Pro Bike Fitter's 9 Most HATED Bikes
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
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Francis, dunno if you're reading this, but I really appreciate all the content with James. As someone who got into cycling only a year ago, your videos with him have been a great help for me. It's refreshing to see someone cut through all the bullshit in this industry. Cheers.
Thank you James for speaking on these terrible womens bikes. Just make bikes in smaller sizes. I'm 4'11 and small bikes are so hard to get. Short people rarely sell their bikes b/c of this, and brands seem to only make a handful. Its so frustrating b/c the bikes are always sold out in my size.Currently I'm sitting at 10 bikes. Yes I am hoarding bikes, and yes I have a problem. Good day
Islabikes, have a look
Canyon has a few bikes in 3XS, but they're always sold out, and they're only in a few options. Blood boiling.
Unfortunately that’s probably only going to get worse, at least in the US as the post bike boom contraction continues, all the brands we carry where I work seem to be cutting their smallest sizes. Trek isn’t doing 44/43cm road bikes in current gen models, Liv’s xs road bikes fit me at 5’2”, but there’s no xxs. Hoard those bikes!
@@r.8745liv make xxs in many models they’re just not sold in the uk for some reason, they are often for sale in Europe though. As much as James dislikes liv bikes they’re one of the few bikes that actually fit me with standover height often being a problem for me.
perhaps one custom frame would be better than 10 off-the-shelf? Back 20 years ago or more there was a women's specific brand in the US "Terry" that had a smaller (maybe 24 or 26 inch?) front wheel. Apparently, this was better somehow?. I could see that it might benefit smaller riders in terms of frame design but one would need to carry two sizes of innertubes etc. But female-specific t seems like pure marketing to me. I don't doubt that women need a different fit on a bike, but seems like a specific frame? And yeah, the colors tend more toward the purples and pastels.
Honourable mention to my own bike, the Canyon Grizl: a gravel bike designed for long bikepacking trips and ripping it on rough trails, yet they gave it the same geometry as the Ultimate, their traditional race bike, rather than the Endurace, their all day road bike. I'm lucky because the Grizl fits me wonderfully and as such I love it to bits, but it really doesn't make any sense to have given it race bike geometry given its stated purpose, and I can imagine that it's much too long and low for a significant portion of its riders.
Yeah something is off when my reach measures have me on a large mountain bike but, by their own calculations, I'm fit for a small grizl. I think Europeans are just masochists. I hate that American cars turned from something that was once comfortable and muted out the road noise (you could literally drive across the country without much fatigue) to shit that beats the fuck out of you because "connection to the road". No, I don't want to connect with the road, actually. My health insurance is too expensive as is.
I think the reason it’s just as long as the ultimate is, because you are supposed to run a short stem on it.
I know there are mentions of it running a shorter stem, but the stack for the given size is still small and that short stem adds to that problem because if you flip the stem, you can only go so high due to the short length to compensate for that short stack.
Really fun and lively bike but it was absolutely too race-y for me.
@@dougquesnel5613 Luckily you don't have to buy the bike and it still exists. My gravel bike is just as low and I'm glad it is.
@@chuckyfox9284 you are right but when things are advertised as endurance type bikes and they aren’t it can become frustrating is the point. Nothing wrong with racey bikes.
Appreciate your commentary on women's bikes, especially helpful to us small riders! Never letting go of my 3XS Canyon, I think I won't find a better fit out of the box
4:20 In regards to Liv sizing, Giant makes an XXS size EnviLiv but with Giant, it all depends on the distributor(Giant UK). For example, in Poland, we have an XXS size available and if needed you can get a model from a different area like Germany or France.
"it looks like a Fokker triplane" Oh man I love James' analogies 😂
For some reason i like how it looks. Something in me just wants to buy one. Even if it is crap. Just for funzies.
Real problem with it - you cant get different one if stock doesnt fit. Since it is one piece with a stem.
The Ribble Endurance used to have endurance geometry and the R872 (R for race) used to have race geometry, then for some reason they swapped them round. TBF i’m in my 40s and slightly overweight and I much prefer my old R872 with the race geometry to my bikes that are more upright.
Would you still recommend the Ribble bikes ?
Looking for a new bike and on a tight budget and seen one of their bikes in my budget
@@cybertonto72I've got the Ribble Endurance and love it. Really good bike and raced it from cat 4 to National B races. I know some people have issues with delays in delivery so make sure it's in stock first
I wrote a similar comment. Also in 40s. How long are you on your steed a time???? Couple hours max. Is for me. Maybe 2 hour 15 once a month. I like race geo when legs feel free not clogged lactic I’m happy
@@zzhughesdI’ve done plenty of 100km rides on it.
@@gavlptvbk8665 wow. Just shows. Yes most of us older riders play better on relaxed. Not all. Some. Maybe 1 in 5 or 1 in 10 still work well with speed set ups.
Great to see you both in action again
Jame's is brutal. He's also needed. The brand of bike not yet on the market, but should be: The Hype.
Since when is the simple, good old English name James* spelled with an apostrophe?!
Already exists- the honcho of the company is Kim Il Sinyard. The stickers on the downtube read S-WORKS. They should be available only with SRAM parts to complete the project.
I have experienced the rim brake in a dirty area effect on a folding bike, Riese & Mueller Birdy with 18" wheels. The brakes were naturally close to the ground. I rode it a couple of Km per week on some city gravel paths and dirty farm roads and it was amazing how filthy the V-Brakes braking mechanism got, and how quickly it got that way, and how much if affected the performance. I got so sick of cleaning and greasing them, that I had replaced the Vs with a set of Magura HS 33s which had the moving parts of the brakes relatively protected. It made a world of difference.
I absolutely agree with James @1:29. The industry doesn't make it easy or comfortable for the average consumer.
There's ppl who buy race bikes but put a full stack of spacers on it and short stem, so it defeats the purpose of a race bike pretty much.
This goes back to James’s point that manufacturers sizing is inaccurate. My Giant Defy is a medium but with hindsight I should have ordered a small.
@@michaelfisher9760absolutely! I bought a Giant Defy seven years ago, took me a few years to work out it was too big.
Really good content - and often very funny -unlike most of the bullshit we hear. Your criticism of the Specialized future shock is probably right, for most people. It will go wrong at some point and need to be replaced at great expense. BUT for those of us with wrist problems, it's a game changer. It enabled me to keep cycling with no pain. So it's worth it for me. Redshift stem on my gravel bike - same logic.
New cyclist and I’m really enjoying and learning from the James features. I wish he had an operation in NYC. Considering how informed, experienced and opinionated James is on the subject-when can we expect his first build to hit the market?
He's mentioned in another video that his shop builds custom bikes, so...if you have decent pockets, hit him up. 😅
Yep. The Ribble Endurance SL isn't an endurance bike. A staff member at Ribble advised me not to buy it for endurance rides & recommended the CGR for a lot more relaxed geometry.
James should checkout Time bicycles. Geometry wise, they are shorter reach and higher stack. + the production quality is far superior to all other manufacturers and manufactured in Slovakia. They also ride like a dream
Totally agree. I have a Time ADH 23 and it’s comfortable, feels fast and looks great and nothing too complicated on it
But that’s a completely different video
a time bike is my dream bike. would love to own one in the future, i hope they don't outsource and have the manufacturing somewhere else lol
@@aizins3420I don't think that's happening their big move was from France to Slovakia, they use some proprietary methods like their RTM so outsourcing won't be happening. I have a TIME Fluidity 2019 which I don't think they make anymore (has made in France rather than made in Europe on the top tube) and it rides a dream and I really wish they didn't start painting or painting more of their frame mine is a gorgeous raw carbon with a clear coat showing the beauty of their carbon.
They are also making an actual push into north america as well and not being so niche so you have time to save up and experience a Time
😂
@@aizins3420like the USA?😂
Honourable mention to the previous generation Systemsix which when used by EF with the Vision Metron integrated handlebar and stem required at least one spacer underneath because otherwise the back of the stem fouls the frame and you can’t steer the bike… That and the big unfinished hole in the headtube for the hoses to dive into. I’ve noticed they have sorted this on the new models though!
I owned a Merida with those rim brake callipers beneath the bb. As James said, the slightest bit of shite that got in there and they would stop working. Had a proper poo on chamois moment when descending and the week after I sold the bike 😂 great video though, good luck to the people that buy fully integrated cockpits!
Ridden my Roubaix for the last 5 years, sublimely comfortable and no issue whatsoever with the Future Shock - guess it works for me and appear to be well built (won Bike of the Year in Cycling Plus, can't be all that bad then I guess)
I've got a 2018 Roubaix as well, nothing to complain about in close to 10k miles other than the general longevity of the parts Specialized used. That said, I recently picked up a used 2016 Bianchi and it makes me wonder what all the "improvements" in recent years were about...
I have a 2021 Roubaix Sport and love it. It's so comfortable and fast with carbon wheels and GP5000 tires. I might upgrade the groupset to Di2.
@@norcalchrismeister Yep, the design is hard to beat when the aim is going fast in a straight line on less than perfect roads. I love that on pavé you can just go to the drops to get more weight on the suspension, which helps riding fast through them which is what you are supposed to do.
Same here. 2013 Roubiax. Ended up riding like a noodle with the 'Zertz' inserts breaking frame integrity. Zoom to a 2018.5 Roubaix. Solid and the Future Shock along with the Z seat post was a vast improvement. The first run had two issues: it used an actual hydraulic shock and the attachment point between the fork and the shock was made of the wrong material. Fixed both. Now I have a 2023 Diverge. Really great gravel bike.
@@norcalchrismeisterhave the same bike. Thinking about upgrading to 105 di2. Rode a lot of cobblestone roads with friends in Richmond, VA and it was definitely noticeable that my hands weren't shaking as much compared to theirs. It's a solid bike with some good wheels and tires. Can also do crushed gravel towpaths nicely.
Thank you so much for this video! I hope more cyclists see this and just not go out and buy a fancy brand bike rather than buy what's right for them.
I have the canyon grail and the bike doesn’t wobble and doesn’t require extra bar tape. The bearing top race is rubber and will fail in two weeks, but the bike doesn’t wobble and the bars are fine.
I have an aethos (sorry James) and I ride it with no spacers and a normal size stem. But until recently I had no idea it was considered long and low until I tried my mates BMC roadmachine. Still wouldn’t trade it for anything else though
The Bontrager VR-C shape is 100mm reach / the VR-CF is 93mm reach. The VR-SF is 75mm, which is the only bar they make that is not excessively long.
For the RSL Aero Road Handlebar on the new Madone, I believe that the narrower hood to wider drop width throws off the labeled reach measurement.
73-80 cm is about right.
my first bike is the ribble and got sucked in with the endurance bike ! regret it as i get neck pain issues :(
So, what are nine bikes that JAMES LOVES??? Particularly for taller riders, or at least AN OPTION?
ruclips.net/video/e8cNS36hhnw/видео.htmlsi=mWClQD52ORvqM-ds
How about best bikes for smaller women? (As long as they aren't all Pinarello)
I was wondering about the Aethos, too. Being a Roubaix rider, I would have seriously considered buying an Aethos, given how it uses all the compliant parts, had it been given the same geometry as the Roubaix. Oh BTW, Bike Sauce sells a kit that replaces the future shock cartridge. :)
He lost me when talking about servicing the future shock, and I love fs.
I always considered the Roubaix to be too tall, but making the Aethos cockpit dimensions identical to the new Tarmac was just stupid.
I would love to see his opinions about the cheap decathlon bikes and which one he would recommend. I ride the triban gravel 120 and I am really happy with it
on the roubaix I'd add in the fact that the future shock cartridge is not serviceable so you have to buy a new future shock cartridge from spesh...
The madone SLR prior to the newest one had issues with the iso speed mast developing lateral play and the bb90 system is a terrible idea.
"lets put a bearing straight into a carbon shell"... good one
One that missed the list is the new cannondale syanpse. on paper a great bike.... threaded bb, 27.2 seat post, no cables/hoses through the headtube... but then it all falls on its face. Its got a load of lights and batteries bolted to it that you cant remove and have to pay extra for. the light isnt even bright enough to ride at night and the battery isnt powerfull enough to rubn the front light, rear light and radar for a reasonable length of time.
I'd like to suggest the Simplon Pride II to James. The brand did the "cervelo" handlebar before cervelo and you can actually take it appart and adjust it without the necessity to replace the whole thing.
About the grail (I have one ^^): yes, this shock absorption stuff is marketing BS. And yes, replacing the handlebar tape is a nightmare (you can do it with one roll, but it needs practice and quite some force). But having the option between a very aggressive position in the drops and a quite relaxing position in the top is pretty awesome I have to say. Thats something a normal handlebar simply isnt able to combine. Also hooking your thumbs in feels nice and very secure. The looks though... I dont mind, but I understand if some people do ^^.
I started with Giant Revolt size S and in order to get the fit right I had to put 50 mm stem (clown emoji). Then I switched to Liv Devote and size S was almost as close to perfect as I could get where I live - I just had to change handlebars to 380 mm from 400 mm. But many female cyclists I know are shorter and more petite than me and it is so stupid that brand that builds their image around being "women-specific" is not an option for them. More honest line would be "tall women specific".
It seems the various bicycle brands would do well to hire or contract with a professional bike fitter as they conceive, develop and market their bikes to, at least, get their input.
I agree. Simplon for example is doing it this way. You can only get their bikes in certain stores with a partnership and usually in combination with a bike fit.
I don't think that's the problem. Its not that they don't know how to fit a bike to an average mortal. Its that average mortals want (and probably think they need) a race geometry. Its the same reason no one lines up frothing over a Honda Civic.
So glad he said that about the Ribble. I fell for their trap of "Endurance" bike. Much happier with my Trek
I love my Endurance SL disc but do sometimes wish I'd had the patience to wait for an R872 instead for the slightly more comfortable position.
@@neilwilliams3298 I’ve still got mine mate. Struggling to bring my self to sell it. It’s uncomfortable but it may be ok once I’ve lost weight. It’s just to aggressive for me right now
@@CyclingwithRuss sounds familiar. I've put on recently but did the 22 ride London 100 happily on mine at 95kg.
What woman really need in bike is the choice of handlebar width. My wife is pretty tall for a woman (169 cm) and she can use frame sizes 50-52, but she has very narrow shoulder width. She needs 36 cm handlebar, whereas the 40 cm that usually comes with frame size 50-52 is way too wide for her.
So question is, which ones did you like? My personal favourite is the Specialized Roubaix SL4 and Fax=ct 10R from 2015 with the zertz inserts
James hates Specialized.
And Giant.
And Cervelo.
And Bianchi.
And... everyone.
Except Pinarello. Handbag bikes, with unnecessary bumps and kinks (and weight) in the tubes.
Trek wasn't alone in putting a rim brake under the bottom bracket. I had a Kestrel Talon with the same design, and I still have a Specialized Shiv with the same design. A friend of mine has a Giant Trinity with the same design. That gunk collects on the brake cable and gums up the system is one criticism, but another is that the cable routing is so awkward that the friction is too high even when the cable is clean.
Has a GT mountain bike a 1984 model that the suntour rear brake was under the chain stay. The cable pulled on an hourglass metal plate, which would pull the pads to the rim. It was a nightmare to set up.
I always love listening to James. You can tell he is very passionate about his line of work! I noticed there weren't any scott bikes in the list...
I have 2018 Cervelo S3 which I had a bit of problem find a proper ride position. When I did bought that bike I didn't pay enough attention a geometry. Afterwards I noticed the seat tube angle was much different than my previous bikes. On that bike was a seat post with 25mm setback which set the saddle way too back so I decided to buy a seat post with 0mm setback and now it's much better.
Still suuuper thankful about all the bike fitting videos regarding small riders and especially handle bar width. I would've fallen into all the usual gravel bike traps otherwise.
I was about to press the button on a 56cm Aethos !! Now I’m in a quandary. I ride a 55cm Reilly Spectre with a 100mm stem which I love. I’m replacing a 54cm long n low Whyte Wessex with 100mm stem which gives me shoulder pain but other than that it’s a good bike. I fancied a change and Aethos I thought was the one ticking all of the boxes - I’m in a right quandary now - I’m 56 pretty fit but not 25 and riding every day. Help ! I’m 6ft 33cm inside leg and shortish torso so the late Mark Reilly said. He nonchalantly measured me on a simple jig and said you are a medium. I hire a 56cm Synapse in Mallorca and that always feels great…
JAMES! AETHOS HAS DIFFERENT GEO THAN TARMAC..Please check again
3mm shorter reach 10mm higher stack in size 58
The brake on trek Madones happened in 2013 and when in sunny weather & replaced with dura-ace are great!
Future shock 2.0 is "non serviceable" according to specialized
I disagree with the Roubaix in Idahowe have huge cracks in the roads and the headshock really takes the edge off the bumps. I love it
My wife has the Ribble Endurance SL and I couldn’t believe how aggressive the geometry was.
175cm, tarmac Sl6 size54. My BikeFitter said it was one size to big. He upped one spacer and fitted an 80mm stem and I already had a short reach specialized handlebar. I don't really like the twitchyness of the short stem. So I bought a 0mm offset seatpost (now 20mm) and will if a 100mm stem will work now.
JAMES: re- Aethos.
The reason middle aged men (like me) buy 'race bikes' is we love the handling. We WANT a Ferrari, not a fast saloon. So we don't WANT a Roubaix, the Roubaix has a longer wheelbase and slacker angles. We WANT a racy feeling bike, for FUN. You know, FUN? If there was a higher stack Tarmac, otherwise unchanged, great.
But there isn't.
We want the Ferrari. Not the fast saloon.
Simple.
This guy gets it lol.
Not everyone cares about buying a bicycle because you need it to perform a specific task.
We buy cool bikes because it’s cool. So that we can be ride a cool bike that 10miles to the cafe
It’s also why so many mtb-ers buy 180mm travel bikes, and then proceed to ride the blue line.
I love my aethos, I love my orbea aero, and I love my 160mm pivot switchblade that I use to ride the blue line.
He knows that, but he's a bike fitter.
If he was a car consultant he'd tell you you need a car that won't (a) knacker your back (b) provide a low platform that said knackered back makes you look idiotic trying to climb out of.
Unfortunately, the answer is an SUV, and they're ******** horrible.
I don't understand why there are so few quality stems with different angles, 0/6/12/17 is about it. Even on most race framesets now the pros use positive angle stems, and don't start me on the minimil range of bar/stem combos, for actuall fitting.
After buying a 61cm Cervelo RS in 2010 for all-day comfort, I ended up needing a -10x 130 stem for my 6'2" self. I recently moved to a -17x 130 stem for the RS but for my pandemic special 61cm RCA, I needed to find a -20 deg stem for the same position. A 225mm headtube, 5 more than the RS has. These last few days as I've checked what else is out there now, I've been hard-pressed to find many option with even 200mm on an XXL frameset! WTF?
Can we bring back death squads and line up all the big bike maker's promotions teams against a wall for a small cull? Maybe consumers are required to pay for the pro-team bikes, given that carbon frames sizes all cost so much to make? Does everyone think they need to ride a pros bike with their beer gut in tow? ;-)
I like this bike fitter. No bs, just straight facts coming from his years of experience as a bike fitter. 👍
I actually find the grails handelbar quite interesting. I guess it gives you a lot of comfort while on the middle of the bars.
The shock absorbing center section of the Grail's top section of bar has limited usefulness. When you are riding on rougher gravel roads, you want your hands in a wider position for best control. I find that it's better to be riding the hoods in those cases. The upper position is useful when you want to back-off-the-gas and vary your hand position and posture on longer rides. When you are in the drops, it is significant that the Grail's front end design gives you the posture of a road bike. So, when you are on paved roads, getting to the gravel, it's faster. The debate is this, do you really take advantage of the upper bar section enough of the time to justify a unique front-end design which prevents component swapping?
The first aero Madone was in 2013. The one thing Trek did get right was H1.5. they were just 14 years too late with it.
Agree on the Madone. Don’t get me wrong, it is a super bike and stupidly fast. However, and even though my model is 2019 with rear brake on top, when it is wet it gets dirty and doesn’t work smoothly (the rim keeps rubbing since the brake pad does not get back to 100% normal position)
Have a mechanic at your Trek dealer fix that. It's not difficult.
yeah, give the the 200€ for the full new brake since they do not sell separatelly the mini part causing the problem@@monkmchorning
What I also don't understand - considering the analysis of the typical road bike customer - is why 99% of road bikes out there make you choose between a 140mm and a 160mm front rotor. Personally I don't know anyone who wants to ride 140mm at the front (only some folks prefering 160mm front/140mm back).
It would add a tiny amount of weight to prepare current forks for the forces of a 180mm rotor setup, helping bigger riders getting a more suitable brake system and still allow everyone else to ride their 160mm front rotor.
completely agree, long reach leads to discomfort. I have no problem with the handlebars being quite low, though (is that just me or is that normal?). Question: Wouldn't it make sense to choose a frame size that's relatively small? That brings the handlebars closer to me (and allowes me to push the saddle back to take some weight off my hands) and by pulling the seatpost out I maintain my saddle hight and get into a low position.
A bike light, stiff, comfortble, fun to ride, but also fits well - so we are talking about Giant TCR
I am 5'6" with shot legs for a man. I luckily live here in Philippines where Chinese parts for smaller riders are easily found. I find a lot of the big bike companies don't have bikes that fit my size or even smaller men. Thanks for this. I guess we face the same problem as women.
thanks for the clear words on the Aethos and what the industry is doing WRONG for ever ... period
Absolutely agree with James regarding the Oltre! I love Bianchi bikes and love my XR4, but the latest Oltre is shockingly ugly! 👍
You often call the tarmac an agressive racing bike whereas i've always found its geometry on the less agressive side for a competition bike. My s-works SL5 size 58 has a head tube of 18.5 cm (which is not short by any standard) and horizontal top tube of about 57 cm, when I look at the endurace geometry, its very similar. Am I overlooking something here?
All good and appropriate observations! I've been looking at both the Aethos and Roubaix. Totally agree the Aethos geometry is too aggressive...it is a racing geometry for someone who doesn't use it for racing (otherwise he/she would get a Tarmac!). I really like the geometry of the Roubaix, but with todays wide rims and tubeless tires, the spring in the head tube is redundant. Keep it simple! if Specialized created an Aethos with the Roubaix endurance geometry that would be a winner and I would line up to buy it! All the fancy integrated bar/stems, etc...only accomplishes to create frustration and aches/pains for the rider, and more profit for the bike shop (to change it for the customer). Hopefully someone at Specialized is listening...
Bikes with geometry no one can actually use creates a market for professional bike fitters; hence, many riders, especially perhaps, women, can ultimately get a bike that fits and doesn’t hurt to ride. For me, a [brilliant] bike fitting meant replacing several factory parts. All good, except now I want to upgrade to more gearing, wider tires, etc, but an off-the-shelf bike would likely mean another fitting, and jettisoning parts I won’t use (but have paid for.) Answer: custom bike build, with frame that mimics current, Trek geometry; reuses bars (narrow and tough to find), saddle and stem; features drivetrain, shifting and braking system I prefer.
i bought some VR-C handlebars for my winter/turbo bike. Luckily i had a shorter stem to fix the reach, the next day i saw your video about how the reach measurement is wrong. I even checked the reach measurement before based on these videos, but wasn't expecting it to be a straight up lie. Luckily they were only £40 and 90% of the time on the turbo so having a short stem doesn't matter
Thankful for James's diatribe against 'endurance' bikes that are only slightly slacker race bikes. In 2016, I bought a Felt Z100, thinking it was a nice, entry-level relaxed road bike. After watching all these bike fit videos, I now discover, seven years later, that I need a 36 cm handlebar with a shorter reach, and the size 51 (smallest size enduro Felt offered) bike I bought came with a 40 cm handlebar. Why does their 'enduro' bike have only 6 mm less reach and 17 mm more stack than their equivalent size race bike? The head tube is only 20 mmm longer on the enduro bike. I rolled the handlebars back maybe 20 degrees like you have suggested in other videos and I still think the front end of the bike is 3-5 cm too long and low. And the stem is already only 80 mm. I'm apparently one of those long leg, short torso, men who can't get a proper fitting bike.
Going on from the madone, madone 9.0 was a looker and fast. But it shook people to pieces, but also the rim brake calipers were unbelievably and unnecessarily complicated. 3 bolts to adjust alignment. Crap. The new one looks nuts though!
I have a 9.0 and can confirm the brakes are pretty brutal (I live in flat geography, so not a huge deal in that application). It's actually a very comfortable bike though, so not sure about the shaking comment outside of the fact that it can get noisy because of the internal routing design.
hey that SRAM force crankset @ 0.31 is is not spinning at all well in that bottom bracket
The next video could be about his most liked bikes. As always, great content!
Love my Aethos but... Spesh said I needed an XL, I wanted an L, since changed to 38cm bars and 80mm stem.. still using every spacer. Feels great now though 😀
When in between sizing down is better, easier to fit
Sorry I forgot to mention that twice I’ve had to brake quickly with disc brakes and both times the back end locked up and I finished up on the deck I no longer have a disc brake bike. There’s rumblings that shimano are working on ABS for bikes I wonder why 🙄just to add I’m no beginner I’ve raced bikes since I was 13 years old on the road and cyclocross
Never heard or experienced creeking on My 2017 Roubaix's F shock. The thing just works😊
So I totally get the point why you hate the old Canyon Grail. But what do you guys think about the new Grail without the double decker handlebar?
Couldn't agree more on the Aethos - so frustrating!! - Wanted one so bad until I saw the geometry numbers.
I was on bike today sadle 0.15 mm lower not feel my hands
Do you have a video recommending frame sizes for heights? I had several bike fittings when I was younger and fitter, but now in my late 50s after 2!level spine fusions, I need a more upright bike for a 5'7" height. Great video.
My bike was first up. Oddly he hit the nail on the head. I love the bike but have an 80mm Stem. That said, I got it $4000 off so I'd say for that much off it is amazing. Luckily I am flexible too.
I was about to press the button on a 56cm Aethos !! Now I’m in a quandary. I ride a 55cm Reilly Spectre with a 100mm stem which I love. I’m replacing a 54cm long n low Whyte Wessex with 100mm stem which gives me shoulder pain but other than that it’s a good bike. I fancied a change and Aethos I thought was the one ticking all of the boxes - I’m in a right quandary now - I’m 56 pretty fit but not 25 and riding every day. Help ! I’m 6ft 33cm inside leg and shortish torso so the late Mark Reilly said. He nonchalantly measured me on a simple jig and said you are a medium. I hire a 56cm Synapse in Mallorca and that always feels great…
@@TomAshworth Tom I love the bike. I came from a racing bike so the Aethos is actually MUCH more comfortable. I would have got the specialized roubaix but the Aethos I got was $4000K off so it was a no brainer. Also most bikes are more aggressive than they should these days. I got a 56 and may have gone for the 54 had I realized though.
Get fit prior to buying or find one that is 4K off and buy that one. You just need to find a wealthy old man that had to have hip surgery 2 months after buying the bike like me.
Good thing I watched this video, the Ribble Endurance SL was my first pick for my next bike lol
FTR Madone first featured chainstay brake in 2013 model which was first sold worldwide in August 2012. The 2012 Madone was the LAST true race Madone Trek sold. IYKYK.
Those bontrager cork pads are pretty laughable! Ive still got them on one of my bikes and laugh how crap they are and how bad they give rim brakes to some.
james is the best, costumer orientated and freaking honest. Sadly it's a bit far for me to book a bikefit from germany :D
I have no knowledge of the bikes in the video but watching James rant about stuff is very cleansing for the soul.
In the years before UCI amalgamation, the pros got custom bikes liveried as the ones the rest of us could buy at our local dealers. These bikes featured gobs of stack--I'm pointing an accusing finger at the Specialized Tarmacs and Roubaixes and Trek H3 Madones of 10-15 years ago. Now, the pros have to ride what's available to us consumers, so everybody gets a race geometry.
To their credit Trek dropped H3 and merged H2 and H1 into H1.5, something I recommended to our district rep 15 years ago.
Great information about the Liv Enviliv bikes. I am a shorter dude and need XS size bikes. Liv race bikes fulfills my needs. Lol
You gave some good information for the women’s bikes, But the suspension front end, brakes under the frame and tri plane handle bars was more mechanical design flaws , But don’t really effect the fit of a bike, I was expecting more design flaws in geometry, still a great video
Forty something Ribble Endurance owner! 😂 I definitely misjudged the name. I reckon I'm just about flexible enough for it but also know if I visited James for a fit it would be... Sub optimal at best! 😂
What are your honest opinions on the Factor Ostro VAM?
I have one terrible one: BH Ultralight (the old models). Every people I fitted had the same problem, back and neck pain. I checked the geometry and saw why: awfull geometry, 73° head angle and 71° seat angle with +20mm seatpost.
Where are the entry level Scotts with proprietary integrated stems 🤔🤔🤔
Question: for You, normal Orbea Orca is endurance or Racing geometry?
If he could do a one on cheaper bike would help the budget minded cyclist as most on that list are way out of my price list.
I would love to buy an off the shelf bike that fit. After a couple bike fits from 2 different places both fitters cam to the same conclusion. Custom.
My inseam is 91.4 cm with a long femur. And a short reach. I have a couple nice bikes that I had to dink with to make them fit. Sort of. And due to a back injury I like a more upright position.
Any suggestions for models of gravel bikes (I want possibility of wider tyres) which fit well to people with longer legs and shorter torso?
This is why you cannot beat an old vintage racing bike.
the bikes and parts are a work of art. The consumer has seen sense, why spend thousands when you can have a vintage road bike that will out last all of these bikes.
Parts are cheap, the bikes are easy to work on. Most important the parts do not break when you look at them!
Like most of the modern parts that are made today.
Trek Domane Gen 4 (the latest one. The seat tube clamping system design is flawed and results in seat post slip (well documented on line). Trek tried to fix it with a version 2 clamping system that still doesn’t work, I had to give the bike back and buy something else. Avoid bikes with gimmick isospeed type designs!
It seems the newest version is just partly an improvement with pictures of broken seat posts around already ^^.
2011 trek madone 5.2. Had one and that rear brake was crap. Every season I had to rebuild it, and eventually threw it away. Stopping power was poor on AL rims, nonexistent on carbon wheels.
What did you replace it with?
@@richardj3715 shimano made a under BB direct mount ultegra brake. I used that with marginal braking improvement. It did last longer and did not need rebuilding. Cost around $100, well worth it for it's reliability.
Thoughts on the Basso in the background, any good? Thanks
I like how calm you are😊
Haha...I ride a Trek Madone 2.5 (just buy a half year ago). Brakes are at the 'normal' place. For me as a new beginning cyclist a good bicycle.
Ribble Ultra SL R. I guess this is my fault. But I was looking at upgrading to some sort of aero frame because, fast and realized that they don’t offer stems / handlebars in different sizes. As in if you want a 42/100 you are up a creek. You can get a 36/100, way too narrow for me or a 42/120, way too long for me. Just saying, I want aero but does it really have to be this way?
2:34 Looks like they left the brake caliper's quick release lever open.
@4:28 - where are you pulling these numbers from mate? a 2017 liv envie xs is 17mm shorter than a 2017 specialized tarmac 52, and all of 1mm taller. AND they offered an XXS size as well, which is a reach of 365, and a stack of 505... Having done a ton of bike fits as well, and working for a Giant dealer, I sold a ton of those tiny little bikes... The only drag about them is sometimes the paint colors would be un-appealing to some female riders...
I fully agree with the Aethos. The bike was soooo freaking close to being PERFECT! Race geometry just isn’t for everyone.
Im 23 12% bodyfat have a long Torso compaired to my Legs and i have to stretch everyday to fit comfy on my Cinelli Vigorelli xD
if they make a 26" Version ill get it and try to go under arm barriers
Always get a chuckle from JamesTheBikeGuy 😆