Is Your Bike Your Drug? How about this custom paint in a pill design by Independent?
Gran Fondo Recommends Buying A Custom Bike If You Want It, Need It, Got to Have It
One of the number one questions we answer on a daily basis is "Do I really need a custom bike?" We love this question because it gives us a chance to do what we do best - help a buyer find the bike that is perfect for them!
The simple answer to the question above in statistical terms is that 90% of cyclists can be well-fitted and comfortable on a standard geometry frame. The key issues are having bike lines that offer a breadth of sizes (which we do), having an inventory with complete size runs in a number of styles (which we do), and having the fit system and expertise to determine each riders' perfect size and position (which we do).
Let's start out with bike lines and sizing. If you were buying a new pair of shoes, you would probably shy away from a brand sized Small, Medium, and Large. We all know that we will get a better fit with more precise sizing in smaller increments. Well, bikes are the same way. For example Bianchi Bicycles offers models in increments of one to two centimeters running from the petite 44 cm frame to the robust 63 cm model. Bianchi is highly unusual in that sizing can be offered on bikes in a $1,000 to $9,999 range in sizes 44, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, and 63. The beauty of these stock sizes is that a buyer can very affordably find a frame that would most resemble their custon size, perhaps saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The last thing that you want is to be a little tight on your bike because you were the person too big for the "Medium" and too small for the "Large".
Next in our list was having complete size runs in a variety of styles so that a buyer can touch , feel and ride their best fit and the expertise to refine them. At Gran Fondo, we like to start out by doing a complete measurement of a person shopping for a new bike. Even though our guys can probably size up most people walking in the door with a visual, we like to prove our expertise and doublecheck for each customer. Height alone is often not the best measure of fit as most of us have arms, legs, and torsos that factor into our sizing in individual and unique ways. We use bikefitting.com to produce a perfect road map of each buyers' optimal size and position on a bike, factoring in fitness, flexibility and physical limitations as we go. After we see what we think you need, we like to pull out several choices for you in your price range, pop the bike in the trainer and let you see how it feels. With a variety of fit variables to tweak (stem length, bar position, setback, crank arms, etc.), we can generally insure that you will be comfortable on a bike before you ever head out the door for a test ride.
So, we run through the process above and find that you do need a custom bike. Perhaps you have a torso that is particularly short or long, you are limited from a past injury, or you just want to choose everything about your bike - what happens next? CHOICES, CHOICES, CHOICES...
We offer custom bikes to fit every buyers' particular concern. Want the finest in handmade Italian or Spanish craftsmanship? Let us set you up with a work of art by Tommasini, Casati or Orbea. Feel the need to ride American made? You'll find nothing better than the offerings of Independent Fabrication or Moots. Want to split the difference and choose everything possble about your bike but not quite cross the threshhold to custom geometry? We can use Orbea's Made to Order website to offer the best in "semi-custom" at an affordable price.
The bottom line - at Gran Fondo, we can sell you the perfect bike for you - based on your build, your budget, and your dreams.
