If you’ve been looking around for a bike fit, you’ve likely encountered lots of different options – from AI powered apps to 3-4 hour sessions with a experienced practitioner. Whichever type of bike fit you end up choosing, no doubt the question of price will factor in your final decision. Price is an important part of ANY buying decision. Nobody wants to be taken for a ride (excuse the pun!) and everyone wants to make sure they are getting good ‘bang for their buck’. The better informed you are about the options available to you, the better decisions you can make about which the best fit for you.
The aim of this guide is to provide you with an both a factual overview of the different options out there, as well as some thoughts and tips on each option, allowing you to make an informed decision on which is the right option for you. Funnily enough, you may find that the service we offer at Foundation is not the best type of bike fit for you, but that’s okay! We want you to get the right fit for you based on your requirements.
We’re based in the UK so some of the options may differ across other regions but we’ll keep on updating this article as new options make their way to the market.
@MyVeloFit
DIY Bike Fit Apps: £0 – £75
There are now a quite a large number of different apps which will help you with your bike fit such as Bike Fast Fit or MyVeloFit. All are relatively inexpensive (some free!) and are usually offered on some kind of subscription or membership basis. Each offers a different way of evaluating your position, some use AI to make suggested changes, others track body markers, others simply make a suggestion based on static body dimensions. The more complex algorithms even take into account some off bike movement screening to make assumptions about your end bike position. And there are some that even offer an upgrade option to speak with a human bike fitter if you need further advice.
If you’re happy to get the Allen keys out, then a DIY app is a cheap way to get started with your bike fit. It does of course require you to get hands on adjusting bike parts e.g. moving the seat post up and down, adjusting saddle angle and trying different stem lengths. So make sure you’re comfortable with how to make the adjustments for your specific bike and you have the right tools to hand. In this day an age, there’s so much information out on YouTube, if you get stuck, you’ll probably find a tutorial on the web.
Bear in mind, modern bikes with integrated cockpits and propriety components will not allow for adjustment or only offer a very limited amount of adjustment (Ideally you would have had a bike fit / sizing before you bought this kind of bike!). Lack of adjustment means the solutions available to you to improve your bike fit are more limited.
Remember the limit of all of any app is down to the person who wrote the algorithm. The more complex the algorithm, potentially the more problems it can resolve. So if you’re going to go down this route, compare a few different apps side-by-side to see which offers the features you value. If you’re a regular gym goer and know your general strength and mobility is of a high standard then do you need an app which provides off-bike movement screening? And the opposite also applies. If you do not do any complimentary off-bike exercise or mobility, a movement screening tool may be very revealing.
Where the app will tend to struggle is with more complex bike fit tasks such as sizing and recommending new bikes for purchase, resolving specific discomforts and injuries, and testing extensive equipment choices such as multiple saddles.
The key to success with any bike fit is to really understand your needs and decide what you would like to achieve with your fit. An app based fitting system will be attempting to position you within certain pre-determined parameters. Think about how closely you fit those parameters and if these parameters will allow you to get what you want from the fit.
Pros:
- Cheap
- Easy to get started
- Better than no bike fit
Cons:
- DIY, you need to be comfortable adjusting your bike
- Limited use if you have an integrated cockpit
- Limited by how good the algorithm is
- Difficult to perform more complex tasks like sizing for a new bike or testing saddles.
@Retül
Systematised Bike Fits: £100 – £300 (Sometimes Free*)
If we had a penny for every time a rider came to us asking if we do a Retül Fit we’d have filled hundreds of penny jars by now! Retül, has become a word that means bike fit to many riders (well done the Specialized marketing department, yup, Specialized owns Retül). In fact, Retül was initially conceived as a tool to enable better bike sales. By analysing a rider’s movement, the system would be able to suggest the best bike size and setup for that rider. The idea was that this would be a more accurate, replicable and efficient way to sell bicycles. And over the years many other brands have followed suit and created their own bike fitting systems: Guru, Trek Precision Fit, Velogic Fit, STT Systems, Bioracer Motion, Dartfish etc.
We’d go so far as to say that this systemised approach to bike fitting is the current status quo. This is what is most common, this is what is promoted, this is what pops into riders’ minds when you mention ‘bike fit’. And this is also fuelled by two of the biggest brands in the cycling industry, Trek and Specialized, since they both offer fit system solutions. Cycling is a technology driven sport so it feels comfortable that technology systems will also offer solutions. Technology is seen as advanced, precise or accurate.
Compared with the apps, these are operator led systems or tools. Instead being a DIY solution, the bike fit system is controlled by an operator, which is usually a bike shop staff member or a trained bike fitter.
Again the complexity and functionality of each system is different but the principle behind the systems is similar to the apps, in that they use a computer algorithm to analyse a rider’s movement and then provide suggested changes to optimise their position.
The attraction of these systems (for bike shops) is that they can be operated by a relatively inexperienced staff member, and the hope is to still get decent results. Of course, in these cases, the results are only as good as the system itself and how it aligns with a particular rider’s goals and needs. Beyond the simple operation of these systems, many experienced operators will use these systems as effective tools and get fantastic results. So if you are interested in exploring one of these systems, the most prudent question to ask is how good / experienced is the operator? And what kind of results does this outlet or shop achieve?
Be aware where these systems can become limited. Generally they are far better than the apps for sizing and choosing a new bike. Systems like Guru have extensive new bike databases which they can query in an instant. Again it’s when we are required to find more complex solutions for discomfort, injuries and more personal requirements when the system operator will need to step beyond the confines of the system.
The cost for these bike fits does vary quite a bit, maybe dependent on the competency or confidence of the operators, or how much value a shop places on the fit process. *Quite often a bike fit will “free” with the purchase of a new bike – a sales tool to encourage you to buy a bike.
Our advice would be to ask questions before you commit to a fit, shop around and understand what you are getting from the fit. Just because you are buying a systematised fit does not guarantee good results. It’s the operator who is really the one in control of the results. Even if a tool is ‘advanced’ or ‘accurate’, if it has a poor operator, you’re not going to get great results.
Pros:
- Popular and established
- Better than apps for tasks like sizing and recommending new bikes
- Operator led, which can add value
- Sometimes ‘free’ if buying a new bike
Cons:
- Well marketed and appears ‘advanced’ but limited by operator
- Often system led and operator is not so knowledgable
- Dependent on operator for solving complex issues
- Technology can be distracting
@samwilliamandrews
Independent Bike Fitters: £250 – £900+
If you want to buy a suit, you could head to Marks & Spencer or you could visit a tailor. We liken going to an independent bike fitter like visiting a tailor. The suit form M&S is probably going to be of decent quality and might fit you pretty well. When you go to the tailor, you walk out with a suit that is ‘perfect’, customised, comfortable and just as you wanted it. You may also visit a tailor when you have some very specific requirements you want addressed – do you need one sleeve longer than the other?
And just like tailors vs M&S stores, tailors are far less common, the process takes longer, it’s far more thorough and it costs more money. In many ways you get what you pay for. But there’s still quite a big price range across the industry, so why is this? And what am I paying for?
The truth is that every fitter will have their own specific reasons for charging their price. Since fitting is destination service (riders usually have to travel to a studio location, though there are mobile services out there, in fact, Foundation started as a mobile service), prices might be determined by the demographic of that area. It might be determined by the level of service, often tiered services are offered – Basic, Standard and Gold. It might be dependent of the complexity of a rider’s need e.g. TT fit in a wind tunnel vs. a commuter bike setup. It might be down the the overheads for that service, a wind tunnel session is going to cost a fitter a minimum of around £250 an hour to hire the tunnel. Or if a fitter is using a space within a bike shop, he / she still has rent to pay. So why not ask a prospective fitter why they charge what they do – you might get some interesting answers.
But as a general overview, independent fitters will be the most dedicated to their craft. They will offer the pinnacle of customization, involving a highly personalized approach to bike fitting. These fits typically involve extensive consultations, measurements, and adjustments. A bespoke fit may also extend to custom-made components or modifications to the frame (We’ve done this for professional athletes and para-athletes with specific requirements). As leaders in their field independent fitters should be highly knowledgeable, very experienced and thus most likely to find the best solutions for you.
Interestingly, independent fitters may still use a fit system like Retul, but it just becomes one of many tools they employ to a find a great result. Critically, they are not limited by the confines of the system. Through their years of experience, they will have developed they own methodology and will use what is needed for a specific client, with a specific goal. This is a completely personalised approach, although the same approach works for many different people. They may also bring skills from other disciplines e.g. some fitters have a physiotherapy background, others from the coaching world. (Mat who works at Foundation was a Classically trained musician in a former life, but even this skill set is really useful for bike fitting).
Think of independent fitters as the Masterchefs of the bike fit world. Each is trying to cook you an amazing meal, and you know they are at the top of their game, but each one will cook you a different meal. They have their own secret sauces or will present in their own unique style. Bike fitters are very similar. This is where art meets craft.
However, you still need to do you research before you commit to a fit. Talk to your prospective fitter, read their reviews, ask people who have had a fit from them. Bike fitting is a craft that requires a relationship between the rider and fitter. Sometimes a rider and fitter don’t gel, just like sometimes you just don’t like that dish even though it’s cooked by a Masterchef. People are just different. You can’t be friends with everyone(!) Some fitters only fit a very specific audience e.g TT riders, Mountain Bikers. So find out if you think you will gel with your fitter.
Pros:
- Most knowledgeable and dedicated to their craft
- Will provide the best long & short term solutions
- Bespoke options and able to deal with complex issues
- The best develop trust and a relationship you will want to return to
- An artist and craftsman – a unique experience
Cons:
- Usually more expensive – you get what you pay for
- More commitment required from client
- Sessions are longer and can be harder work
- Find a fitter you can gel with, otherwise you might not like the ‘dish’!
Final Thoughts…
When selecting a bike fit, consider your cycling goals, budget, and level of commitment. Remember that a good bike fit is an investment in your comfort, performance, and long-term enjoyment of cycling.
We actually think bike fitting is still generally under-valued by both the cycling industry and bike riders (although the tide is definitely turning and bike fitting, as a practice, is in a much better place now than it was 20 years ago). The average cost of a mid-range bike these days, has rocketed up to around £3000-£5000. If a bike fit costs you £300-£500, this is only 10% of the value of the entire bike. If this bike is going to last you many years, and carry you over many thousands of km, over mountain passes and beat your mates around the local lanes – what would be a fair price to ensure your body was able to do all of these things, in comfort, with good power and without injury?
It’s incredibly easy, these days, to spend a crazy amount of money on bike gear without really knowing the true value of it. £1-2K on a new carbon wheelset is ‘good value’, yet £500 is seen as expensive for a bike fit… The shiny new wheels satisfies our need for instant gratification… A bike fit requires commitment and investments that are just not ‘sexy’… but the long term health and performance returns you can find by optimising you position, body, and technique may far out perform the gains the wheels can offer.
The worst manifestation of this process, is when riders come into the fit studio with aches and pains having bought a very expensive bike off the internet… and it turns out the bike is not a good shape (or geometry) for that rider… nobody wins in this scenario… the fitter is the bringer of bad news, the rider is frustrated and the bike company loses trust… This is where the industry can improve the buying process.
So how much does a bike fit cost? Well, that is entirely up to you, there’s plenty of choice out there. Maybe the more important question is how valuable is a bike fit for you?
For us at Foundation, bike fitting is all about education and sharing knowledge. The more knowledge we can share, the better decisions you can make, the more you will enjoy your ride. Don’t be the rider who drops £10K on an internet bike on a whim, only to find it doesn’t work for them! There is a better way!
Words by: Wei
If you’ve made it to the end of this article, thank you! We really appreciate your time and hope this was useful for you. We’d love to know your thoughts and if you have any topics you would like use to write about, please do email us your ideas: info@foundation.fit
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