jaetheworld

I am planning to purchase my first road bike soon, and I think getting a good fit is very important. I don't know if I should go to a shop that includes fitting with purchase, get fitted first and then buy the bike, or purchase a bike and then get it fitted afterward. My goals are in order:
1. get a good fit that will prevent injuries
2. spend the least amount of money (hopefully around $1000 for everything including fit)
3. get the best bike possible

Any advice is appreciated, especially if you know of good shops to look at. Thank you.

Jesse

DiabloScott

Do you have any special issues like pain or inflexibility or leg length discrepancy?

If no, just buy your bike from a store that does a good fit with the purchase. The super deluxe fittings are for people with special needs or elite athletes.

If yes, get the best raw fitting you can afford and find a bike to match after.

gpelpel

I second DiabloScott's input.

I doubt the original fit will be your last. First get the proper bike size according to your morphology; any good bike dealer should be able to do it for free. This standard raw fitting is a great start but you will surely micro tune it after a month or two of riding depending of your fitness and riding preferences.

To help you find your bike size I like the Fit Calculator from Competitive Cyclist, it has always worked well for me:
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...LCULATOR_INTRO

jaetheworld

I live in Sacramento but frequently travel to San Francisco and Berkeley, so I'm very flexible about what shop I go to.

Do you have any recommendations where I can get a good price and an accurate initial fit?

I'm currently riding a mountain bike with road slicks on it, and get some pain in my left knee after riding for a while, so I know there's the potential for pain with an improper fit.

gpelpel

In Berkeley you have Wrench Science. They offer a wide range of high end bikes. They also have a website with a fit calculator in addition to info about the bikes they sell. A couple years ago they gave me a quick measurement session for free when I stopped by to view some frames. They seem very knowledgeable. Even if you are not in the high end market it could be a treat just looking at their offerings and pick their mind in the process.

https://www.wrenchscience.com/

Beaker

As much as I like the idea of wrench science, I don't think the OP will find anything there for $1,000.

I'd consider Mike's Bikes as a start point. For your price point they have a Cannondale Synapse or Specialized Allez Elite that could work

Synapse: https://mikesbikes.com/product/12cann...7-130132-1.htm

Allez: https://mikesbikes.com/product/11spec...ct-75104-1.htm

BUT.....if this is your first road bike, then consider the budget for extras, so that would include a helmet, some bike shorts (or bibs), a pump, repair kit, a jersey. Without considering clipless pedals, I'd think you could easily need $300 for that lot too.

Broid

I would HIGHLY recommend Gebhard at Veloro in Redwood City, outstanding shop and great service, both sales and fitting.

https://www.veloro.com/

gpelpel

Good points. I hadn't seen the $1000 budget. +1 for Mike's Bike, very friendly people in both the Walnut Creek and Berkeley stores.

JoelS

If you're in Sacramento, make the trip up to Folsom Bike. They include a pretty solid basic fit with every bike purchase. It's a great shop to boot, with very good mechanics. I'm there a lot.

metalheart44

Folsom Bike is a good option, so is VIctory Velo in Auburn .... There are some good fitter options in the Sac area also, but probably the best route is to first get a good general idea of what you need and what possible sizing/fitting accommodations might be necessary for your body. I started riding again in the summer of 2010 and had similar thoughts to yours. I first went to almost every bike shop in the area and one of the first shops suggested I should ride a 56cm bike. That is what I test rode. I ended up buying a used 57cm bike. After riding some, I did a fitting with a local shop and that resulted in changes to stem and bars and riding position. After about a year I decided I wanted a bike more suited to my present and future riding and I bought a custom frame. The fitting for that frame resulted in something more in the 54 cm size with a shorter seat tube and taller head tube to accommodate my longer torso and shorter legs ... If I had it to do over again, I would find a shop with a KNOWLEDGEABLE fitter who can ensure you are at least on the right size frame, then as you ride more and know what is and is not working for you, then maybe a full on professional fit would work. A friend did a fit with Tony at Bicycle Odyssey in Sausalito and I was impressed ... it is also a great bike shop to browse in.

3alarmer 

They do fittings at City Bicycle, Mike's, Steve Rex's place on E Street......to name a few.

If you have a chance, stop by the Bike Kitchen some Saturday when I'm working and
I will try to share with you what you need to know. We do not do fittings, nor do we
sell new bikes, but many of our guys are relatively knowledgeable, and the price is right.

Honestly, if this is your first road bike, you do not yet know enough about how, where,
and what you prefer to ride to benefit from a professional fitting. Additionally, your
needs and desires will change as you ride more........so IMO you can start out pretty
simply with a ballpark estimate and fine tune it as you get more experience.

RoboCheme

At Mike's Bikes, they do a rough fitting to basically pick out the frame size. Then they have you come back a month or two later after you've settled in and do the real fitting. That takes about 45 minutes.

Rushfan

Mike's Bikes and City Bike Works have frequent sales. Might make sense to find out when the next one is to save some cash. Also, you're likely to get more attention if you spend your money in one shop, so I suggest finding some place with bikes you like and a fitter you're comfortable with at the same shop.

On the ride this weekend we were discussing bike fitters locally. I'm very happy with the service at Wheelworks in Davis but the bikes they stock might be out of your price range. Another guy had great things to say about Steve Rex in Sacramento.