Where's the best place in Melbourne to get set up for a new bike?

Matt Townsend

I'm about to start cycling again after close to ten years out of it following a road accident.

I've decided to get myself set-up for a nice bike. It will probably last until my dotage, so I want to do it properly. Will from SHM in Lonsdale Street has suggested a fellow by the name Max to set me up (also from SHM) and to my untrained eye, the shop seems to have good equipment.

I don't mind paying for good advice and I see some logic in getting the shop that is going to sell me the bike to do the fitting, but for instance, is there anyone like http://www.cyclefitcentre.com/cyclefit%20services.htm in Melbourne?

It's only going to be used once a week, on a Sunday, plus one or two triathalons during the year. So it's a road racer I'm thinking about - if I can scrape the pennies together - a Colnago Dream. This perhaps limits my choices as SHM is the only bike shop I have been to that sells them. Then names of any other shops would be most welcome.

I should add though, that Will has been good to deal with and SHM has the bike I want, so I'm really asking if there is any reason why I shouldn't go ahead and start the buying process there.

Thanks in advance.

Matt Townsend

Okay, maybe I'm asking too much: anyone know who else sells Colnago in Melbourne, other than SHM?

Many thanks,

Matthew

AussieRider

Any decent Bike Shop that you get the bike from should be able to set you up properly on the bike as part of the service.

If any bike shop can't do that why by the bike from them when you may need to pay extra for bike fit/set-up? I would not recommend Kennedy's who do offer a bike fit service in Melbourne as they seem to work on what should be comfortable and not what actually is comfortable.
i.e.This is what the setup should be and you'll get used to it eventually.

I can highly recommend Andrew at Cycle Science in Glenhuntly Rd Caulfield South, he actually owns the shop so has a vested interest in ensuring all his customers are happy with their purchase. I think you'll also find that a BMC bike will offer greater value that a Colnago unless of course you just want the 'name'.

jerrek

I cannot reccomend any particular shop as i don't live in Melbourne (live in gippsland). I would however say that any good shop should fit you as part of the buying service - particularly if you shell out for a colnago.

You sound as if you probably have known your way around but i will stress make sure you get it from a good shop that knows road bikes. A poorly fitted road bike is a receipe for pain. I would go to the nearest racing club and see where they get there bikes. Odds on they have a nearby shop that specialises in road bikes.

cameron41

excelpro are the Colnago distributors in Aus - details available at http://www.excelpro.com.au/

Matt Townsend

Thank you for your responses everyone. That's great.

Chris from Freedom Machine in Chapel Street, Prahran has been particularly helpful.

Archibald

Spoke(n) opposite the st kilda town hall sell Colnago.

Matt Townsend

Chapel Street or Nepean Highway? The latter I presume, just in that group of shops next to the pub?

Spoke(n) are listed in the Excelpro site as being at Somerset place, in Melbourne, wherever that is. St Kilda town hall is just down the road from my place.

AussieRider

Spoke(n) have recently moved from Somerset Place (off Liitle Bourke st) to 112 Carlisle St, St Kilda which I think is on the 'Beach' side of Nepean Hwy

Matt Townsend

Thanks for the heads up. Went to see them this morning. Spoke to Rob, nice people.

Trafalgar

This msg is like 3 months too late. Robin from Spoke(n) and the rest of the guys there are great!

Anyone knows where Robin has gone? He seemed to have left Spoke(n) recently.

Matt Townsend

Quite agree, they were great to deal with, as was the Freedom Machine in Chapel Street.

I'm going to go to Spoken to get my Campy headset fitted and a general tune up.

Trafalgar

Most of the LBS in Melbourne do come across as very helpful people. Sometimes it does depends on luck though. Some LBS like SHM has a number of staff and their product knowledge and service standards differ.

Want to add Grand Prix Cycles along Glen Huntly Road at Caulfield South are nice to deal with. Steve don't really preach Shimano/Campag/SRAM but is equally informed about each product. Which is good because the last thing I want as a newbie is people forcing products down my throat.

531Aussie

do you know that's Max Rainsford, former Olympic and Commonwealth Games track rider?

So, I reckon he knows more than the average 17-year-old bike mechanic about your position