after hearing all you guys have to say i think that it is time that i get my bike fitted in the next few weeks, seeing as i have the ability to go to a cobb shop in st. paul or a few FIST shops in madison i’m trying to figure out which is the best option for me and how they weigh up against one another- it seems as though they are fairly comparable in price and availability
Hey trigirl621,
It isn’t a matter of “FIST vs. Cobb”, but rather an issue of how expereinced the bike fitter is.
In my opinion, the things to look at when evaluating a bike fitter are:
- What is their level of experience?
- How many total TRIATHLON fits have they done for specific triathletes with a proven track record of comfort and success?
- How much experience and familiarity does the fitter have with the events you are doing? Have they done the sport themselves? Do they understand what the athlete expereinces during an event/
- How long have they been fitting triathlon SPECIFIC bikes?
- Have they worked throughout the industry to gain a broad understanding of the way the industry works (and doesn’t work)?
- Are they commited to the sport as a career, or just passing through on the way to something else (in other words, will they still be a resource in three years?)
- Do they have formal education in bike mechanics, bike fit, triathlon bike fit and customer service?
It is my experience that most people don’t understand the value of a fit. They feel it is generic. It is currently fashionable and good business to say, “I am a bike fitter- I can fit triathlon bikes…”
My experience is that the majority of those claiming to be “bike fitters” don’t score well on the above report card.
As I said, few customers understand the value of an accurate fit. It is a different buying experience than hitting the Ford dealer and buying a new Explorer off the lot. That is generic. Bike fitting is not. Done correctly, a high degree of thought, experience, training, ingeniuity, common sense and concern go into a bike fit.
The best fitter is generally a combination of all the things listed above.
Tom, slightly off thread but you will see where I am going with this. In a recent thread you spoke of looking for an importer of the Kuota Kaliber with a view to selling, have you found one? I am interested as if the price is right I am interested in buying from you and coming over to get fitted PROPERLY on the right size.
Hey jk_allen13,
You know, I have had a lick’s worth of luck finding those. I’m still trying though.
Tom, could you could e me if/when you get some joy, please? I appreciate it would be yet another on a long list, but I am v interested.
Yes sir, I’ll be pleased to. There shold also be some mention on our website when (if) we get some results.
Thanks Tom, I would appreciate that. I will be checking your shop site for that in addition to looking for your IM NZ report '-) Good luck with your training for Klagenfurt.
ok but let’s say that i know that both of the places that i would be considering have reputible staff and know people who work there or who have gone there and been pleased with the results- then which method of fitting is the “best” or are the the same but different if you know what i mean?
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Erin, as Tom mentioned (if I am not mistaken) you need to know the fitting history of the guys that will be fiiting you, so ask about them before making a decision.
well i think that what i meant by that is that i know that for both john cobb and the fist shop i know that the people who would be fitting me would both have a positive background with both of the shops being trispecific and knowing poeple who have gone to each of them- so what my question was geared towards is if one of the techniques of fitting is better than the other- and what kind of experiences that you and your tri pals have had with either of them and the general difference between the two of them
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Hmmm, well, I’ve seen the results of both. That’s a tough question. I would tend to say you need a fitter who incorporates elements of both schools of though.
John Cobb is not teaching a fit school yet, but the second he does, I am THERE!!! His fit ideas are very mechanically logical and make a lot of sense. John may not have ten Ironman finishes, but he is a very, very smart man and the way he approaches the issue of bike fit is ingenius.
Empfield? (F.I.S.T.), well, it is fascinating to just sit in Dan’s living room and listen to him orate. He is a pretty quiet, reserved, thoughtful man but there is a lot going on there. Dan’s impact on the sport is much larger than he will admit, and he is sadly low-key with his ideas.
Truth be told- Empfield INVENTED triathlon bike fit or at least popularized and marketed Ralph Ray’s ideas on aerobar bike fit and made them saleable and mainstream. Dan has proposed some pretty cockamamy ideas to me that wound up panning out. The two piece wetsuit? Yeah, right… That’s a stupid idea. Then I tried one (after he badgered me for over a year). It’s the fastest for me.
So… Well: A couple unique features to your circumstance-
You are a smaller female, ask your potential fitters how many smaller females they have fit for triathlons in your area and their names. Ask around at the pool or where triathletes hang out.
A pattern should emerge as to who the fitter in your aea is who produces the most satisfied customers.
Also, remember that good bikes take time and good fit takes time, so don’t be in hurry to get your bike. It’s better to spend extra time and do it right than be on a deadline. These bikes are expensive, it pays to do it right. When I sense delivery time is more important to a customer than the end result, I cut them loose. They don’t understand the value of what they are getting and that it is a long term purchase- not just for a weekend or one race.
Hey, i dunno if the Kuna Kaliber and Kuna Kalibur are the same… but i know this shop in Toronto is advertizing them… they say they’re taking pre-orders, so i guess it couldn’t hurt to call them/ send them an email. https://www20.secure-website.net/~labicic/LaBiciclettaStore/
hope this helps
David
Thanks Dave!
I have heard that Kuota (I think that’s how you spell it) exhibited at Interbike LV in '03 but I didn;t see them… (duy).
I saw Stadler’s bike at New Zealand. Very interesting…
Thanks David, that’s the frame. Now I gotta get Tom to see if he can find out who they deal with, TOMMMMM '-)
have you tried this contact yet ?
CCM-Sport Radsport-Vertriebs GmbH
von-Wrangel-Str. 5
D-53359 Rheinbach
Germany
Telefon: +49 (0)2226- 9065-0
Telefax: +49 (0)2226- 9065-21
they are mentioned on the german webpage ( http://www.kuota.de/ )and they should know where you can order the bike
I would highly recommend Cronometro. They were great in helping me set-up my Rocket 7 shoe & cleat position just before IMOO last year. I checked and they are FIST certified. They have been fitting Triatheletes and TT for years. There is also a great advantage to using a shop close by. Achieving the best position is an evolutionary quest that will invovle some readjustment and trial and error. It would be best to be able to access this help on an ongoing basis.
I have also heard good things about Chronometro for quite some time.
I was in that shop today and can confirm that they are stocking Kuota bikes. I didn’t happen to see any Kalibers there today, although they did have one at the Toronto Bicycle Show, but there were several other Kuota bikes on the floor.
Their website with their contact info: http://www.labicicletta.com/
Andrew
“Truth be told- Empfield INVENTED triathlon bike fit or at least popularized and marketed Ralph Ray’s ideas on aerobar bike fit and made them saleable and mainstream.”
thx for the kind words. point of clarification: in 1989 both the QR superform (80° seat angle) and the Holland desert princess (90° seat angle, designed by ralph ray) debuted simultaneously. ralph and i came upon our ideas independently. we both, btw, also decided on 650c wheels for our designs. but neither of us relied on the other for ideas on bike fit and set up.