In the upcoming months, I am going to look at the most complex issue and question my clients ask the most: What size bike is right for me?
Seems simple, but when we look at the dizzying array of manufacturers (including factory direct), materials and sub-styles the answers are shades of gray instead of black and white. While I am seeing a renaissance resurgence of aluminum and titanium frames, carbon fiber is the most common and inquired upon product and the most difficult to explain. So let’s get some background and point out some realities you will face when purchasing your next bike.
1. Know the game.
Many consumers might not realize bike shops OWN their inventory unlike a car dealership. Why would that affect you? The relationship with the bicycle manufacturer is different in that the shop has to purchase and negotiate for bikes in terms of manufacture and allocation, not financial terms. They must then purchase the low margin product outright on short terms in lieu of having manufacturer floor planning whereas the auto manufacturer would have (and want) all their wares displayed. Insert the old saying of “if you want to make a small fortune in the bike industry, it is best to start with a large one”.
Due to the current financial climate, manufacturers take estimates from bike shops in the pre-season and don’t tend to over produce much less produce to the estimated forecast, especially on upper mid-range, high end and exotic models. The bike shop must roll the dice in terms of what to bring in, in what sizes and often does not have the luxury as to when they will get their order. Akin to restoring an old car you have to buy the parts that are available in lieu of the part you actually need. Often in the Gulf Coast with near year long riding seasons the product launches are scheduled to become more available closer to the “summer selling season” aligning with parts of the country that are truly seasonal and with corresponding advertising and editorial blitzes. Sneak peak media exposure at Sea Otter (early Spring) and the full court press building up to the Tour in July. Bike companies are savvy and are timing the product release in conjunction with saturated advertising when snow is not on the ground for a large percentage of North America even though we are 4-6 months into our season.
2. It’s not your shops fault.
So you have been quietly reading the reviews of the new XYZ bike, reading and learning all you can yet still cautious and “waiting for one to come in” so you can see, test-ride, negotiate and possibly purchase. Assuming you know your size (to be discussed in depth next month) you frequent your local shop, finally inquiring on the status of the XYZ bike’s arrival. Most likely you are given an “availability date”, but what you should be asking is, “Do you have any ordered or on allocation?” because most of the XYZ’s are already spoken for. Find it odd that neither big shops nor little shops stock the XYZ? If an XYZ were to become available it would get shipped to the big dealer, not because they are more likely to sell more XYZ’s, or even if it had them allocated but often because they buy more bread and butter inline product from the manufacturer than the smaller shop and the manufacturer will favor the numbers of total sales. So in essence many big shops have an exclusive on a product they do not stock.
Bike manufacturers have spread themselves thin in regard to how many models they take to market due to the many internal genres within our sport. Take into account that the term “manufacturer” can almost be substituted for “designing-marketing-broker” as it is no secret most products are made in factories they do not own. The manufacturer is in constant negotiation for production time at multiple factories as they have multiple companies that essentially all want products at the same time and it is difficult to “add” or “re-insert” a model once the production is in. Clients often say, “That’s stupid. Why if the demand for the XYZ is so great don’t they make more?” Well in most cases they can’t. Production lines are full, the raw materials may not be available and certainly all these cost fluctuations would find their way ultimately back to the consumer. This lack of widespread availability is one of the major attractions for the custom market, as you can have your made-to-order bike quicker than waiting (or hoping) that the XYZ will come in - even if you’ve made a deposit and it’s been ordered.
What I am driving at is how you buy a bike will change and like it or not, bike fit will be at the heart of it. Knowing your personal numbers with an understanding of the relationship of size, geometry and material for how you ride is my goal focus for this series of articles. A professional pre-fit will more than pay for itself as the changes needed to make your stock bike properly fit when it comes in (handlebar, saddle, stem, cranks etc.) would easily double your costs. Pre-fit equals peace of mind that you have ordered the right size. Enjoy the ride.
Website: www.tadhughescustom.com
Twitter: @MasterBikeFit
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