Hey Gang,
I am on target for a new (and my first) tri bike early 2006. Right now I am doing some preliminary research on tri shops in my area. Placid Planet Bicycles, R&A Cycles, and SBR Multisports are a few shops in my area that are FIST certified. Has anyone been fitted for a tri bike by any of these guys? Care to share your experience? Would you go back if you had to do it again? Thanks for your input!
The Other TD
I assume because of the R & A reference that you are in New York. If so do not forget to have a look at Signature Cycles. www.signaturecycles.com Paul is one of the best. He got a nice mention in triathlete last month with the chris kautz article.
I did a fit with paul then a year later I purchased a serotta and untold bits and pieces. Plus he might take you on a famous thursday ride around orange county which is pretty sweet.
Kevin
NYC is a short and cheap flight away from Dearborn via DTW, that get’s my vote for bike fit satifaction.
Paul Levine of Signature Cycles does fittings at Asphalt Green one day during the week. So you don’t even need to leave NYC. I got my tribike from him. Super nice guy. One of the best fitters in the country.
I was fit on my new ride at SBR. The position is fast and comfortable and the guys know what they are doing. The fit mirrored my position on my old bike to the mm. Pretty impressive. R&A is probably just as good, so maybe you should make your decision based on what bike you want to buy. Either way you are in good hands.
paul levine, hands down. he’s not only fist certified he’s the head of the serotta fit school. the guy knows his shit.
I hear good things about Paul as well. I second that nomination (or is it fifth?)
Any one of those you mentioned will do fine. Correct fit is not a secret anymore (despite what the fitters want you to believe). Check out any online resource and you’ll see, it is pretty much down to a basic set of angles.
One word of advice: if you can, DEFINITELY get fit from a bike shop where you shop, preferably for your bike. #1) There is nothing worse than having a problem with a bike (which you will) and have to take it to some shop where they don’t know you, or your bike brand, and your “warranty” is in another state. #2) you will definitely “improve/advance” your fit as time goes on. You can usually get the LBS fitter to agree to help you in the future.
I guess the masses have spoken. I actually did speak with Paul a while back. I was looking to get fit for my current road bike and to get my measurements for a tri bike. I did not pull the trigger for financial reasons. Like Kiri said, I was looking to get fit and buy my bike from the same shop. I didn’t include Sig Cycles since I wasn’t considering to buy a Serotta. Maybe I’ll check out the CXII. I don’t think I ever met a disgruntled Serotta owner…
The Other TD
I worked with paul for a while before coming to the decsion to purchase a serotta.
I went to him with the geometries of every bike I thought I wanted or could think of and we set up the size cycle to each one. Looking at the spin scan and how I felt in each position. It was a very complete process of elimination.
I am pretty sure that Paul can get any bike. I know that I have seen all sorts of different makes being built up in his shop.
Lots of luck in the search
Kevin