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Choosing A Bike Fitter

3631 Views 45 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  One Wheel
I'm planning to buy a "forever" or "last" bike in the next year or so, I'm thinking it's worth getting a fit to make sure I buy the right size bike. A quick Google search shows several places within a few hours drive with a variety of services and price points, but I don't know what to look for.

1. Generally what should I look for when picking somebody to do a bike fit?

2. Specifically, I'm located about 2 hours drive west of Madison, WI. Is there anybody you would recommend roughly in the radius of Madison-Dubuque, IA-Rochester, MN?
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This is a very good video, well worth watching. Probably worth watching seasonally or whenever some sort of physical niggle, injury or change arises.

Knowing what works for oneself goes a long way in finding a fitter that can help sort things out. Also, what type of cyclist are you and what's your physicality? It does one no good to go to a fitter who is totally focused on pure in the drops race fit when an hour into the ride one doesn't have the core strength or flexibility to maintain it.

Know ones needs and get help from one who understands those needs.
This is all well and good. The challenge is finding someone to do this level of a bike fit on this side of the pond.
Well, I guess the search starts with phone calls and face to face communication.
What is offered, what is needed and do the two gel? Maybe a chance to stop in the shop during someones fitting, in progress, and a list of clients to speak with, race types, endurance types and recreational riders.

An investment of time and communication and a real knowledge of ones expectations of what a fitting will accomplish are the foundation of a good outcome.
One of the few downsides to living in a rural area. A casual drop in would require 3 1/2-4 hours of driving, so I don't think that's going to happen.
Phone call.

But 1st read and watch videos. Google is your friend. There's plenty on the interwebs posted by pro fitters, read all you can find. Watch their videos.

2nd, play with the different positions on your current bike. Seat up and down, fore and aft. Raise and lower handlebars/stem. Cheap stems of different lengths longer & shorter, depending what feels right.
Ride bike on trainer in front of mirror and with partner watching. Change what feels like changing or what looks "wrong" and ride some more. Ride on the road, how do the changes stack up? Repeat.

When everything feels good then call and talk with fitters, get a feel for their take and decide if you want to take the drive.

Or, take your measurements and and transcribe them to the geometry charts of the bikes that catch your eye. What frame size of the brands that you're considering can match your measurements with a stem length and seat post extension that suits you.

If you can find what works on a too small or large frame those numbers can be transcribed to the correct size frame.
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