I was thinking about getting a really good bike fit done and was wondering where they best place was for that in the mid-atlantic or within a few hundred miles of DC? I don’t mind going up to NY but would rather not have to go a whole lot further.
The two names I hear most frequently in that corridor are Paul Levine (Signature Cycles) and David Greenfield (Elite), NY & Philly respectively.
My suggestions are south of DC, but still not terrible drives …
When I lived in Winston-Salem, I went over to Inside-Out in Cary, NC and got a great fit from I don’t remember who. Final Kick in Virginia Beach is also good – I had a fit done there a few years ago, and I may take my bike down to Shamrock for another one if they can fit me in at some point during that weekend. (Though I don’t believe the fitter who took care of me a few years ago is still there. But I hope I’m wrong.)
Don’t know if others would consider them the “best,” but I was extremely happy with the service and the fit from both of these shops. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to them if I still lived near them, and I would recommend (and have recommended) them.
Hope this helps.
csb
I doubt I would travel a couple hundred miles for a fit, but; I was lucky Paul Levine was close enough to be able to go to. Very happy with everything and professional. He has a couple locations, there is one in NYC.
If you are travleing for a fit Paul is the guy to see. Make a weekend of it, see paul and then head out for some spring rides around. Tons of great stuff heading up to harriman etc.
Go see Paul you will not be disapointed.
Kevin
Yet another vote for Paul Levine. Great fitter, really nice guy.
Eric Sorensen–owner of Principle Fitness. He is based out of NoVA, and he has many clients in the DC/VA/MD area. He did my fit last season, and it helped tremendously. He is FIST certified.
Hi,
I bought my bike from Final Kick and I didn’t think the fit was exactly great and was based solely on visual angles.
Reading what Paul Levine is offering - yeah, a 2+ hr session with power assessments sounds like what I am looking for.
I know that Elite does a good job and spent a whole day with a pro I know, but I am not buying one of their bikes.
Are you doing Shamrock? A few of us are down there for that, maybe we’ll do a get-together. If you are up for joining the team, PM me.
Matt
IMHO you are wasting money combining power with fit in the same session. In many cases you will actually experience an initial drop in power in your new position. As you adjust to this new position you may become more powerful. I think it is very worthwhile to track power in the new position over the course of the first 2 months, but it is not very valuable to track it in the initial fitting. This is another reason I think it is important to get fitted by someone who is local. Your bike fit is a dynamic progress. You might make a subtle change. After a few weeks you become more accustomed to it and see a slight increase in power. At this point, you might further tweak it. You want access to someone who can see you a few times over the course of the season. Traveling for a fit usually means your fitting process is over after you walk out the door and drive/fly home.
Find someone who is willing to work with you on your fit for a few months and someone who you can easily visit as well…
I would equate this to both running and swimming lessons. Do you swim/run faster after your very first technique lesson? Usually, it takes some time to adjust to the changes, then you see the improvement in speed. In those sports it also generally takes multiple skill/technique sessions to hone a new skill. I believe this is the case for a bike fit as well. Combining a bike fit with a power test is akin to doing a running technique lesson and expecting to have an all-time best performance for a 5k that same afternoon.
That’s a shame that you didn’t get a good fit at FK. Mine was mostly tweaking the Inside-Out fit – I had gotten more flexible and wanted to take advantage of that – but I was very happy with it. Granted, it helped that I was in and out of the shop a lot and had them take a look at things as needed.
As for Shamrock, I’m doing the 1/2. I’ll send you a PM. If it works out, we should definitely get together.
I know that Elite does a good job and spent a whole day with a pro I know, but I am not buying one of their bikes.
Unless they’ve changed policy recently, they’ll do a re-fit on an existing bike as well.
Ditto on Paul Levine at Signatures Cycles (http://signaturecycles.com/document/54820). Definitely worth the drive if you have the time… he knows his stuff and does a great job! Highly recommend him. From the moment you contact him to the fitting itself, he does an impeccable job and shares with you all the info step by step… I’ve also heard good things about the other fitter in the bikeshop, Grant.
Good luck!
If you are heading up to New York Long Island region go to Sunrise Tri. a tri specific bike store where thay have a True Bike Fit studio. Check out the link.
https://fit.sunrisetri.com/document/106735
Elite Bicycles will fit you regardless of the bike you ride. Dave Greenfield is an excellent fitter and will spend all day with you if needed. Almost everyone I ride with has been fitted by Dave and couldn’t be happier.
I disagree.
I am aware that there is a potential for drop in power (or an increase) as I get a new position and take time to get use to it as muscles adapt.
However, for a relatively experienced cyclist, measuring a change in power production as an ajustment is made that has no real bearing on aerodynamics (the trade-off for lower power) is certainly helpful.
Yes, there is a case where someone having no training or having been riding on a really bad fit will producing maximum power in a position that over time will be less than optimal, but a good fitter will recognize that.
I just really want the best and the chorus seems to back Mr. Levine. I go up to NYC often enough that I can get it tweaked after the first two months or so. What they are offering goes way, way beyond FIST guys do.
Regarding run/swim, actually, yes, I have swam faster after technique lessons - pretty consistently. I don’t really need running technique work so I can’t speak to that.
Thanks for the info, though. Eric’s a swell guy and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to someone who was looking to get a good fit done locally.
Sounds like you may have made your mind up already but I’ll throw in another vote (well, two votes really if you count my husband) for Dave at Elite. I ride a Specialized and he spent hours with me fitting me properly to that bike.
Yes, if somehow Levine’s operation pisses me off that is where I may go.
Sorry to bring up an old thread. I am originally from LI and go back to visit family pretty regularly. Seriously considering getting a P2C and getting fit to it.
I know R&A in Brooklyn is FIST certified. Sunrise Tri is much more convenient, but not FIST certified, can anyone comment on their bike fits? Is it more shallow angle traditional roady style bike fitting or do they get tri bike fit pretty well?
I’d love to go there if I could be confident in a good fitting. Thanks.
Call and ask for frank. Tell him that you spoke to me, Gary Lefay and that I recommended you to him. He has a upstairs floor just for bike fitting, all state of the art. Ask him any question.
https://fit.sunrisetri.com/document/106735
how did the fit with Paul Levine go?
From what I have heard he tends to favor a slack more road like set up where as FIST is clearly the opposite…