I spent all summer on my tri bike prepping for IMMT. I had fit problems here and there; shoulder pain, calf pain, shin pain…little things but never anything huge. I set up the bike on the trainer last week, ready to stay there for the winter and immediately had discomfort on the bike. My shoulders were killing me to the point that I couldn’t stay in the aero bars for even 3 minutes without being uncomfortable. I’m riding the Fizik Tritone and was so happy when I started using it, I was comfortable to the point of riding 7+ hours without much problem. Then all of a sudden I’m in pain. I then sent myself down the rabbit hole of moving things around and trying new positions. I moved the aero bars forward and in a bit, I moved my cleats a bit, but nothing with my saddle height or fore/aft position.
Nothing is working and I’m getting really mad because there’s no way I can spend the winter on the trainer feeling like this. So I want to go get a fit and I was hoping someone on here could help me.
Has anyone been fit at either Sunrise Tri or Bicycle Planet on Long Island? They both use the Retul system with Sunrise giving a 3 hour fit for $350 and Planet giving a 90ish minute fit for $250. My uncle used Sunrise and liked it a lot but I just don’t know if I can spend $350. I want to get the best fit possible. I’m at the point where I need it just to get comfortable, it’s not even about performance. I have a goal of dedicating myself on the trainer this winter to improve my 70.3 time and I can’t do that being this uncomfortable.
Go to Babylon Bike Shop. Mike is the absolute best fitter. Or try one of those other places and then go to Babylon Bike Shop to fix their fit like so many others. Much cheaper too.
side note: did you raise the front wheel on the trainer to make the bike level?
Forget the system, buy the person doing the fitting. You are likely not going to get as good a fitting from a simple application of a system, where a good fitter uses their knowledge and what they see to solve problems a system will or can not see. It is not the system that does the work, buy the craftsman not the tool. any proper bike fit should take about 3 hours if the person is thorough, asks questions, and explains to you what and why they do what they do.
If everyone else hadn’t already said to go see him, I’d be nervous about such an old school system. I’ve had somewhat of a fit like that already, just not too in depth. But so far, all the answers are to go see him! I’ll have to give him a call this afternoon.
Has anyone here had a fit at other places, like Sunrise or Planet, not liked it and gone to see Mike at Babylon?
If everyone else hadn’t already said to go see him, I’d be nervous about such an old school system. I’ve had somewhat of a fit like that already, just not too in depth. But so far, all the answers are to go see him! I’ll have to give him a call this afternoon.
Has anyone here had a fit at other places, like Sunrise or Planet, not liked it and gone to see Mike at Babylon?
Never been anywhere else. Never was a reason (I can literally walk to the shop). I have heard stories of people going to BB with a problem and the fit was messed up, but not first hand experience.
Call and make an appointment before you go. Mike is “temporally challenged” according to Doug, and forgets to come to work once in a while.
I used Frank at Sunrise Tri. Can’t recommend him enough. The fit was beyond comprehensive, the knowledge that I’ve gained from talking with him is worth every penny. My bike fits perfect and he has equipped me with the knowledge of how much farther I can adjust the bike as my training progresses. When you consider the amount of time he spends on the initial fit plus any follow ups, the $ is a bargain.
I’ve also heard great things about John at Acme Bicycle in Brooklyn from friends as well.
I have been to both Sunrise Tri (Frank) and Acme (Jonathan) both are very detailed and thorough. Sunrise was my first fit on the bike about 3 years ago when i was only doing Sprints and Olys. Got fit by Acme this past winter in prep for IMMT and definitely felt a positive difference for the longer rides. I dont think you can go wrong with either, Acme is closer to me so that will be my shop for the future…just be sure to tell any fitter what your training for , your problem areas on the bike etc.
I’ve been fit by both Frank at Sunrise and Jonathan at Acme and I’d say you can’t go wrong with either of them. They are both pros and are committed to their craft.
Thanks for all the input guys. I’m glad some votes for Sunrise came into play because they were who I was initially planning on going with. All of the votes for Babylon Bike has been throwing me off. I know it’s stupid for me to think like this, but if I’m going to pay all this money, I expect to get the technology. So to go to a guy that doesn’t use it, isn’t sitting with me well. I’m going to have to give Mike @ BB a call though and get more info on his process. If it’s $175 that would be hard to pass up, especially with these endorsements.
Has anybody else had this problem? Feeling fine on the road, then suddenly being uncomfortable on the trainer?
No offense to you, but that’s the wrong way to look at it. The technology is a tool, not a fitter.
Some old guy in a basement with goniometers, protractors, and plumb bobs, who is a great fitter & has done a million fits, is a much better fitter than the guy who has no clue what he is doing, but has a bright shiny Retul & Guru DFU.
Not implying that the above is true about any of the above shops, just saying that the fit comes down to the fitter, not the toys.
I completely agree with you. And completely agree that it’s wrong of me to think like that. It’s just when I think about the money, I can’t help but think the technology is more worth it. I really can’t help thinking that way. Especially when I’m getting the same amount of votes for the two shops.