I'm in the market for a road bike -- the first in many years -- and I'd like to get some insight as to whether a formal bike fit is worth the cost. I know what it means to have a bike that doesn't fit correctly and would like to avoid that mistake again. I tend to ride once or twice a week between 30-60 miles at a time. I plan to work up to 100 miles.


Today, I wandered into Bike Effect, a high-end cycling shop in Santa Monica, CA to look at bikes. Before they'd even show me any, they took all kinds of measurements. Through the process, they helped me understand some things I noticed on various test rides, but couldn't explain why. For instance, I prefer frames with race geometry even though I'm an endurance rider. Though I didn't know why before today, the technician observed that my ratio of inseam to body height is a little lower than average. This helped explain why I tend to feel cramped if the handlebars are too close or too high up. To me, this is a level of insight that I doubt I could have gotten any other way.


But what helped convince me that the bike fit may be worthwhile is that they'll do the initial measurements BEFORE I get the bike, and even review various frame geometries from brands they don't carry to assist in the purchase decision. Then, when I do buy the bike, even from somewhere else, I can bring it there for the rest of the fitting process. At least that's how I understood it.


So my basic question is this: Is bike fitting, even for a weekend rider like me, worth the expense? Does it help you find more ideal frame geometry, then give you a fit that you notice and appreciate over time?