FORM Fitness

Pro Shop at FORM Fitness: Buying Products from our Pro Shop (bikes, parts, shorts and shoes, etc.)

Written by Sassan

As a consumer I, like any other consumer, was confronted with the same questions when purchasing athletic products for my self.  Keep in mind that I view great athletic wear to be practical and comfortable first and than great looking and hip.

Throughout my athletic career over the past 25 years I pretty much bought anything and everything out there that promised to make me look good and make help me go faster (or to think that I was), as well gave me an edge over my competitors.  I spent thousands of dollars on bikes, cycling shoes, helmets, jerseys, bike parts, supplements, energy food that made me sick but still I ate it because it was supposed to be good for me.  I bought the latest and the greatest gadgets, gadgets which were never used but looked cool to me.  I bought them since I saw them on someone else's bike during a bike ride or at a race and thought it looked cool.  At the end, I spent a ton of money on things that ended up just collecting in my garage and never being used.  For example; I bought a pair of $450 shoes which were hand made in Italy and worn by the best sprinter in the world.  I was excited to put my cleats on and go out for a ride where I would click down and sprint like Super Mario.  After I made it out to Canada road I clicked down, got out of the saddle and began to sprint and fly.  I powered up but ended up feeling the soft Italian leather stretch and flex as I tried to press down and pull up with my feet.  Just so we are clear, cycling shoes should fit like a glove and your feet should not move in any way shape or form inside the shoe.  Needless to say, the shoes were the worst shoes for cycling.  I learned that Soft Italian leather is great for Armani dress shoes but terrible for my cycling shoes.  That day I took my cleats off the shoes and put the shoes on Ebay so that I could sell them and recover my $450.  In 2 weeks the auction ended and I recovered about $195 of the $450.  I was very upset and disappointed with my experience, I could not return the shoes to the store since I had already warned them and now I got stuck paying $250 for one days worth of riding.

This was a great lessen that I learned from and made a promise not to repeat this mistake again buying products that did not meet or exceed my expectation.

Today I only buy products for our pro-shop that I use my self.  And now want to share with you my knowledge as to what works and why.  And hopefully save you the headache and wasted money.

So let’s start with bikes and work our way down the list.

Bikes / Frames

Above you will see a picture of a bike "Ridley Damocles".  Hands down the best built bikes for the price as well geometry and quality.

So lets talk about the quality first:

Ridley bikes are hands down one of the best bikes ever built.  The attention to detail and quality puts the Ridley frames on par with custom built bikes at a fraction of the cost.

Geometry

In my opinion, as well many other experts, almost all the frames in the market today are built with the wrong geometry;  Especially if you are 5 foot 6 or taller (which happens to be 95% of the market).  The first measurement that should be looked at is the seat tube (A).  This is the tube which your seat plugs into, as indicated by the name.  This is to accommodate the riders’ leg height. For the most part every bike is built with the same measurements which can easily be modified by moving your seat post higher or lower (except compact frames which are shorter in length) and require longer seat posts.  The second measurement is the top tube, this is the distance from the center of the seat-post to the center of the head tube (the vertical tube in front of the fame “C” ) this is to accommodate for the riders torso and arms.  This measurement can also be modified by adding or reducing length in your stem. Keep in mind that there is a limit as to how far you can extend your stem.  A simple rule to follow, do not put on a stem exceeding 110 CM.  Anything above 110CM makes the bike head heavy for the rider when descending and or cornering which can be dangerous and uncomfortable.  The last main measurement is the head tube.  This is the length of the vertical tube in front of the frame where the fork is inserted and ties the handle bars to the stem and than to the fork “D”.  This as well can be adjusted by adding or reducing the amount of spacers on your fork.  You are limited in how far can lift the stem/handlebars.  And since most forks are carbon, you can not place more than 1 inch worth of spacers to lift your handlebars.  Anything above this is dangerous and can cause you to break the top of your fork when riding.  You can gain further height by flipping your stem upside down but this as well will take away from your bike handling.

So as you can see all three of the main measurements can be adjusted to make for the right fit.  So what is so special about the Ridley bikes that make their geometry so much better?  The Ridley frames are built with the longest head tubes in the industry.  Which allows the rider not to place too many spacers to get the desired bar height.  As well the stem is sitting directly above the head tube, translation; comfort, stability, control.  In addition to longer head tubes, Ridley has revolutionized frame geometry by introducing the first 1.5inch bottom headset.  While every other frame manufacturer is following the herd with old and outdated geometry 1 and 1/8 headsets, Ridley is leading the way with the best geometry in the world.  I guess this is why their ads read "don't follow the herd".  All while maintaining light low weight on all their frames

You can bet that all bike manufacturers will eventually follow Ridley and build bikes that actually fit each rider.  But until then you have one option that you can always count on, Ridley geometry.  Ultimately, you are the best person to make the decision on the right fit by taking one of these bikes on a ride.  And just so you know, I will be more than happy to lend you my own Damocles to try out.

Ridley makes bikes for all levels and price points, all sharing the same incredible geometry and attention to details.  Ridley frames range from $995 for the entry level to $2799.00 for the Damocles.  So feel free to call or email me if you want to learn more about these amazing bikes and if one of these could end up being yours.

Indoor cycling

If you wanted to take up Indoor cycling or ride a bike you should keep a few things in mind; cycling shorts, cycling shoes, types of cleats and pedals, cycling clothing, and energy food / drinks. Even though you can ride our Indoor cycling bikes with regular shoes and shorts we strongly suggest that you make the investment and buy cycling shorts and shoes and here is why:

• Cycling shorts

  Cycling shorts come with padding (chamoise).  Padding is very important in your experience on the bike.  The first reason why it is important is the cushioning that it provides between your sits bones and the saddle.  Second reason is the lycra material which eliminates chaffing and pulls moisture away from your body.  Cycling shorts also come in Bibs (overalls) or shorts.  The benefit of bibs over shorts is that they are more comfortable overall especially around the waistline, where as shorts will press on the riders bladder due to the position of the body on the bike.  With all the different short and chamois out there what should one look for when ready to buy shorts:

  • Look for high count panels in the lycra shorts.  This makes for a better fit which can conform to your build for better comfort.
  • Invest in shorts with good padding.  Good padding will be less bulky and provide padding in vital areas and nothing more.  Furthermore, you want padding that is light, quick dry, and made with antibacterial product.  When riding outdoors for 2-4 hrs this can become a major benefit.
  • The prices for shorts range from $40-$150 Most people can get great shorts in the $75-$125, anything more is just too much and un-necessary.
  • Bibs range from $99.00-$250.00; the best price points tend to range from $100-$150.

  At our Pro-shop we only carry two brand of cycling shorts: Castelli and Bergamo. Both Castelli and Bergamo are international brands that are viewed as two of the best in the industry, not the most expensive, just two of the best. As a matter of fact our Cycling team rides with Castelli, which should say a lot about the quality and comfort. We carry both solid as well as Form Fitness team shorts. Both shorts and bib-shorts come with great chamois and all at a reasonable price. Stop by and take a look for your self.

  Do I really need Cycling shoes to take an indoor cycling class or to ride a bike?

  Think of it this way, riding with running shoes vs. cycling shoes is like Skiing with running shoes rather than ski boots.  Cycling shoes have a hard and stiff sole which allows you to pedal on a flat hard surface.  Unlike running, while cycling your foot or the shoe should not flex or bend during the exercise, the only areas which have a bend or flex while cycling are the ankle, knee, and hips.  Flexing and bending of the foot can lead to foot injuries and or cramping of the foot.  Cycling shoes also come with straps which are designed to provide support for the top of the feet, esp. when pulling up and kicking the feet over on the top stroke of the pedal.  Also, when pedaling with cycling shoes your leg muscles will develop in a greater degree of cemetery, unlike running shoes, which is why cyclists have symmetric and well proportioned leg muscles.

• What do I look for when purchasing cycling shoes?

  • Fit
  • material
  • durability
  • Price

  Cycling shoes should fit your foot like a glove.  Unlike running or tennis shoes, cycling shoes should have no extra room for your feet to move around in.  Support the arch of your feet as well cup your heels while feeling snug is key.  Shoes too tight have their fair share of problems; this is especially true with cycling shoes that come with shoe laces versus Velcro straps, so avoid the laces and stick to Velcro straps and buckles.  The snug and comfortable feel of the shoe will allow for an effective and efficient transfer of power from your foot on to the pedal.  This is where you will find that not all cycling shoes are built the same and avoid buying the wrong shoes.  Cycling shoes can cost anywhere from $50.00 to upwards of $700.00 for custom.  It is crucial to do your homework and make sure that you are buying the right shoes.  The good news is that you will use your cycling shoes for a long time (6-7 years) compared to running or tennis shoes which need to be replaced once every 4-5 months.  Investing in a good pair of cycling shoes not only makes your experience on the bike better but allow you to truly feel the bike rather just going through the motions.

  As a Triathlete and an avid cyclist I have tried just about every brand and type of cycling shoe out there and the two brands that pretty much stick out above and beyond the rest is “DMT” and “Northwave”.

  “DMT (Diamant SRL), based in Verona, Italy, has a strong heritage within the cycling industry, and is considered one of the true innovators of the sport. The company reinforced that reputation in 2001 when they introduced the Ultimax Road Shoe, which featured a unique single-piece, integrated heel cup that made it the most efficient, comfortable performance shoe on the market. Since then, they've continued to build upon the success of the Ultimax design and have expanded their offering to include a full line of Road, Triathlon, MTB/Cross, and Spinning shoes”.

  After reviewing the Ultimax road shoe it was clear to me that I had found the perfect cycling shoe, which is why today I only wear my DMT shoes and like them so much that we sell them here at our Pro-shop.  And Form fitness is the only place in peninsula you can find a full line of DMT shoes.

  As to Indoor cycling shoes DMT makes a specific shoe called “Wave”. This is designed for indoor cycling with a sexy look and comfortable feel which is ideal for all Indoor cycling junkies.  As a matter of fact my own wife uses these shoes and loves them.  These shoes are reasonably priced which makes them the best shoes for all entry level cyclist.

  In the next month or two look for us to bring in complete line of 2006 DMT shoes.

   

  

• Now that you have learned about shoes comes the next question:

  With all the cleat options which cleat and pedal system should I choose?

   

  

  Our indoor cycling bikes come with special pedals which have “Shimano SPD” on one side and “Look” on the other side with an adaptor cages for people using regular running or tennis shoes.  Although both serve the same purpose when used I would recommend the Look pedal system over the Shimano SPD.  The look happens to be about 4-5 times the size of the SPD cleat which gives the Look pedals bigger surface area.  The wider surface area makes for better power transfer from your foot/shoe to the pedal.  Furthermore, the bottom of the riders’ foot has a better grab of the pedal when riding which makes for better power output and more efficient use of the leg muscles.

  Can I use “Look” cleats on indoor cycling bikes and keep my “SPD” for my road bike?

  It is best if you ride the same pedal cleat system.  Cycling is repetitive activity and the more consistent you are with your equipment the better, including riding the same bike for training as well as racing.

Does the highest price constitute the best product?

After years of buying products that I was happy with I made a decision to only buy products for our pro-shop that I would use my self.  These products are not the cheapest or the most expensive, but rather the best based on all that is out there.  So today in our pro-shop we only sell the best products that are not only great in comfort but practical and at a reasonable price.

You can email me your questions at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.