"The more awareness and knowledge you have as an athlete about your equipment, the better your cycling experience will be.  The two most important results of a bike fit are comfort and power.  If you are not comfortable on your bike, you will not enjoy your bike.  If you are in a position that robs you of power, you will spend all your time fighting your bike and the road.

Many bike shops claim to do bike fits and really just have you stand over the bike and then sit on it and "eye-ball" your position.  Even getting on a trainer or riding the bike around the block, is not sufficient to making sure the bike fit is right for you.

Bike fitting is art based on science.  Common sense, biomechanical evaluation techniques, laws of physics and biofeedback, form the science of bike fitting.  It is in the compromises - comfort vs. power vs. aerodynamics - that the art comes into play.  Only a sound understanding of the science, a systematic and proven approach and experience will result in a good fit.  You should not stop part way, get the best fit possible.  It is more important than the type of bike you purchase, unless you are getting a custom-built bike (then the fit is an integral part of the bike itself)."

                                                                - Neil Cook, Head Multi-Sports Coach, Asphalt Green