Road Cycling - Poll: Fit Sessions at LBS worth it?

Just curious if you all think it's worth the money to have your and your bike fitted at your LBS. My fav. LBS charges $55 for the service.

i did a wattage fitting on a computrainer. gained over 100 watts. it was $75-$100 (don't remember) and highly worth it. i'm more comfortable, more efficient, faster.

Mine came with the bike, and I THINK it worked out OK, but with some reservations.

Being labeled a newbie (and I guess rightfully so), they did a few things I thought made it more of a "novice" setup. They started my drops really high on the bars (a return trip led to lowering them). They also appear to have put quite a few spacers to raise the stem (been meaning to ask them about that). They swapped out my stem for a shorter stem too. Set my seat position according to the knee-above-spindle approximation. So far, though, I've been happy with my progress, so a re-fit at some point is on my to-do list but with low priority. I'd say it was worth roughly the $50 you would pay.

If I have to pay someone (rather than studying up online) I will have to research who in Houston does the best work.

I am very glad I got fitted at my bike store. I think it cost me $100. The guy measured all my joints, plugged the numbers into a computer, then set my bike up with a laser. Unbelievable how well it fit! When I was trying out the fit, he helped me with body positioning, breathing and technique. I walked out of the bike shop with a complete ready to race bike (pedals, aero bars, aero drink). I think it was well worth the investment.

http://www.wobblenaught.com/

Starting riding on a road bike at 59 (5 years ago). and knowing little about bikes, it was well worth it. And it was included in the cost.

Just had a refit this past few months, and made some changes as my body is changing a bit as I gain more maturity!

However, this year I did buy a "backup and beat around" road bike on ebay, and, given my new knowledge, was able to order the size I needed and to fit it pretty well myself.

Without a doubt.

That "wattage fitting" sounds interesting. I'll have to ask around and see if there is something like that available around here.

$55 sounds awfully low for a fitting. Maybe that's just what they charge in your area, maybe the shop wants to have/keep your business, or maybe they don't do a good job. Around here, it's $100-150.

Just curious if you all think it's worth the money to have your and your bike fitted at your LBS. My fav. LBS charges $55 for the service.

I voted that is well worth it, but it depends:

-What do you want from the fitting? If you can comfortably do a long ride (>50 miles) without discomfort on your bike, there isn’t going to be much benefit. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

-What qualifications does the fitter have? I’m sure some are great and some are lousy, but you have no way of knowing other than getting some recommendations.

-Are you normal size? 5’11” males shouldn’t have trouble fitting on a large variety of stock frames, but a 5’2” women would do better to get a fitting and have a professional help select a frame.

Here are a couple articles that I think give unique perspectives on fit. Both argue against “fit kits” or fit calculators:

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/kops.html

-murray

I did this two years ago when I got new shoe and could not get the cleat dialed in and did just a leg fit for $20-25 and got the cleat dialed in out by a mm or so knee over the ball of foot and a little for/aft thrown in. Getting the leggs dialed in was worth the $$. I don't know if I will ever go back to get the rest of me fit as my bike frame is to the small side for my hieght and I like my bars to the low side (no funny pains for me to have worked out of my position).

Worth it to me. I get them free from my LBS, but only go in once a year or so. I think they charge something like $40-50 normally. Even if they charged $60, I'd do it. Being more comfortable on the bike means you ride farther and more often.

The shop that I actually bought my bike at didn't fit it to me properly. Then, a year or so later I went to a different shop that is closer to my house, with some questions about seat post height etc. He put me on the trainer and did an extensive fit. Turns out the other shop sold me a bike that was too big for me, they saw that my crotch cleared the cross bar and called it good. The fella that did the fit checked everything, and I ended up needing a shorter stem too. Well, I paid a pretty penny for the stem ($70) but he only charged me $25 for the fit! And according to the charge board in the service department that is a $100 service. I am loyal to them for sure now, service contract or not. Even though my bike came with a service contract from this other joint, I won't take it back to them!! Definately worth it.

I just got refit for my bike that I didn't even buy from my new LBS (I did however just put $$$ down on a custom built italian steel frame :)) and now my trek is about 50x more comfortable... but it'll never ride like steel .. ;)

Who needs doping if you can get a power increase by proper fitting? The problem is finding an experienced fitter with all the high tech gear. I am jones'n for a "wattage fitting" but I can't find anyone in S. Florida. This article in PezCycle news is really they type I'm looking for:
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/default.asp?pg=fullstory&id=2475

Who needs doping if you can get a power increase by proper fitting? The problem is finding an experienced fitter with all the high tech gear. I am jones'n for a "wattage fitting" but I can't find anyone in S. Florida. This article in PezCycle news is really they type I'm looking for:
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/default.asp?pg=fullstory&id=2475

I think that is a GREAT article, and ought to be posted in the

"Please help me with a new bike purchase" article (or FAQ)

section that is being developed for BikeForums.

Should give some pause to newbies who plan on ordering road bikes from EBay or other online sellers.