Today a number of people came in for bike fits as usual. One guy was a tough case: He bought a really nice bike, over $5000 in his currency (not U.S.). He got it at the factory that builds the bike. He bought it and was fitted for it directly at the factory in person. The bike did not fit. It was too large. It was a bad fit and fairly obviously too large. How did this happen? He was fitted at the factory! This put me in a difficult position: Should I have challenged the frame size and said (Look how long your top tube is, how high your head tube is, how little seatpost you have showing- There is no versatility in this fit- it is too large.) or should I have just did the best I could with a new seatpost, stem, saddle adjustments, etc. This guy just got the bike. If I said "This doesn't fit" it opens up this conflict between the factory where he got the bike and us. Man, I'll tell you guys- it didn't take a rocket scientist (or a Dan Empfield or John Cobb) to tell this bike was too large. In the end, yeah, I did the easy thing. I fixed his position on the existing (too large) bike. I didn't have the courage (or rudeness) to say, "I understand you bought this bike right at the factory and they measured you, but in my opinion the frame's dimensions are not optimal for you." Man, tough one.... The bike is still here for a bunch of work we're doing on it. My buddy Michael R. Rabe said to me "You're too non-confrontational". The guy picks it up in a week. OK, you guys are my support group. What do I do here?
Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com
Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com