alxra

I was looking for a new bike,and checked out the major LBS's in Dallas. Here's my experience:

When approached by the personnel, my opening line was, "I'm looking for a new road bike and my requirements are not off the shelf. I'm 5'10" with a 31in. inseam, long torso and short arms. I'm basically a giant midget. I want the best value, and my budget limits me to $1200+/-." The responses I got were as follows:

Shop #1 - "You probably need a 54in frame and a sloping top tube, neither of which I have, so check out the Giants at XXX bike shop and come back here for the accessories." (I'll come right back guy because you care)

Shop #2 - "You need a custom fit frame, but try this bike from this Canadian Mfr. for $1999 because it fits people better with your dimensions." (thanks for staying within 66% of my budget)

Shop #3 - "A 54in frame will fit you fine, and this bike here is the one Lance A. rode when he had to buy his own bikes. As long as you have an inch of room when you stand over the frame, your good." (Don't put any more thought into it or your head will explode my friend)

Shop #4 - "That's exactly my build, and I ride a 56in frame, so try this one, since it's on sale." He put me on a 56in frame, slammed the seat all the way forward, and the seatpost almost all the way down, and suggested I go with a 90cm stem. It was never comfortable because the frame was too big. (I'm sorry I couldn't help clear your inventory)

So, on the verge of giving up, and not having trust in any of the shops I visited, I took what I learned on this forum, test drove several friend's bikes to double-check comfort and bought a bike off ebay. I received the bike yesterday and put a stem length on the bike that would acommodate my long torso/short arm/short leg scenario. It's funny, but when you look at what the pro's ride, they all go with smaller frames and REALLY long stems (ex. https://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2005/probikes/)

I could not be happier with the route I've taken (so far). If I was a trust-fund baby, and didn't have to work for a living, I would've gone to 4 more shops, but I live in the real world.

I know, I know, "you should've gone to blankety blank LBS." I promise I went to the shop you want to suggest and the above is what I got back. I've concluded that if you have the slightest bit of knowledge, and technical aptitude, the LBS has little to offer. Hey, I gave 'em a chance.

cjbruin

No problems here. As long as you got what you were looking for...including a good fit...I don't care how (or where) you did it. Don't listen to the criticism. Those of us who live in the real world applaud you!!!

alxra

Hey thanks, and I applaud you and everyone who really understands this post. After talking to many of my buddies, this is a rough facsimile of many must deal with. At least we're resourceful enough to get the most for our dollar. It's the 2000's, so every dollar counts.

TheDTrain

The LBS I went to was so helpful to a total noob. Spent more than an hour fitting me for free and letting me test the bike.

Then I bought a Fuji, 4 days later, came back and exchanged for a Felt for $100 extra no problem.

dekalbSTEEL

I think the pro's long stems have alot to do with getting into a perfectly flat-back position, which, from my experience, most of us normal guys probably can't or don't need to achieve


Congrats on the new ride. Do you have a link to the ebay auction so we can see it?

KeithA

I think you did just fine. Glad you weren't an excess inventory vacuum.

By the way and sorry if I missed it, what did you end up with?

shimanopower

lol, funny post... good read

alxra

DTrain, I'm glad your reality was not my reality (for your sake of course).

That Felt is sweet. Felt and Giant are neck-and-neck in the race for value/performance these days.

alxra

I agree with regard to the positioning, etc. I guess I was just venting about the salesperson trying to put me in an oversized frame with practically no stem, and no seatpost.

I got a '05 Tarmac Comp, BTW. I don't have pics yet, but I'll dig up the link. I've seen someone get a better deal, and someone get a worse deal on ebay. I'm in the middle.

Oh, if that's you in pic, VERY COOL!

alxra

Keith, I ended up with an '05 Tarmac Comp, fully stock components.

fmw

Every LBS in our area is like the ones you visited with one exception. The exception sells bikes aimed at a somewhat lower end than what appeals to me so I would have to order anthing anyway. I use them for whatever repair work I can't do myself and I buy parts and accessories there. I built my own bike to get what I wanted.

Doggus

wtf is a trust fund baby?

Longfemur

When you have unusual proportions, it's never going to be easy being fitted on a production bike, no matter what LBS you go to. After a number of ill-fitting bikes, I gave up on off-the-shelf bikes and had a frame custom-built. Of course, it did cost me about twice what you paid, but so what, bikes aren't expensive when you compare their value to other consumer products like big screen TVs, digital cameras, etc.

alxra

Generally speaking, a trust fund baby is someone who won the DNA lottery and was born with a multi-million dollar trust fund, and does not have to spend time during the week working in a job. In the context I used it above, this person has all the time in the world to go to every bike shop within a 100 mi radius to find the right personnel. I don't have that kind of time, and I'd rather burn colories riding a bike instead of bike shopping. In fact, looking at my love handles, I need to burn calories riding a bike instead of bike shopping.

alxra

Fred, that bike you just built is awesome. I thought very seriously about doing the same thing, but for what I wanted, and the frames/components I could find, the cost always seemed to move out of my reach.

Zouf

Sounds like my recent experiences.

Shop #1: "I only have Medium, and a bare frame at that. Try it on the road? Well, I'll see if the rep wants me to. Ah, no. I can order one for you? Ah, yes, if I order one, you have to buy it. Oh, don't worry, it will fit."

Shop #2: "No, no road test. See, who want to buy a used bike? So it gets out of here, it's not new anymore, see? But I can fit you on this (too small) size here, it'll be great!"

Shop #3: "I have no stock, I can order for you, and of course you have to buy once I order. Road test? Test the one you buy - after you've bought it! Oh, I forgot, I'm closing shop in a month, so between when you order and when I receive the bike, I'll be out of business - so I guess we should make that deposit as high as we can!"

I love this business: the stores have all the arguments to make sure we stick to our current bikes, and save some money for retirement.

7rider

I hate to be stickler, but you can be a trust fund baby without winning the DNA lottery. Regarding looks, you've won the lottery if your parents are Brad Pitt and Angelie Jolie, but you've lost if you're the trust fund bastard baby of Aristotle Onassis and Leona Helmsley.

Booger

Wow. We should start a club! I'm a couple inches taller, but very similarly proportioned. I'm not alone in being a giant midget *tear*. Pants never want to fit right. It would make a great beer commercial.

I need a 58cm top tube (at least), but can't ride one without castrating myself. I currently ride a 56 with a 140 stem as a compromise. I think my next bike will have to be compact or custom. Let me know how your bike works out for you.