bucketfoot

OK sorry about cross-posting here, but given my age I thought this might be good to ask here as well...

I'm a 50+ male looking to get back into some moderate bike riding and I've run into a bit of a dilemma on my new purchase. I've narrowed my selection down to two models that I would be completely happy with (Trek 7.2 FX and Specialized Sirrus).

I do not dislike either of the bike shops I'm dealing with, but I definitely have a strong preference towards one. However the bike I am looking at here is $60 more.

To offset that they do a much more detailed fitting (lay on a massage table and do like a 20 step assessment testing your strength, flexibility, knee position, spinal curvature, hip flex, etc to help determine your riding position along with a butt imprint so they can measure how you will fit a given seat). The other shop doesn't do much more than to adjust the seat, bars, etc and send you on your way (of course you can pay for a better fitting at both places).

Part of the issue is that even with the less expensive bike I'm already spending a good $100 more than I originally intended too (of course I'm also getting a better bike than I originally planned). Don't get me wrong, I can afford either, but I the reason I have the money is that I'm a cheap @$$ by nature

I've never had a real bike fitting before and I guess I'm looking for some feedback from people with more experience in this arena to help me decide to go with heart or wallet!

Digital Gee

I'm looking at exactly the same two models. I've test ridden the Sirrus Elite and liked it; tomorrow I hope to ride the Trek. I'd be comparing the Trek 7.4 at $770 (but I don't like the color) with the Sirrus Elite at $810. I might even consider the 7.2 at $490 and compare it with the Sirrus at $520.

Sounds like one of your LBS's does a great job with the fitting; that's worth a lot. I'll be interested in seeing what opinions you gather with this thread.

jon c. 

The better fitting is worth the extra money for sure. And it sounds like maybe a better bike shop to build a relationship with. A good LBS is worth something too. And once you get to riding, the extra cost when figured per mile will become very insignificant.

fishboy316

Definitely Go with the better fit! The fit makes all the difference. If it does not fit you won't use it. For the record most of us spend more than we budgeted for on our bikes but hey that's how it goes, can't take it with ya!LOL I started at $500 and spent $2300, and glad now that I did!
Bill

leob1

Your not only shopping fo a bike, your shopping for a bike shop too! You will want to build a relationship with the shop so when you need help, they will know a bit about you too. I have a shop I go to, the owner always asks what, and where I've been riding. And he asks about my wifes riding too. He will answer any question I have, and he has almost stopped laughing when I ask for unusual parts. It's next to a deli, so we will stop in to chat when we ride buy.
And yes your going to spend more than you thought. Helmet, gloves, pedals and shoes, shorts(bibs), tires\tubes, etc. There is always something else you'll need.

jeromephone

If you like the bike shop and think they are doing a better job then spend the 60.00 you will get it back easily with a better fit. It seems you always pay a little more for quality of material or service but it is usually worth it.

Biker395 

No brainer ... spend the $60. A good bike fit is worth that and much more.

Tony Marley

The professional fitting is well worth the additional $60. Good luck as you resume riding.

DiabloScott

OK, that sounds impressive, but there's really not much they're going to be able to do with that information to modify your $600-700 bike. Maybe offer you a discount on a saddle upgrade or something; if it shows you need a shorter top tube or longer seat tube or something they're just going to tell you "this is as close as you can get". I think the benefit of this detailed fitting is over-stated...although a bike shop willing to do it for you is a good sign that they're customer oriented.

ctpres

Buy the cheep bike and get a PRO fit later. Or better yet, check into pro fit shop plan that will tell you what size bike you need before you buy and then fit it to you.

MRT2

Pay the extra money and go with the better bike shop.

BluesDawg

Even without the fitting, paying $60 more at the shop you strongly prefer is the smarter move. The fitting does have value in making sure you get the right size frame, the right width saddle and a correctly set up bike. It could, for instance reveal that the stem should be swapped for one with a different length or angle.

Retro Grouch 

My advice has always been to shop for a bike shop first.

Whose advice concerning upgrades or accessories are you more likely to believe?
If you have a warranty issue, who would you rather have working for you?

Wanderer

If they both feel the same, go with the one that looks nicer to you. But, I find subtle comfort differences between Specialized and Trek, due to slightly different geometry.

Specialized just felt better, more comfortable, to me.

That is why the test rides are so important. I was lucky, as both shops let me take them for 20 mile rides. By mile 15 you can start to feel the difference. By mile 20, one works, the other not so good.

If they have similar sized tires, make sure the tires are inflated the same for comparisons. Once you get done with the comparisons, the bike shop becomes the most important thing, if you don't do your own work.

IMHO, fit trumps the shop, as either shop will work on your bike. And, either shop will be happy to sell you other stuff to make your bike yours.

If you are happy with both bikes equally, shop the shop - money doesn't matter.

p.s. I would be looking for 9spd, and even disc brakes - yes it is a bit more pricey, but better componentry and more choices is a big plus, to enable you to find just the right gear, and disc brakes are impressive and the future. Worth more at resale, too - and, yes, I'm tight too, but look for value. In bike sense, $ is usually value in the mid lines of the series. MHO

tom cotter

IMO, if the only deciding factor is the bike shop, go with the more expensive bike. You like that shop better which is important. And they, seeing your dilemma, are trying to make it work for you by giving you something of value. having a good relationship with a bike shop is a good thing! Most likely this won't be your last bike.

As for spending more money than planned: That is usually the way it goes when gearing up into a hobby/passtime/sport. As novices we don't have all the information we need to set the budget correctly. The good news is once this money is spent that bike will give you years of service for no more than chump change to keep it maintained.

Up North

Unless you want sore a$$ to go with your cheap a$$ spend the extra $60.00 and go with the better shop. Good customer service goes along way and you will reap benefits along your journey.

Wanderer

See, you have to take all these opinions, and weigh them with your own. Then, make your choice. Good luck, and make sure you ck back with the end result.

The real intangible here is quality. A higher quality bike definitely rides easier and better (within reason.) My personal assessment of value remains the same - the middle of the line is usually the best buy for your dollar. The one thing that amazes people coming from box store bikes, is how much easier it is to ride a bike from an LBS.

And, have you told the more expensive shop that you can buy the same bike cheaper at another shop? They usually want you as a customer.

fietsbob

OK these are Hybrids not race bikes, and you are not going for Uber performance on endurance rides , Right?

Frames are so tall "standover " .. flat footed straddling the bike pick the front wheel up by the bars how far till it touches you?

Thats the clearance you have when you jump off ahead of the saddle ..


the Other us Top Tube length how far to reach the bars , is it comfortable? That is easy to make Better with a stem swap these days
because the stem face opens, abd slips off the steerer tube easily, to put a different one on ..

higher angle shorter and even angle adjustable ones are available .. maybe the factory pre cut the steere too short , that can be fixed

Easiest is (New Bike ?) get dealer to supply a new replacement with an un cut steerer , then by riding it for months the decision can be made Later,
based on actual experience.

after that its all bolt on parts to hit a price tarhet different cost parts are fitted.. saddles and grios and pedals all can be changed at point of sale..

+ NB accessories are discounted at point of sale , too usually 10%, and installed Gratis.

dashingcarter

I am not a bike expert but i test rode both the bikes you mentioned Trek 7.2 FX and Specialized Sirrus and in the end i fell in love with the Specialized and purchsed a Specialized Sirrus elite disc and 1 week after that i got one for my wife also Specialized Vita elite disc.She also tried both trek and Specialized and immediately took a liking for Specialized.The disc brakes are worth spending a bit more i would say but then again as i said i am not a bike expert.

sch

"Fitting" is only so good as the ability of the fitter to wrap his head around the kind of riding you are going to do. So many fitters are oriented toward fitting wanna be racers to
high zoot 'race bikes' in the $2500-6000 range that I would be leery of paying for a fit unless the fitter can be flexible enough to adapt to you. Of course the problem is knowing
this in advance. Another thing, saddles can take a few hundred miles before you decide if it is a good saddle for you. You might request a shop saddle that is returnable before
accepting the one on the bike.

Wanderer

In the Specialized line, I think the Sirrus Elite is the sweet spot, disc or rim brakes. FX, it boils down to the 7.4, disc or rim brakes. A carbon front fork is a HUGE upgrade, in ride quality. MHO ==== you gotta ride them and decide about your own comfort.

Right now, I'm lusting after a new Sirrus Comp Disc..........

BiciMan

I ride this 2013 Sirrus Pro model, which is no longer available: Specialized Bicycle Components
It was a model that fit between the Comp and the Carbon models, and this is now my favorite ride. I didn't get a "proper" or professional fit, but at this stage I pretty much know what I like and need, and the Sirrus felt proper immediately. I really liked the Comp black I rode, but when my local (now-closed) shop put on a 25%-off sale, the net price difference was reduced enough for me to order a Pro. The components were significantly better to me, and what I especially like is the Apex road changers, vs. the Comp's X7 MTB changers. The Comp and Elite now come with 30c tires, and my Pro and the old Comp had 28s: Interesting illustration of the trend toward bigger tires.

bucketfoot

We've had colder & wetter than normal weather here in Colorado, so it took me a little longer than I planned to finally select and purchase my new bike, but I finally decided to go with the Sirrus. I'm sure I would have been happy with either it or the 7.2 FX, but liked both the Sirrus and the shop a little more (and was even able to negotiate a nice discount).

Hopefully we'll have good enough weather for me to get and do some riding now over the long weekend!

JohnJ80

^this.

The hack shop can cost you that much in screwed up service or wrong component selection alone. How much would you be willing to pay after you hurt from that crappy fit. $60 would seem like a bargain then.

J.

blt

IMO, this isn't a close call. Spend the extra $60. As someone else says, even without the fitting, it is worth it to have a better bike shop. I guarantee that the customer service I get at my LBS has saved me hundreds of dollars just over the last 3 years. Even with a relatively inexpensive bike, the tweaks in the fit have made my riding experience a lot better. If you are cheap by nature, in the long run, you want to go with the better bike shop.