step 1. go to an independent bike fitter and get your numbers.
step 2. make damn sure you will fit on the bike you're looking at before you buy it. a good independent fitter will give you recommendations on proper size
step 3. order bike then ride the devil out of it when you get it.


these steps would be the same if you were buying a bike from a local bike shop as well.

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80/20 Endurance Ambassador

I just purchased my bike from Canyon and I can give you my experience. I purchased the prior model speedmax so there was limited inventory. Based on the sizing calculator from their site I was right between sizes. I ended up ordering the bike that was on the higher side. Received the bike quickly (3-5 days in Texas) and once I set it up I realized it was too big for me. Called the service team up and they sent me a shipping label (just like Amazon) and I sent it back free of charge. Unfortunately because the processing time takes around 2 weeks to get your credit and I knew inventory was limited I bought another bike and it was shipped again in 5 days.

I unboxed and started setting up when I realized that the bike itself was actually the wrong size. The box labeling was correct but the bike itself was the wrong one. So followed same process - their inventory was very limited for my size so again I purchased the bike so I would definitely get one rather than hoping the customer service would hold one for me.

3rd bike came - fortunately the size was correct but unfortunately the packaging was not nearly up to par as the previous two. Their packaging normally was awesome! This one was missing some key packaging components. Unfortunately the only issue I had was the pedal arm was scuffed. They are working with me on this and we are in the process of determining next steps. Which I’m sure will be a satisfactory response.

At one point I had 3 bikes I had money paid for but no bikes :). Again this was my decision to speed up the process. I was overall extremely impressed with packaging until my 3rd bike. Honestly I would have sent it back but they were out of my bike size by that point. Their service team has been awesome to work with and the return process is very simple.

What’s more is that you have 30 days to see if you like it. If you don’t, you send it back and they will refund money. The bike is super easy to set up - seat post, aero bars, front wheel (charge Di2 if going with electronic shifting) and you are good to go. My local bike shops will size me for it, however I am planning to do my own set-up.

If you order over the phone they will take care of shipping so each bike was free of charge shipping to me and returning.

I know that sounds like a lot of stuff that happened but I’m a pretty easy going person- though I was disappointed with the packaging on my 3rd bike.

Good luck - if it doesn’t fit send it back:). Pretty low risk overall.

That's reassuring to know, thanks.

I have purchased my last five tri bikes (Trek SC, Trek SC, Dimond, Dimond Marquise, TriRig Omni) and last two road bikes (both Canyon) through online and email. If you know your fit coordinates it’s really no issue.

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Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One

I bought a Quintanna Roo tri-bike on-line and I totally love the bike. I had rented one at AG Nationals a few times, so I knew it the size I was getting fit me well. They actually delivered the bike fully assembled.

^^^^This.

I've gotten several bike online (typically used off eBay). I know my fit numbers, and can see if the bike will work for me. In contrast, I've seen salespeople at the LBS put someone on the wrong size bike (doing little more than the "straddle the top tube" test on a $5k bike).

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ECMGN Therapy Silicon Valley:
Depression, Neurocognitive problems, Dementias (Testing and Evaluation), Trauma and PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

I would go so far there are advantages buying online, aside from simply cost and selection.
The LBS has a conflict of interest when fitting a customer. They want to discover that a brand they stock will suit and more crucially, if they've specific size in stock, it's just a little more likely that's the size they're going to discover you need...so long as it's kinda close. A very conscientious LBS fitter will be unswayed by what you might end up spending after the fitting, but good practice is to either go to an independent fitter, or figure it out yourself (which may be tricky). Buying online will avoid the temptation to rely on, potentially corrupted, LBS advice.
There is nothing gained by test riding bikes unless they are all set up exactly to your specification (and they never will be) and back to back at the same location on the same day. Otherwise what you're actually doing is comparing the setups and circumstances on the day, not the bikes themselves. It will be all to easy to think one bike feels better than the other but that's almost certainly not a characteristic of the bike, and rather the test circumstances and bike setup. Did both use the same tyres, pressures, bar tape, lube, weather, road surface and profile, traffic. Were you in a good mood, did you want to like the bike because of the price, colour scheme, who was selling it, or because you didn't want to go looking for another option? "Test rides" are not test rides, they're self deception opportunities.

Do as damon.lebeouf suggested. Measure thrice, buy once.
I bought both my current bikes online, and I have no regrets. I'll almost certainly be doing the same next time whenever that is.

My thoughts. I sure do like the guys down at my local bike shop. They have group rides followed by meals at a local eatery. They ride mountain bikes. They ride road bikes. They are super nice and go out their way to provide me with top notch service and offer a complete line of accessories. They are also advocates for cyclists, making our "small" voice heard at local government meetings that might impact local riders. The owner even spear-headed a movement to get bike lanes on some local streets. They call me by name when I drop by. They ask me about my family and work. They work hard. One of their biggest threats to their existence is online bike and accessory sellers. So my thoughts are I buy my bikes from the local guy whose taxes help our schools, our streets, our fire and police protection and our community in general. Yeah, I sure do like those guys and would hate to see them have to close their doors.

Unfortunately my LBS’s only sell mountain bikes no road bikes never mind Tri bikes (downside of living in a small alpine valley where MTB is dominate). So I either have to travel a fair distance to find a decent tri bike stockist or buy online.

If you have a good local place that you trust and want to support, that's an absolutely reasonable. There is certainly and argument to be made for supporting local businesses, even at some additional expense to yourself. However, if you have no LBS, have one but don't have any real relationship with them or find them untrustworthy, then I stand by my previous post. My own experience with bike shops in my area has been very mixed. One I haven't done business with in the best part of a decade because of how they treated a good friend. They know their stuff, but act like elitist snobbish dicks. An unfortunately common issue with bike shops here. Two other places try and bullshit me any time I've been there. I use them occasionally, but I wouldn't dream of taking their advice at face value. The fourth is a good place and the guys I've dealt with there have seemed decent enough. I use them when I can, but I don't buy much for the bike these days. An occasional set of tyres, tubes, replacement bearings, or a chain. It's not a regular occurence! I do baulk at paying €70+ for GP5000 tyres when I can get get a pair for just a little more online. They don't sell latex tubes, so there's not much left....

Like the first response above, get the fit first from a quality fitter, which you can find on several threads here. For pad reach, ensure you know whether they measured to back of pad or center. Shouldn’t matter if your numbers fall right in the middle of the new bike’s range, but maybe so if you’re at the limits.

Canyon’s height-based size selector (if they still have it) put me on a bike a full size off from my stack/reach numbers, btw. Get a fit!

I ride a Canyon road bike, so don't have direct experience with Speedmax fitting.

But Canyon are committed to getting the right fit for you, up to and including exchanging for a complete different size bike if necessary.

In my case I got a fit done just after getting the bike, and the fitter recommended a shorter stem. I contacted Canyon, and they swapped the stem (and the custom integrated bars I purchased with the bike) no questions asked.

Unfortunately bike shops are not a golden solution for getting a TT bike that fits right or is set up properly. Its specialist market and knowing about mountain, road or e-bikes doesn't mean you can properly build or fit someone to a TT bike. Sales have increasingly gone online because the average shops don't get it right and the shops that do get it right are few and far between.

This leaves you with two options. Learn about fit, sizing etc and order a bike online or take the time and effort to travel to a specialist. Neither is the 'easiest' option but it is the investment you have to make to ensure you get things right. You just can't rely on every bike shop having the knowledge required to get it right on your behalf.

So what's the best way to do this?

Go to a fitter without the bike to get size advice, then order bike, then go back to fitter with bike?

Or order bike, go with it for a fit, change bike if a problem?

A good bike fitter will answer all of your questions on the bike that you're looking at online and will help you set up the bike.