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View Full Version : Where canI get a tri-bike fit?




kennybrae
10-23-05, 10:51 AM
Hi there, new to this forum. Here's the short and sweet. I'm going to be in the St. Louis MO area for a few months (Nov 05-Apr06). Need a new tri-bike but want to get fitted first. Any ideas?
chrisesposito
10-23-05, 11:40 AM
Take a look at this list here: http://www.slowtwitch.com/dealersurvey/fistcoaches.html

Mission Bay Multisport in Chicago does a lot of tri-bike fits and the guy that runs it (Tom Demerly) is a well-respected regular poster on the slowtwitch tri forum.

silly me; I should know better to post when I'm sick - I confused Illinois with Missouri, and thought Chicago was near St. Louis.

From the same list above, Maplewood Bicycle is in St. Louis - http://www.maplewoodbicycle.com/
kennybrae
10-24-05, 02:32 PM
HI there, thanks for the info. I looked into the Maplewood site and it seems to fit the bill. I'm not near St Louis right now, actually in Nova Scotia, but will be staying across the river in Southern Ill for a while this fall and winter. Looks like the store is about an hour from where I will be staying. Thanks again for your help, Ken
jennings780
10-24-05, 06:04 PM
I live in St. Louis. Maplewood is a great bike shop. I know Tim Ray and he knows his stuff.

Also, for tri bike specific fit, Ed, the owner of Sunset Cyclery is expert with tri bike fit.

Do you already have a tri bike? Are you looking to buy one?
kennybrae
10-24-05, 08:00 PM
Hi there, Nope, I don't have a tri bike right now. I've got a hybrid and another road bike that is a bit of a hybrid. My problem is an old back injurie and I've lost my "S" curve. I find it very uncomfortable to ride if I have to bend too far. I can ride sitting straight up but it's not too aerodynamic.
As I mentioned in my first message, I'll be near St Louis in a week or so and if I can get fitted I'll be looking to buy a bike. Do you have one to sell? Ken
jennings780
10-25-05, 04:32 PM
No, I don't have one to sell.
The bike shop I use is Sunset Cyclery. They sell Cannondale, Specialized and Kestrel tri bikes.

I know Maplewood sells Trek, but I don't know what else.
kennybrae
10-25-05, 06:29 PM
At this point I don't know the advantages or disadvantages of the various brands. I haven't tried for 20yrs and the last tri bike I used was a Norco Tri. At the time it was a good bike but wouldn't cut it these days. What I need is a bike that will let me get to the end of the bike leg with enough back left to run. My running is strong for my age, 62. I still run 5K under 20mins for example. Anyway, I don't know who you are, but I appreciate any advice. Thanks, Ken
jennings780
10-25-05, 06:46 PM
If you are buying just one bike, I'd recommend that you get a road bike. Its more versitile because it can be used on group rides and will be better for longer rides. When tri season comes you can put on some aerobars. There have been a number of threads on road bike vs. tri bike.

What is your budget for a bike?
kennybrae
10-26-05, 04:16 PM
I don't really have a fixed budget. If I knew for sure that a particular bike was going to work for me I'd happily spend $3000, perhaps more if I had to. I've been advised that a tri bike would suit my back problem more than a road bike but I'm not sure that the guy knew any more about it than me. Also, I won't be riding in a group too much as I live way out in the country. Does that make a road bike less practical?
Thanks for your time, Ken
kennybrae
10-26-05, 05:04 PM
Me again. I just read eleven pages of this section and my eyes are burning so I'll check the rest later. It seems that opinions on bikes are like belly-buttons, everyone has one and they are all different. Does Ed at Sunset Cyclery have an e-mail? If not I should be in the area after next week and will look him up in the phone book. Thanks again
jennings780
10-26-05, 06:27 PM
If you ride alone a lot and the tri bike fit is better than your back - then that sounds like the one bike you should get.

I don't Ed's e-mail.
I know the manager's e-mail, i'll PM it to you.
kennybrae
10-28-05, 04:09 PM
Take a look at my tri-bike for unconventional ideas on a back-friendly fit:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=139536

(please excuse the avatar/signature. it's part of a long-running joke.)
Your bike looks very comfortable to me and is just about what I'm hoping to get. If you have read all the messages in this thread you will see that I have been directed to a couple of places in St Louis and when I get there I'll use your bike as an example of what I might be able to use.
If I get the right bike, I'm on to Kona. Thanks and good luck!