker

ooermissus wrote:

I too have just got back from a fitting and am worried about the new position recommended to me.

smidsy

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I have a pantographed quill stem matching the frame... a couple of cm short for me, but I rather adapt to the bike than changing it as it is impossible to find another... body shape is adaptable, style and beauty aren't...

Spoken like a true Italian 8)

My point was really that just because the OP's bike looks better in the second set of photos (after the workmates tinkering) does not mean it actually fits him better.

The original set up folllowing the fit was obviously crazy looking, but for all we know the dimensions may actually be what the OP needs to accomodate his measurements and flexibilty etc.

Anyway it all seems a trifle irrelevant now as the OP has made the changes and is busy racking up the miles (that I am not after my off)

Proff

70 miles today with the bike back to normal. No problems. :-)
Really was a complete waste of money.
Going to fire an email of to the fitter tomorrow. I'll let you know how I get on.
Proff.

Proff

My email to the fitter:-
After having a week to evaluate the bike fit you did for me, thought I’d let you know my views. To be honest I’m disappointed.
Experienced cyclists I ride with have shaken their heads in disbelief at how my bike was set up.
Flipping the seatpost and shoving my saddle all the way forward just seems so wrong.
Especially after saying that generically at 5’10” I should be riding a 56cm frame.
I just don’t believe that my physiology warranted such a drastic change in position on the bike.
I didn’t have any major problems. I just thought a couple of tweaks here and there would increase my pedalling efficiency.
Maybe increase my level of comfort, but there was no noticeable change after a proper test.
I have returned my bike roughly back to where it was and done a 70 miler without any problems.
I just feel that have wasted £120 and the time it took me to travel down to you.

Fitters reply:-
thank you for your feed back , I am sorry you feel disappointed. I was only trying to help by flipping the seatpost rather than fitting a new inline post and I agree it's not pretty. if you fit a inline seatpost it will look much nicer and the experienced cyclists will not mock your bike, I'm sorry to have caused your bike to be a eyesore.


thanks again

smidsy

But an inline seat post would not put you in the same position as the fitter set you.

Name and shame time!

Wirral_paul

What a pile of crap his reply is.

I'd suggest a reply asking how fitting an inline post will help - given that he not only reversed your post but then slammed the saddle all the way forwards as far as it would go on the rails.

Whats the acual setback of your post? 20 - 25mm?? If so then you'd be looking at this much change forwards and it could be approximated by putting your saddle as far forward as it could go with the seatpost in the proper position. How he did it is totally ridiculous. I'd not let this go - and at the very least i'd be demanding he redoes it once you have purchased an inline post. If he refuses then please name and shame this guy.

Proff

I sent a photo of the bike to another respected fitter. I won't name them for obvious reasons. This is what they said.

"I won't make sweeping assumptions, but that set-up does look like something that would only be required for somebody with very strange 'proprtions' indeed, somebody who'd had growth issues with their femur bones or very restricted hip mobility or something, rather than a normally proportioned rider as you suggest."

They want me to send a couple of photos of me on the bike to check out the fit.

I will be going for a refund. I don't want him re-doing it.

Raffles

Proff you should send him a flyer advertising classes for learning how to do carry out a bike fit.

sloppyschleckonds

Was it your Chiropractor?

Dizeee

Can you give an indication of geographical area where this was done?

jouxplan

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Was it your Chiropractor?

tonecoles

Proff wrote:

The bike is a medium 54cm and I am 5'10" with a 32" inside leg.
When he first saw me he said, generically I should be riding a 56cm frame.
I would not say I have odd physiology. I thought I was pretty normal, but he said if anything I was slightly longer in the body.
I am not very flexible though, but nothing too extreme.
I didn't really have any great issues, just the odd bit of left knee soreness after 60+ mile rides. Not every time though.
I honestly thought that he would make a few tweaks here and there and check my cleat position to hopefully increase the efficincy of my pedal stroke.
I couldn't believe it when he turned my seatpost.
The saddle was moved 4.5cm forward and he recommended a longer stem.
It all just looks wrong.
I would rather not name names as the fitter has had good feedback on the web and on this site also. One negative post could really screw things up a bit.
I am disappointed, and yes I did pay. I think that's the problem. Feel a bit cheated.
I've included a photo of the full bike as requested.
Reckon I'm going to put it back to near where I had it before, maybe slightly forward.
Won't be doing it again though

The average male in the uk is 5:10 with a 31 inside leg. This indicates your 32 inside leg is above average and you are shorter in the body. Completely contrary to the advice he gave you. If I had paid for this advice I would name and shame him but I know nothing about bike geometry.

dennisn

Anyone given any thought to the idea that the OP has a sort of twisted sense of humor? :?

Proff

All monies refunded with no arguments.
I am happy with this outcome.
As the fitter has had good reviews on here and other bike forums, I don't think it would be fair to name and shame him on a public website.
I wasn't happy with his fitting service, he was happy to refund. Which shows good customer service.
I definitely will not be rushing into another bike fit.
Thanks for all your opinions.

de_sisti

But surely, one can't expect to have good reviews all the time if they've given bad service.

sloppyschleckonds

Proff wrote:

As the fitter has had good reviews on here and other bike forums, I don't think it would be fair to name and shame him on a public website.

Did he suggest spraying GT85 on your bottom bracket?

buckles

Fake thread

Proff

Why would I post a fake thread. I asked opinions on how my bike was set up. I got them. I complained. I got my money back. Simple.

♠ChumBucket♠

Proff wrote:

All monies refunded with no arguments.
I am happy with this outcome.
As the fitter has had good reviews on here and other bike forums, I don't think it would be fair to name and shame him on a public website.
I wasn't happy with his fitting service, he was happy to refund. Which shows good customer service.
I definitely will not be rushing into another bike fit.
Thanks for all your opinions.

I agree. He refunded you & that was the right thing to do.

Lock the thread or the vultures will only peck away more & more!!!

bus_ter

PowerUpbikefitting - My bike ended up looking like the OPs after the bike fit so out of curiousity I pm'd him and confirmed it was the same place. My saddle was slammed fully forward, the stem flipped and raised, plus the hoods undone and moved further back on the bars. The result being my bike looking as above (but without reversing the seatpost). I tried it for a couple weeks and it wasn't comfortable so I've mostly adjusted it back to how it was. I was also getting comments about how weird my bike setup looked.

There is more than one way to skin a cat, and there's more than one way to fit a bike. I believe if you go to 5 bike fitters you'll get 5 different results. This particular fitter seems to like putting riders in a very upright position, with high handlebars and close hoods. Initially it felt ok, but not so on long rides. I also couldn't reach the brakes properly when in the drops without twisting my wrist upwards.

There are some very positive reviews for this fitter online, including this forum (which is why I went there).

Coach H

bus_ter wrote:

PowerUpbikefitting - My bike ended up looking like the OPs after the bike fit so out of curiousity I pm'd him and confirmed it was the same place.

To be fair, his own bike set ups (assuming the pics are of him) look a bit wrong. Personally I wouldn't pay for a bike fit by a guy who looks to have, IMHO, bought a time trail bike that is too small for him; spacers in exess of 30mm.

nferrar

Very odd way of fitting, you're supposed to do the seat height and fore/aft first, regardless of handlebar position as it's the various angles and knee positioning that are critical for the pedal stroke. After that's sorted you then worry about reach to the bars, moving the saddle forward to change the reach is just plain wrong.
As to the OP, there's not really any such thing as a 54 or a 56 as different manufacturers measure differently (and some just seem to pick their sizing number out of thin air). The common issue is some measure the frame size as the seat tube length whereas others (more correctly IMO) measure it as the top tube length (and even then there's no standard on whether it's actual or effective top tube). So saying someone needs a 54 or 56 should be taken with a large pinch of salt.

ceegee

Camcycle1974 wrote:

jordan_217 wrote:

Proff, did you get this done in Cambridge????

Think I see where you are going but the person in question usually recommends putting the seat back and a longer stem which is not what has happened here. I had a bike fit too, was not convinced with the saddle being move forward and have since set it right back so i have more weight over the back wheel than coming forward as before. Bike fit imo is more trial and error than a science (Retul excepted perhaps)

Hi, I just had a bike fit in Cambridge area and am not convinced by the outcome, so wondered what the context for this comment is if someone can enlighten me...?
Seat back and longer stem sounds familiar...
Initially felt like a big improvement when on the rig, but having cycled it home, I almost immediately got very sore lower back and cramp in glutes...Also felt very low and not in an efficient pedalling position.
Any hints much appreciated!

blablablacksheep

Bike fitting is very dependant on YOU.

So trying to compare fits is a waste of time, although saying this some types of bike fits tend to throw out common things like high and short or low and overstretched.

It's up to the experience of fitter to adjust the bike fits tendency's to your body shape.

I'm having a fit soon done with TT bike so will report back when done

spankwilder

I nearly fell off my chair! 'The more experienced cyclists won't mock your bike and laugh at you' I like his humour, that statement alone is worth £120

It's an interesting fit and recommendation, your knuckles must catch on the floor occasionally when walking?

Moonbiker

I nearly fell off my chair! 'The more experienced cyclists won't mock your bike and laugh at you' I like his humour, that statement alone is worth £120

This

I reckon he must be bored so has started setting up peoples bikes really stupidly just for fun & is seeing to how far an extreme he can push it. :twisted:

Next bike he will fit the saddle on backwards or something.