I’m not sure why what I’m saying is controversial.
I think the OP should get a Tactical, and I think he should get a fit before he purchases... it’s standard.
Second of all, let me just say I’m a big fan of your bikes and your business model and your customer service. As an athlete *and* as a fitter.
That said (and while acknowledging the Tactical is super adjustable, and awesome!), you’re losing me with “aggressive” and age and back pain and long course vs. short course. For me those are not inputs, not in the way I think you’re implying they should be used. I would argue that anyone can have a good fit regardless of age (flexibility), back pain can be caused by no pelvic rotation which is caused by the wrong saddle or the right sat wrongly, and finally the longer the distance the more getting lower and aerodynamics matters (not less!) which is a long way of saying that, all things being equal, a pre purchase bike fit *before* you decide on which Tactical to buy is more valuable than the same priced fit after the fact.
Finally, I *never* fit or size to height. It’s all about the optimal position.
Anyway... back to the thread :)
Eric
dkennison wrote:
Eric - In days past I would agree with you. But .... (and all the following is based on purchasing from a company/fitter affiliate that is not just trying to get you on what ever they have in stock or what they are paid (motivated) to tell the athlete what they should purchase).
Suggesting sizes of bikes happens here on ST every day through the (Official X Brand fitter help) threads. "Hi - XXX I'm Bob, 6'0" tall and have an inseam of X and I do long course racing" "Hi Bob I'm X and you need a Trek XYZ with XYZ bar or Canyon size X or QR X".
Lets take 2008 - medium Cervelo PC3 - I know to get that bike fast I needed to swap out the Profile Design bar, swap crap wheels - Bike came with FSA crank with 175 arm (not a great spec - probably need to swap that), no integrated hydration; adjust/swap stem, seat etc. You definitely should have used a pre-fit to figure it all out.
Now we have learned a lot since then. Between any two of our size Tactical's we have 90 mm of stack adjustment and 160 mm of reach adjustment (both of which are independently adjustable from cockpit length), 60 mm width adjustment center on center elbow pad, swap in tilt, front center adjustment, rear drop out adjustment (wheel base), correct crank arm length and we know all the components work together from an aerodynamic perspective.
So if you call in to us and you are in the middle of the size overlap we can ask how old you are (in the future are you getting more aggressive or less aggressive in drop) , any back or neck issues, long course or short course (big difference in set up), current bike and how do you like the fit, current crank arm length, type cleats etc.. If a manufacturer can not at least get you to the correct size bike - you need to move to a different bike company.
Ride the bike a few weeks and schedule your fit, let the professional fitter know what you like and don't like. Our bike comes with a complete bolt kit and spacer kit so any post purchase adjustment can be made. Now let the professional fitter dial in that athlete.
Eric Reid
AeroFit |
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