Bike Fitting FAQ

A professional bike fit is a systematic process of adjusting your bicycle to match your body — not the other way around. It covers every contact point: saddle height and position, cleat alignment, handlebar reach and drop, and stem length. A thorough fit uses physical assessment, motion capture technology, and the fitter's expertise to find the position that maximises your power output while minimising stress on your joints.

A basic saddle height adjustment addresses one variable in isolation. A professional bike fit treats your position as a complete system — every contact point interacts with every other. Changing saddle height affects knee tracking, hip angle, and reach. Changing cleat position affects ankle mechanics and knee alignment. A professional fit assesses all of these variables together, using motion capture and biomechanical analysis to find the optimal position for your specific body and riding goals.

Yes — recreational riders benefit from a bike fit just as much as competitive cyclists. In fact, recreational riders who ride for fitness or enjoyment often have less tolerance for discomfort than racers who are highly motivated to push through pain. A proper fit prevents the knee pain, lower back soreness, and saddle discomfort that cause many recreational riders to give up cycling altogether. If you want to ride comfortably and consistently, a bike fit is one of the best investments you can make.

Your fit begins with a detailed consultation covering your riding history, goals, any injuries or discomfort you have experienced, and the type of riding you do most. We then conduct a full biomechanical assessment — examining your flexibility, strength, and body proportions. The fitting itself uses computer-assisted motion capture to analyse your position in real time. We make adjustments and measure the effect, dialling in each contact point until your position is optimised. Every client leaves with a detailed written report of all adjustments made.

Session length varies by package. Our Basic Fit is a single session of approximately 90 minutes. The Static Fit spans three sessions totalling around 3–4 hours. The Dynamic Fit involves five sessions over several weeks, allowing your body to adapt between appointments. The Elite Fit is our most comprehensive programme, with six sessions plus 90 days of follow-up support. Multiple sessions are more effective than a single long session because your body needs time to adapt to position changes.

Yes — always bring the bike you ride most. Your fit is specific to that bike's geometry and your components. If you are being fitted for a new bike you are about to purchase, we can conduct a pre-purchase fit to help you choose the right frame size and geometry. If you ride multiple bikes, we recommend a separate fit for each, as the geometry differences mean your optimal position will vary.

Wear your usual cycling kit — the shorts, jersey, and shoes you ride in most often. Your saddle contact and cleat position are affected by the thickness and padding of your shorts, so it is important to be fitted in what you actually ride in. Bring your cycling shoes and cleats. If you use orthotics or custom insoles, bring those too.

Knee pain is one of the most common cycling injuries, and it is almost always position-related. The most frequent causes are saddle height that is too low (causing excessive knee bend), saddle height that is too high (causing hip rocking and lateral knee stress), and cleat misalignment (causing the knee to track inward or outward). A professional bike fit identifies the specific cause of your knee pain and corrects it. The vast majority of cyclists who come to us with knee pain leave pain-free after their fit.

Lower back pain is typically caused by a reach that is too long, a handlebar position that is too low, or a saddle that is too high causing hip rocking. All of these are correctable through a professional fit. We will also assess your core strength and flexibility, as these play a significant role in your ability to maintain a comfortable position on the bike. Most riders with lower back pain see significant improvement after their first fitting session.

Hand numbness is usually caused by too much weight on the handlebars — often the result of a saddle that is too far forward, a reach that is too long, or a handlebar drop that is too aggressive for your flexibility. It can also be caused by handlebar width that does not match your shoulder width, or by gripping the bars too tightly. A bike fit addresses the root cause rather than just the symptom.

Saddle discomfort is almost always a combination of saddle selection and position. The right saddle for you depends on your sit bone width, your riding position, and your flexibility. Our Dynamic and Elite fits include saddle pressure mapping — a sensor pad that shows exactly where pressure is concentrated on the saddle. This takes the guesswork out of saddle selection and allows us to find the right saddle and position for your specific anatomy. We carry a range of saddles in our fitting stock for you to trial.

We offer four fitting packages. The Basic Fit ($150) is a single-session entry-level fit covering all key contact points. The Static Fit ($350) is a three-session comprehensive fit using computer-assisted motion analysis. The Dynamic Fit ($600) is our most popular package for serious riders — five sessions combining full motion capture, pressure mapping, and aerodynamic assessment. The Elite Fit ($1,000) is our ultimate programme for competitive and elite riders, with six sessions, custom insole assessment, and 90 days of follow-up support.

For most recreational riders and those new to fitting, the Static Fit is an excellent starting point. For riders who train regularly, target events, or have had persistent discomfort, the Dynamic Fit is our recommendation — the multiple sessions allow your body to adapt between appointments and give us the opportunity to refine your position over time. The Elite Fit is designed for competitive cyclists and those who want the most comprehensive programme available. If you are unsure, contact us and we will help you choose.

Yes — every new bike purchased through Brisbane Bicycle Service includes a complimentary Static Fit. We believe every rider should start on their new bike in the right position, and a proper fit is the best way to ensure you get the most from your investment from day one.

As a general guide, we recommend a fit check every two years for recreational riders, and annually for those who train regularly or compete. You should also consider a new fit after any significant change — a new bike or components, a significant change in training volume, an injury or surgery, or a notable change in flexibility or body weight. Position changes that felt right two years ago may no longer be optimal for your current body.

Yes — triathlon and time trial fitting is a specialist area we are experienced in. A triathlon fit is fundamentally different to a road bike fit because it must balance aerodynamics with the ability to run effectively off the bike. We assess your aero position, hip angle, and run-off impact as part of every triathlon fit. We recommend the Dynamic or Elite package for triathlon athletes, as the multiple sessions allow us to properly assess the run-off impact of your position.

Yes. Many triathletes race on road bikes, particularly at shorter distances. We can optimise your position within the constraints of your road geometry and advise on whether a dedicated triathlon bike would benefit your performance at your target distances. A forward seatpost or saddle moved forward on the rails can partially replicate the steeper seat tube angle of a dedicated triathlon frame.