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Fit studios in the Naples Florida area???
I'm considering a change of scenery for the winter months. I love the Boston area, but as many times as I've tried to convince people that 10 degrees isn't that cold or 6" of snow is still ridable, nobody else rides here in the winter. I'm thinking Naples Florida, I have some place to live there, and I figure I can put my hill climbing skills to use (that was a joke). I would love to find a job at some fit studio or bike shop that does fittings, I have a bit of experience doing that sort of thing, but there's a catch. Most fitting places have gone to some form of electronic fitting system, using computers and complex fitting bikes and lasers... My own shop now has that and to be honest, if I applied for a job there today I doubt I would get hired. I'm a fitter who understands cycling from the rider's viewpoint. It's more a question of how the rider uses the tool (uh, we're talking about the bike here) vs. the more common fitting approach which is how to fit the tool to it's user.
Somehow I don't think Floridians are ready to fall into their pedals...
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If the pedals are turning it's all good. |
#2
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#3
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There are absolutely no fit studios in Florida. There are not even any bikes. You must stay in Boston for the winter. (Who the hell am I'm going to ride with if you're not here?)
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#4
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Last I heard winter was open season for cyclists in Fla.
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Texbike |
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I am saying this in a constructive way, but why not try to incorporate some of the latest technology into your fittings? You can still hook them up with all kinds of sensors, but use your own philosophy instead of what the computer spits out (would also be interesting to see how they compare) for the fitting. That way, the customer gets to see the fancy technology at work, but the end product is still based on your views/principles.
By the way, I spent some time riding in the Naples area, and given the bikes that showed up to the group rides, I would say that they probably wouldn't mind paying a few hundred bucks for a good fitting. |
#7
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If you have place to stay in Naples can see why you might go there. But lots more cycling other places in Florida. Example: there are several stand alone fit businesses in the Orlando area. Though closely associated to a large cycle shop. Check out orange cycle as an example. Believe same in tampa/st Pete area. W and going N of Orlando there are hills. Plenty of short 10-15 percent climbs. (Don't laugh)
Last edited by Ralph; 09-04-2015 at 10:47 AM. |
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Ralph -- Riding in the Clermont area is some of the best around.
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both correct, that and our friend the wind |
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#11
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We have transparent hills too...
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#12
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People who have only visited the resorts around SW Orlando area, and the beaches up and down the coasts, don't have a clue about riding in the interior and rest of Florida....especially the northern half of Florida.
BTW....This also holds true for misconceptions about others places in US. Been to Bar Harbor....now I know all about New England riding, ridden around Boulder, now know all about Colorado riding, etc. Last edited by Ralph; 09-04-2015 at 02:17 PM. |
#13
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The marketing behind 3D image capture is that they can put you within 1mm of your perfect position. From what I've seen (I've been fitting for 15 years) I'm probably going to change how they pedal the bike, and a whole new learning process begins - their position is going to chance. What's the point of accurately measuring where they were at the start of this? Perhaps if the customer wanted to commit the time and money we could do the measurements every month or so to document the changes - that would make some sense to me. But that's not how they do it. There are two types of customers who get the expensive fits. Some just want to be the center of attention for a few hours while the fitter explains things about their body with the assistance of computers and lasers and red and green numbers. Some buy into the idea that it's about performance. At some point those people may start feeling that they were sold a load of BS. I have a problem with that, if I'm going to take money from a customer I need to know that I've given them something of value to them. The way I see it, all the high tech fitting tools are sales aids - something to show the customer that they're really not going to understand, so they know they want it. My goal isn't to sell the customer as much as I can, it's to produce a good rider. If you sell someone a load of BS, they'll never be back. If you make them a good cyclist, they'll be back to buy bikes, clothing, parts, tires... They'll bring in their friends and family too. I wouldn't be hired as a fitter today because I don't use the high tech sales aids - er, I mean tools, but I still have a job because I have customer loyalty. But don't take my word for it, let's put it to the test. Let's take two people of similar ability on the bike. One gets the 4 hour high tech fitting, the other spends the same amount in coaching (two trainer sessions, two outdoor sessions). Anyone in a betting mood???
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If the pedals are turning it's all good. |
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“A bicycle is not a sofa†-- Dario Pegoretti |
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