FAQ

Fitting

Is a bike fitting only for people really serious about their riding?

Not at all. Whilst many of our customers are competitive triathletes or road racers, we also have many who are brand new to cycling, or are commuters, or people with some sort of injury/niggle that they want to get sorted out.

You mention Steve Hogg quite a bit on your site – who is he?

He is a bike fitting guru based in Sydney, Australia – www.stevehoggbikefitting.com. He has spent a lifetime evolving fitting techniques and analyses which are so successful that people frequently fly to visit him for a fitting. To date, Scherrit is the only person who has been trained by Steve.

What is included in a bike fitting?

Fitting one bike and one pair of shoes. We will work with you until we solve your fitting issues.

Do you shim and wedge?

Yes – where necessary. If you have a leg length discrepancy and/or need shimming we have the equipment and knowledge to do it. In addition, we hold the patent for Steve Hogg’s wedging analysis equipment which ensures great accuracy. We often get customs recommended to us by Physiotherapists. The greatest leg length discrepancy we have dealt with to date is 2.5cm.

I’d like to move to clipless pedals – but I don’t know what sort

Give us a call and we will chat you through the advantages and disadvantages of road versus mountain bike systems. We will suggest what shoes you buy – and then you can leave the choice of which pedal until your fitting as we keep a wide range in stock.

Do you stock Speedplay?

Yes – we are a Speedplay fitting centre. We hold all of the Speedplay accecories, such as: different length axles, carbon shoe wear plates, fore-aft adapters, cleat covers etc.

Can I just come for a cleat fitting?

You can, but if you haven’t had a fitting elsewhere (or with us) then I wouldn’t recommend it as you are only dealing with one out of three contact points (the other two being hands and seat). We can set your cleats up perfectly, but if your seat or hands are not in the right position then it won’t necessarily solve your problem.

Do you stock shoes?

No we don’t. But we can give you some advice re. what to look for and what to avoid.

How long does the process last?

A fitting lasts a good 4 hours assuming you are using cleats. If you are using or want aerobars, then allow around 4.5 hours.

What should I bring with me?

Bring your shoes, your bike, a pair of shorts and a close-fitting top.

What if I would like a second bike fitted?

There isn’t time during a fitting to set a second bike up. If you would like us to duplicate a fitting, arrange to leave your second bike with us and we will do it. Alternatively, the original fitting will give you the necessary measurements if you would like to do it yourself. Some people prefer wait a while to be 100% sure that the fitting is perfect before either duplicating the fit themselves, or getting us to do it.

I’ve got a big event coming up – what is the shortest time you would recommend between a fitting and an event?

It depends. If you are experiencing pain on your bike, then even having a fitting a few days before an event will improve things. However, if you want to have the best chance to fully adapt to your new position we would recommend a minimum of around 3 weeks between a fitting an a big event.

What do you keep in stock that can be used during a fitting?

We keep a full range of aheadset stems, handlebars, aerobars, bar tape, insoles (SuperFeet and eSoles), shims, wedges, all types of pedal, shims and wedges. In addition, we have test SMP saddles if you can’t get on with your current saddle.

My bike needs some work done – will there be time during a fitting?

No. If your bike needs a service, book it in and we will do the work either before or after the fitting.

Do you keep a copy of the fitting sheet?

Yes we do. In the unfortunate event of a crash or your bike being stolen, we can replicate your fit on your replacement bike as well as advise you what size bike to buy given your fitting details

What are your waiting times like?

During the summer, lead time for an appointment is usually between 3 and 6 weeks. We do get the odd cancellation, so we can put you on the list if you would like – priority for cancellations will be given to people who already have fittings booked and have requested an earlier appointment. Saturdays are very popular and so the waiting times tend to be longer.

Do you have appointments in the evenings and weekends?

We have 2 appointments on a Saturday (10am and 3pm), but no evening appointments. A 3pm appointment often doesn’t finish until after 7pm so there isn’t physically enough time in the day to fit in an evening appointment.

I’d like to come for a fitting, but I suspect my bike is the wrong size?

Give us a call and we will make a quick appointment for you to tell you if your bike can be fitted to you In the unlikely event that it really is much too small or big we will recommend what size you should buy.

I’d really like to come for a fitting – but I live abroad.

We have had several customers fly in for a fitting – from France, Dublin, Cyprus and the Canaries. We are approximately 30 mins drive from Heathrow.

What if I am late for my fitting?

If you are more than 30 mins late it’s unlikely we can do your fitting. Sometimes fittings take longer than 4 hours and so if you are late, your appointment will delay the next person. Please give us a call as soon as you know you are going to be late.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, a cheque or a bank transfer once you get home. In the future it is likely that we will take cards.

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Servicing

What sort of bikes do you work on?

We work on modern road/racing bikes. We keep spares for most 9, 10 and 11 speed road bikes – but not for other types of bike.

Why must you wash my bike if I bring it in dirty?

Apart from being unpleasant to work on, we can’t make a dirty bike work perfectly. Nor can we examine the frame and components for cracks and damage. Trust me – it will be the best £25 you ever spend – your bike will look like new. A bike wash is only available as part of a service.

What is your pricing like for spare parts?

We roughly match high street prices. We use the profit made from parts to subsidise our labour costs. Although we may bill you for an hours service – we have probably spent around 2 hours on your bike. If you choose to supply parts yourself we will bill according to the time we spend on your bike – so the eventual cost will be similar.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, a cheque or a bank transfer once you get home. In the future it is likely that we will take cards.

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New Bike Consultation

I don’t have a bike at present – can I come along to a consultation without a bike?

Yes – no problem. When we get to the part of the consultation when we need to see you on a bike, we have plenty of our own available.

I’d like to come for a fitting – but I don’t have a bike. Shall I buy one and then make an appointment?

I would recommend you come for a new bike consultation. Then you will be sure that your new bike is the right shape and the right geometry for you. Because of this we find fitting a bike we have recommended is a much smoother process.

I’d like a custom bike – can you help?

Yes – we can recommend the size, geometry and material. We can also discuss which builder might work best for you, and do some liaison between you and the builder.

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Wheel-building

Why do you only build with silver spokes?

Because it would double our stock-holding. We hold around 60 different lengths and types of silver spokes in stock and just don’t have room to store double that amount.

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Workshops

I’d like to learn more about bike maintenance – when is your next workshop?

At the moment we are not planning to hold any workshops as there is too much demand for fitting. However, if you have a small group of people (up to 6 is ideal) we can hold a private workshop for you on whatever cycling topic you would like. Just give us a call to chat about it.