buying new bike - fit test

[todned]

hi,

I've read a lot of posts here that says fitting is the most important thing when buying a bike.

Just wanted to know how you go about testing the fit of a bike because it seems to me that the LBS needs to adjust the bike for you and the first shop i went into today weren't going to do it unless i am committed to buy a bike from them. That's the problem since I want to test out multiple brands and they are stocked in different LBS's.

So do I just have to work with it as that's just how LBS's work?
Does anyone know a LBS that's willing adjust a bike for me to test?

Thanks

 

[gclark8]

Where are you? Plenty here in Perth do, test rides too.

 

[todned]

Where are you? Plenty here in Perth do, test rides too.

That's so nice. No wonder I read somewhere that WA has the biggest bicycle rider population.
Unfortunately I am at Sydney, upper northshore to narrow down a bit.

 

[artemidorus]

One way of getting around the problem would be to have a bike fit done independently (say, by Pedalpushers in Rosebery, the acknowledged best in Sydney) and then to take the measurements to your LBS to see if their bike will fit them.
Having said that, if the LBS won't tweak the bike stem/ seatpost/ seat (crankset, even) for you to try on a roller, then they are not a good outfit and would best be avoided.