Choosing The Right Type Of Bike - A Bike Fitters Honest Opinion
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- čas přidán 12. 05. 2024
- Road, Gravel, Cyclocross, Endurance, what's the right bike choice for you? Bike Fit James explains the differences.
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simple man of the internet knows if we see bike fit james we press like
true, but no more bikefit tuesdays tho...
Definitely. Like after about 5 seconds from the start of the video.
Agreed!
Agreed
it's not a Tuesday, but i'll always welcome a video that has James talking about bike fits
Today is Tuesday where I am from 🇵🇭
I really like James' videos. As I'm getting older (47), I'd be really curious to see a video where he focuses on bikefit for older people, or people with herniated discs, a bit of a hunchback, etc. Typical slight deformations and the loss of the flexibility of the body. Yeah, and the upper body mass...
As a Czech I am glad you mentioned Festka, though I personally am partial to custom titanium bikes.
Those are nice-looking bikes!
Nice looking bikes but the cost will average 8k to 12k euro. Even more for USA customers. That's top tier money the average person couldn't afford :( @@JamesBriano
Interesting stuff, I had a custom bike build back in the 90s and am not that convinced on custom builds. That said, I'm also happily ride my CX bike for 4hours on the road, on mtb trails and on what I assume are gravel routes. It's a bike, ride it.
I would love somebody to talk about touring bicycles. Bicycles that are meant to be comfortable for a long days ride while carrying panniers- ones that are good for a bit of crushed limestone or gravel, especially.
Adding to this - and meant for NORMAL people who are just out for a weekend or week long ride somewhere. With all the bike trails opening all over the world for bicycles for LEISURE, knowing what bikes that are comfortable and sturdy enough for that is good to know.
Bonus would be if it was also good for smaller people - women specifically. It's ridiculous that for an average height woman, that most things are too big/long for me to ride comfortably.
Check out Decathlon range. They are heavy cows but very good bang for Buck.
Plus 50mm clearance
Can't go wrong with a VSF too.
Nobody talks about them because they are big cows not pleasant to ride outside leisure pace or loaded down
You probably want a gravel bike with bolts to mount stuff. A bike fitter can probably recommend a frame your size. If you're tech savvy, direct from China frames are an option, I've built 9 such bikes. Asians are short, which means you can find tiny frames. Chinertown forum is a great resource.
This post should be at the top! Touring bikes is what every normal person should be on. It's the ultimate endurance type bike. Having both a touring and an endurance bike the touring bike EASILY takes the cake for comfort and function!
@@bonbonflippers4298 I have both a touring bike and gravel bike, and I almost always use the gravel bike for everything, even light touring. The touring bike (Surly Long Haul Trucker) is a perfectly decent bike, comfortable, impossible to break, and you can carry a lot of stuff on it, but it's a bit boring to ride, and very heavy.
I'll be riding my cyclocross bike tomorrow with cantilever brakes. Wish me luck! Gravel bikes weren't a thing when I brought it.
I don't know how you're going to survive this without disc brakes... You absulute madman! Kudos for your boldness, staring death in the face without flinching!
Franky I don't know how all aren't dead from racing and riding on canti's for so many years.
Always a fan of a video that James is in! Can you ask him to do a video about reading bike geometry tables? What the different aspects of the geometry table mean and how this affects this fit? Ie) based on the geometry table this bike is more race oriented type thing… sounds like it’ll be dull but I think a lot of people including myself don’t know how to read a geometry table so would be good to know what we’re looking at! Thanks and keep the vids coming!!
there three main figures in bike geometry that you have to consider: ETT, Reach and Stack. Ratio of Stack:Reach = shows if bike have racing geometry, or, for example, endurance.
Very clear descriptions, and the most valuable point he makes is how racing bikes are not suited to most people, since we are not young, light, or agile. Also, as we get older, our tolerance for bumps and vibration decreases.
Everyone can get those qualities and with less effort than most people think. Folks get overweight, stiff and feel older than they actually are (low test and the like), because they get comfortable in their middle ages and generally can't be arsed anymore. At 42 I am more lean, muscular and flexible than what I was at 20. Regular stretching takes only just 15 mins. daily. Everybody can find 15 mins. every day to do that, but that requires getting off the arse. But yes, his point about bespoke made frame sets as the best solution in every way possible is very true.
@@82vittThis is absolutely true. And while nowhere near as effective as stretching, even riding your bike more than just a weekend long ride helps a lot. I'm 41 and riding 12hours / week at the moment. My stack went from 30mm under my stem to completely slammed and 10mm longer. In my higher, shorter setup I used to get pain after 2 hours and needed to take breaks. Now I ride 4+ hour rides not needing a break unless I'm running out of food / water.
But yeah yoga / stretch / mobility will go a LONG way no matter what your age.
@@82vitt100% mate, stretching goes a long way. I was fitted for race geo in Dec ‘22. Jan ‘23 bought a bike upon my fitters recommendation but couldn’t get comfortable. June ‘23 I pulled my finger out of my arse and started doing the stretches and mobility exercises the fitter/physio provided. I can now ride in the drops for over an hour, no pain. Mind you, in 2022 I finally recovered from 4 disc herniations in my lower back.
But how do you deal with cramps 😂
Always good to hear James views on the bike industry.
I love, how James just needed to be interrupted for the ad.
This man really talks facts without a break. An I love it!
James (and Francis by extension) makes me want to take my wife across the pond for a couples's bike fit and subsequent purchase. James, carry on mate. You're doing the lord's work.
I have a Basso Venta rim brake bike. Carbon wheels, bars,stem, seatpost, Ultegra groupset. 7.5kg. Rides brilliantly. Basso are the best kept secret in cycling.
Yei!! more James please! James in the podcast too!
Super informative as always with James. Love these videos. I know which one I’d rather have too 😀
How many of us have £8000 for 1 summer custom bicycle? £2000😢 is closer to the mark 😂
Ya, I think I will go for the cheaper mass-produced bicycles
I ride my KONA SUPERJAKE, pure Cx bike as a Gravel / Endurance Road Bike / Winter bike and I F*CKIN LOVE IT!!
My bike, which I got mainly because of 40mm tyre clearance, is marketed as both a CX and endurance bike! 🙃
@@AG-el6vt i just wish the Frame, which is Cx, would accept tires bigger than 45c hahaha
Great video and loved the footage of Iz King and her awesome orange kit
Question for James: Recently, I was watching a women's road race, and noticed that Gaia Realini (a tiny rider)'s handlebars were almost level with her seat, while I (an overweight, unfit and not flexible at all 201cm man) ride my addict RC with a good 10cm drop to mine. How does the rider size affect the final "appearance" of a bike fit, and how should the geometry of bikes have been scaled instead of what was done to keep the same experience for the whole scale of cyclists?
You guys keep talking about comfort, endurance geometries which is a topic I’m very interested in. I have purchased late last year my very 1st endurance road bike, and after months of careful consideration, I opted for a lesser known brand that had an unbeatable price/quality ratio - the Czech brand Superior.
Could you guys, one of these days, provide an overview of the options available outside the typical big seven brands (Giant, Cannondale, Trek, Pinarello, Scott, Canyon, Specialized)??
That would be awesome!
As a future student that is trying to get and pay uni I suggest the triban rc500-520 and to buy some gravel tires if you want to. I have put at least 1000k on it in these 3 months and have been bikepacking it is nice and. The only problems I had were with the disk brake s being contaminated and with changing the handle bars to one's that are more comfortable.I have put ~620$ into it and the different accessories (bikepacking bags 80$).
P.S.: The prices are translated from. The romanian RON, and yes, I got the bike on sale. I got it knowing that it will be on sale from a friend that works at Decathlon
Love these bike fitter vids!
I really like my Canyon Grizl. It’s a great adventure gravel bike and not too expensive.
The Bike Doctor, love this guy! 😊👍🏼
Eye opening comment about custom bikes. Thanks for the information Gentlemen! (And I use that term very loosely)
Totally agree. I don’t understand why anyone would buy a mid-top end Trek or Giant now when a custom bike is actually CHEAPER. I’m doing exactly this at the moment.
Spot on advice as usual. But there seems to be a plethora of videos on "nobody needs or should be riding a race bike unless you're in the world tour". As your typical middle aged bike fanatic with a garage full of bikes i've done some "science" to try an quantify/justrify owning a race bike. In the stable, i've got a TCR for fast group rides, hilly routes and racing. Also have a newer Domane which ive setup as my "fast gravel bike" with wider wheels and 38mm tires. Wanted to know if there really was a measureable difference between these bikes. I ditched the gravel wheel set on the domane and used the wheel set from the TCR on it to make sure it was apples to apples. Did the same short 35km loop with rolling hills (no big climbs more than a couple of minutes long to try minimize the weight difference) and averaged around 280 watts on both rides. Domane's time: 1:01:46..... TCR's time: 57:10. Same wheels , similar spec components, same kit and helmet both rides and the race bike was 4 minutes faster on an hour long ride. Did them back to back so conditions were similar in terms of wind speed/direction etc... We have a "wednesday worlds" local shop ride here and we'll bang out 100k rides after work and average 40ish km an hour usually. Choosing the endurance bike over the race bike for those rides would be the difference in being able to hold on for all of it or getting shelled out the back half way through. So coming from your typical/average middle aged man riding bikes, if you want to go fast, get the race bike.
Specialized Aethos with a bit shorter reach and bit taller headtube would be an absolutely awesome endurance bike and they would sell a ton (they already do, but I would guess even more)!
By definition the Specialized Crux is just that-a very slightly heavier Aethos with shorter reach and taller head tube……..
Cyclocross bikes on single track are way more lively, snappy, maneuverable and fun than standard gravel geometry.
All day rides, sure go gravel… but for quick, unplanned 60-90 minute rips on road, dirt, trails, etc… cyclocross geo is amazing.
That is a stretch. It's the same argument people on 26ers going "oh the 26 is way more poppy and agile than 29" when it's more to do with geo than wheel size (and at the same time ride their 26ers like stiff boards anyway. For all people's preference for "playful" bikes about 1 in 100 actually get their bike sideways to any degree).
Both bikes aren't "designed" for singletrack use and either will be plenty spicy for that use case - if not then go faster. If you happen to ride smooth very tight low speed singletrack than sure I can see how a CX bike would shine, but the majority of random offbeat singletrack just get off the brakes and the gravel bike will be faster and just as spicy.
Holy shit - whatever dude lol
It’s a noticeably different feel, less stable and planted, more under-biked and a steeper head angle… hence the thrill. And that’s why it’s being upvoted.
Simmer down
With you on that. I've only ridden a few gravel bikes admittedly but I prefer the feeling of light whippy CX bikes. It's just more fun. But then I've got no need for dropper posts or massive 2" tyres as I've got a MTB for that.
@@VendetaBrown Road bikes on single track are way more lively, snappy, maneuverable and fun than standard cyclocross geometry.
All day rides, sure go cyclocross… but for quick, unplanned 60-90 minute rips on road, dirt, trails, etc… road geo is amazing.
I've got a Giant Contend AR2! It's definitely an endurance bike but it rides really nice and responsive. Feels pretty quick when I put the power down too. Just wish it had a standard seatpost.
I believe the Contend is the alloy version of the Defy which is on the racier end of endurance.
Great all round bike at an affordable price. I ride the AR1 and it's brilliant
Nice review. You forgot to talk about drop bar mountain bikes like the classic Salsa cutthroat specifically made for bikepacking trail like the tour divide ! A Nice beefed up gravel bike
Currently been considering going with endurance and using it as a mixed gravel and road by having two sets of wheels.
Pearson1860 Forge is sold as an aeroish 'race' bike with short reach and tall stack. I just looked at the geo chart, and it's 337 mm reach with 540 mm in size 1 (XS?) That's shorter and taller than the Pinarello X James recommended in the endurance bike video.
The most unaerodynamic thing about a bike by a massive margin is the rider. If the bike puts you in a relatively upright position, you can forget about aero to start with.
Surprised James did not mention the Look 765 optimum and Vanmoots 33 as bikes with more endurance geometries. Festka is a great bike though. Bought one from James some years ago now. I am tempted to have another.
Question for James: Are gravel bike geometries generally more slack and tall vs endurance bikes? Or are they endurance bikes with bigger tire clearance?
Great info !
That was good vlog as far as it goes but mountain bikes, hybrid, touring...? Bikes that are flat bar? A follow-up vlog on these would be great and offer a more complete picture.
I still have a CX bike because I used to race CX a lot, but now that I mostly ride mixed road/gravel the fit is kinda getting to me. I don't really want to replace this one, though.
I disagree with custom frames. You just have to find an off the shelf frame that fits you. The issue seems to be that Bike Fit James doesn't sell a wide enough range of standard frames.
One thing I have always wondered when considering a custom bike is... it never seemed like a good idea for someone in my age group (45-55) whose position and riding will be going through changes as I naturally age to spend the money on a custom bike that may no longer work/fit a few years down the line... is it better to buy an off the shelf bike, ride it for a few years, get another fit, sell that bike and purchase another based on my fit... ride... repeat as I change? I can see a younger aged person being able to ride the same geometry for many years say from 25-40 or so... and possibly even an older aged person from 65-onwards whose position may have settled into what their body can do but working in a bike shop I see several people coming in with custom framesets being built that I wonder if they will still be enjoying the position in a few years... it seems like a bad age area to get it... but funnily enough it seems to be the most popular age for custom frames... because by that age people have the disposable income, the time and the love of cycling... (and also a lot of one-upmanship/bragging rights in local cycling clubs)
They can probably bake that evolution in the geometry by using shorter stems over time or something.
Q for James - treks boone cx bike has nearly the exact geometry as my H2 fit emonda alr. Was thinking of getting the boone as my road and gravel bike as an upgrade. Am I missing something?
Thoughts on the Domane AL 3 gen 3? Upgrading from a Specialized Allez which is between 10-20 years old.
Thanks Francis and James....If I had the money , Moots ! Be well .
Hello!!
What do you think about the Ceepo Mamba R?
It's supposed to be an all around bike (tt, aero, gravel). I'm thinking about getting one as an amateur triathlete.
I’m one of those long leg short torso riders you mentioned and the endurance bike is the only real bike of choice for me. That said I miss my TCR’s handling, just not the fit so a custom bike sounds quite appealing.
I just got a Chinese frame, I'm 184 with 81cm saddle height. Size M. Uber comfortable and fast when I make the effort to be aero. It's a revelation. I've always had bikes that were too big just because I'm tall.
Doesn't the newest supersix evo also blur the lines? At least the geo looks bit more chill than your normal racebike as far as I see?
Luv James, he knows the 'deal 👍
doesnt the bassos astra have a longer effective reach than their racing bikes due to the longer stem? (384+100 vs 380+110 in size 53) or is this offset by the higher stack (560 vs 575)?
Bike sizing suggestions from generic road bike formulas for me:
True Inseam Length - 56 cm
Height - 59 cm
Torso Length - 62.5 cm
The generic programs on most manufacturer sites throw an error because I'm outside the 2.0 - 2.2:1 height to true inseam ratio range.
A Cyclecross bike is the polar opposite of what I need.
To many people pick a bike and then select a size based on just their height or inseam. It may be an awesome bike, but through no fault of it's on absolutely wrong to ever fit you.
Question for James, what's your opinion on the Kinesis range? I've been riding the Kinesis rtd and find that seems to fit the bill nicely between comfort and still feeling fun to ride.
What is James's opinion of the Vitus Venon Evo as it seems to be winning all the awards but was not mentioned in his Edurance video last week
While most racing bikes offer poor customization options, there are a couple of exceptions, Simplon with its Pride II being one of them. There are apparently several options for the stem and the handlebar width. Not sure how much that makes the bike more suitable for amateurs though.
Cade found a way to outsource all his work😂
What about the Canyon endurace? It goes up to the CFR line with 7.3 kg and no savings in material compared to an ultimate cfr
I love my SuperX for riding everything, super versatile
Another cracking insight from James 👍
What would be a rough price for a custom titanium gravel bike please?
I also would be interested in hearing that.
Hi james and francis, love the bike fit videos as always.
question.
After subsequent bikes and bike fits I've settled on the Canyon Endurace 7 and to date it is the best fitting bike I've owned.
Problem I'm having now though is I've moved to a hilly area and on the descent I don't feel the bike is as stable as my previous bikes with a more race geometry (Allez Sprint and Merida Scultura)
The front just feels a bit twitchy on the Canyon (stem is 80mm)
Is there a any tweaks in geometry that are possible or is this a consequence of my position being more upright on an endurance frame?
If they respond, they're gonna say go for a bike fit I can imagine! If it's more twitchy I can only assume the wheelbase is the biggest factor in this. I think anything you do will have minimal impact unless you can extend the wheelbase.
@@jesmondo5785 I've had many bike fits and my bike does fit. I'm looking for what metrics would help downhill stability.
I'm also quite happy for a bike upgrade or n+1
@@hockysa wider bars I think would help, thinking of it, or at least flared so can descend on drops where it's wider
@@jesmondo5785 i have been considering a flared bar. this might be the perfect excuse
@@hockysa I love a little flare, mine are pretty subtle. But definitely more ergonomic, even if I went full race bike I'd have a flare I think
love this guy
I bought an endurance bike (Scott addict 30) and as you said, it is a bit boring, what can I do to make it more exciting. I was thinking, TPU inner tubes and new and slimmer tires, what else?
Surprised that there was no mention of the Cervelo Caledonia which is quite a popular bike at the edge of the endurance range.
What will help me get my groceries faster? Currently on a 3x8 alu cannondale? No ebikes or flat bars.
I’m no spring chicken but have no issue fitting on to my Tarmac SL7. Just because you have made it past 40, doesn’t mean you have to ride in a sit up and beg position, it comes down to personal condition. The great thing about all these blurred lines bikes is that you are guaranteed to find something that is right for you, just do a bit of research as to what you want to achieve and go for it.
The SuperSix EVO has roughly the same geometry as a BMC Roadmachine
And?
Can you do this kind of video for Mountain bikes?
How much taller and closer is the headtube on an endurance bike than a race bike, on average? 1cm? 3-4cm? 6-8cm?
True word about prices especially specialized 😅
Question for James: I had a bikefit a couple of years ago and my Canyon Ultimate is set up for me. So, definitely not a custom bike, but the bikefitter told me that this should be a nice fit for me. If I would buy a gravelbike in the future, are the measurements from my bikefit relevant? If I set it up to those measurements, will the geometry of the bike turn out to be the same as my racebike? Or do you advise separate bikefits for different types of bikes?
I have both. They ride different. But stack and reach are from the bottom bracket so you can probably use the same fit, that's what I did.
James: what do you think about the new Giant Defy?
Which models of race bike have gotten more aggressive over the years? Trek abandoned its H1 geometry/fit. Cannondale's SuperSix has gotten progressively taller since 2010. The Cervelo range has never been aggressive.
What would you recommend for a 6'3" 120kg 60 year old who wants to start doing Audaxssss?
And I'm skint...
Any throughts on gravel bikes like rose backroad that looks like a race bike, but with wide clearance?
does surly cornerbar worth spending money to transfer hybrid scott sub cross 50 in to more "road/gravel" bike with "drop bars"?
Yes.
If the industry wants to invent 20 more categories of bike, we can always fight back with a (clunkier) hybrid.
Fight the power.
I'm building a Surly midnight special. Steel frame all road bike. Custom is best but unaffordable for the masses.
Giant Defy used to be an endurance bike. As of 2024 it now seems to be a race bike. I will now buy something else to replace my old defy.
I'll say... the newest cdale supersix is actually a surprisingly comfortable geometry for what the bike is.
It is probably nowhere near what James is mentioning as good examples but compared to other racy bikes, it has a lot more stack and the reach isn't that insane.
I've learned SO MUCH by listening to James, BUT this is where I disagree on CX bikes...
For example...when I compared the geometries of my 2018 Crockett to a 2018 Emonda H1, the geometries are very similar with the Emonda being obviously racier and more nervous, by the numbers. I get the same thing when I compare my 2019 Macho King Ace to a 2019 Zig Zag, and the numbers are even closer.
I would say comparing "traditional" tall and short CX geometry, go with an endurance road or gravel bike, but with some of the more"modern" CX bikes geometries, the lines are blurred.
For full transparency....this is something I've been kicking around in my head for quite some time. I'm not a roadie and don't, at the time, need a speed weapon "optimized" for road. Am I fooling myself here?
You're not fooling yourself. You're very right about the geometries and the lines being very blurred.
@TheBRad704 Thanks, man. That was the second time that I've heard James say that, and it sits wrong with me. The comment that I typed above has actually been sitting in my drafts because I decided not to post it in a cycling thread a few weeks ago. Didn't want to confuse the OP as they were new to cycling.
@@aybee69 Sits wrong with me too, as I've got a 2019 Crockett, a 2020 Boone, 2022 Madone SLR and had a 2020 Emonda SLR H2... And I swear the Crockett is the best of the bunch for anything except pure road racing. But I'm also a very average 6'2" person with average arm/leg/torso proportions, so 58cm off the shelf fits me on just about every brand.
@TheBRad704 That's a REALLY nice stable, and your experience/comparisons is what I've been looking for. Thanks for that! I'm pretty average at 5' 9', and my 54cm alu crockett (x2) fits and feels so good that I'm looking at possibly selling off All City.
Drop bar touring bikes?
Would love an answer on what gravel bike(s) would be suitable for different body shapes and sizes e.g. what to look for if you're a 175cm guy with short inseam (76cm) AKA avg height short legs. Please don't just say "bike fit"... would like to look at brands and options before really dialling it in.
How come the GEL50 is not available on the Styrkr website?
Plenty of Williers, Pinarello and Basso's were plenty flexible back 10 years ago. Although the American brands like Lynskey and Allied build great bikes too. I just don't like Italian carbon and Campag. I see it too much in the workshop flexing all over the place and Campag changes like a proper chonk. Sram and Shimano are leagues ahead.
this has me thinking as I just purchases a canyon ultimate over and endurace, but I am 6-0 with a 6-4 swing span and figured the short and tall was not the right direction. yea I am an orangutan. Always end up on a 61cm in fits over the recommended 58.
Fianlly someone mentions the astra, its is a godly bike, its a perfect fit for me, it is sooo good
Styrkr gel50'ies are not in the eshop just yet :(
Whats your opinion of the Orbea Orca m30 2024 🙄?
I would like to find out, based on Reach and Stack, where is the boundary between a racing bike and a bike for endurance
Fist like?
How about the BMC Roadmachine 01 for an Endurance ‚performance‘ bike, James?
5:14
aye very good, but who has 8k to spend on a custom bike? Can you get a decent custom build for around 5k?
I got myself a Silex,Size S , I'm a massive 5'7,100kg, hopefully this daily commute and weekend Tour de France cosplaying will drop these kilo's over the coming months 😶🌫️
Trying to find a bike as someone in mid twenties 230 pounds who rides mostly flat paved trails is quite overwhelming
I still wish they just made the Specialized Aethos with Roubaix geometry. Would've been as close to a perfect bike as a consumer would want!
James needs to look into Bastion bikes
Very interesting to hear about bespoke carbon frames. So Italy still knows how to make these, it's not all gone to China? Would love to hear more
My scott speedster was boring. Removed a spacer its fun again 😂
How does the Vittoria Aggaro compare?
Well... an interesting method to make look like £8k bike cheap :) :) I will personally would not have either of them. Is it too much to ask to be able to ride a good bike for £2k? (Which in my opinion is still plenty of money for a BIKE!)
I love my ultimate.
Yeah its Tuesday on a Monday! :D
Video of what James rides would be interesting
I feel like this idea of race bikes being inappropriate for every single customer is way overblown. If anything, race bike geometry is very often compromised to make them more suitable for amateurs, and pros end up with -17 degree stems, and/or sizing down and using a very long stem. A dedicated amateur who is reasonably fit, trains regularly and wants to go fast (be it on actual races or just for fun) can definitely use a race bike without issues.
And of course, a bike fitter doesn't see a representative sample of the cycling population. First of all, people who are uncomfortable are way more likely to visit them than people without any major issues, which just on its own invalidates the argument. And this also seems like a pretty high end shop, which will attract wealthy customers, who will likely be older than average more often than not.
I don't mean to argue that racing bikes are ideal for everyone, but pretending they don't fit anyone is just absurd. I mean, pros are pros mostly because of their massive aerobic capacity, but that doesn't automatically give them extraordinary flexibility as well. Some have great mobility and are able to ride very extreme positions, and some just don't, and it's the same for amateurs (just a lot slower).
What kind of bike material would James recommend for heavy people? ex: I'm just over 300lbs. I went with an aluminum frame/carbon fork Trek Domane for fear of destroying my full carbon specialized Roubaix.