Bike Fit
Maximize Your Comfort and Efficiency
Every rider can benefit from a bike fitting at Benidorm Bikes. Our BikeFitCT staff at Benidorm Bikes is committed to maximizing your ride experience and is able to troubleshoot individual concerns and address individual rider goals on a new or existing bike. Our bike fit process is also a beneficial way to approach the design of a new custom bike for your perfect cycling experience.
Our Bike Fit Process
We think “outside of the box” and want to keep you riding! We combine knowledge, experience, technology, and certifications with your physical and structural assessments to provide a bike fit that is specific to you. This same approach is used to aid in the design of a custom bike for you.
To support the level of service provided, we work with Retül Vantage V7 Software, the Retül MUVE Fit System Bike, and the Retül Custom Footbed Device. The individualized and personal approach to bike fit helps provide a confident and educational experience, allowing you to maximize every pedal stroke of a ride.
Jan Bolland Tanner
Certified Master’s BG Fit Technician
Certified Specialized Retul Fitter
Certified Slowtwitch FIST by Dan Empfield
Schedule Your Fit
While we have temporarily suspended on line bike fit scheduling, you may call the shop at 860-693-8891 or swing by to see if we can make a simple adjustment to help with your bike's set up.
A Fitting Can Help Address
Knee pain
Neck pain
Back pain
Hand/feet numbness
Saddle discomfort
Functional constraints
Structural constraints
A Fitting Achieves
Seat height
Fore/aft saddle position
Proper reach and drop to handlebars
Alignment of hip/knee/foot
Proper cleat position
Our commitment to, and understanding of, bike fitting surpasses all! We have been a leader in bike fit through individual certifications, implementation, bike fit equipment and tools as well as by helping hundreds of recreational cyclists, professional cyclists and triathletes achieve their bike fit and cycling goals! Our continuous learning and investment in current technology such as the Retül Fit System Bike, Retül Vantage, and BG Fit video capture demonstrates the importance of proper bike fit technology and services for you!
Benidorm Bikes has a very comprehensive approach to bike fitting and combines the knowledge gained from Certifications with Retül, Specialized Body Geometry Fit, Slowtwitch FIST with Dan Empfield and Serotta International Cycling Institute. This comprehensive approach professionally and personally identifies individual rider goals and the history of injuries and/or concerns related to being on and off the bike. Combined with a physical and structural assessment that includes a series of exercises identifying ranges of motion and/or structural constraints, this approach helps to validate the changes that will occur throughout the bike fit process.
Combined, we have over fifty years of competitive cycling experience and a history of personal benefits of proper bike fit. Jan’s World Champion Title and various National Championship Titles are indications of the professional approach to listening and working with you to achieve your cycling and bike fit goals.
We are sure that you will benefit from one of our bike fit options and are always glad to explain the comprehensive approach to our bike fitting process. There have been many cyclists, triathletes and mountain bikers from throughout Connecticut, New England, New York and New Jersey that have benefit from bike fit services with Jan. Time is well spent while addressing any of your concerns in an effort to maximize your ride experience.
Our entire staff has a great understanding of the importance of a rider’s contact points and the significant role those play in bike fit and bike size. Product selection, including bikes, pedals, shoes, handlebars, saddles and clothing support our interests in optimizing your bike fit and love of riding!Bike Fitting FAQs
Is there a difference between bike sizing and bike fitting?
ABSOLUTELY! We have tried for 20 years to distinguish that difference, but people still intertwine the use of these terms. Simply put, a bike sizing allows a rider to be on the correct size bike with an initial set up to have an enjoyableexperience on the bike. Bike sizing is what one will receive upon the purchase of a new bike. A bike fitting (at Benidorm Bikes) involves a thorough pre-fit evaluation with a physical and structural assessment to provide a comprehensive approach to an optimized bike fit, set up for the rider.
What kind of bikes can you fit?
Usually, any bike can be fit including road bikes, tri bikes, cyclocross bikes, gravel bikes, fitness bikes and mountain bikes. There are occasions when the generation of equipment may present a constraint, but we address each of thosesituations in a manner to move forward. The Retül MUVE fit system bike can help with custom bike designs, and the determination of bike fit measurements if a rider decides to not be fit on their existing bike.
What is the best way to make an appointment?
Email Jan using the contact form above. Please provide a contact number so I may follow up with a brief conversation to understand your bike fit and cycling goals. At that time, the appropriate type of fitting is scheduled to work with appointment availability and your schedule.
I only get to ride on weekends and I’m a casual rider. Do I really need a fitting?
Bike fitting is just as important to a casual rider as it is to an elite athlete. When bike fitting is done properly, it is addressing the individual rider and their goals. Bike fit is about producing a comfortable, efficient, sustainable position so the cyclist can get the most from every ride! When done with a comprehensive approach, bike fitting is also about injury prevention as much as it is about maximizing performance. Ultimately, as time permits, you will ride more frequently because your bike feels so good!
I don’t want to clip into pedals. Can you still fit my bike?
Yes. We understand the confidence that some riders need to develop. We also realize that a person may have physical or structural constraints that may contribute to not having clip in pedals. Whatever the reason, we help the cyclist to become mindful of their foot position on the platform pedals. Even though there aren’t cleats, there are still considerations for the person using platform pedals.
I want a custom bike. How will a bike fitting help?
A custom bike is a personal approach to a bike’s design. The same comprehensive approach is used, but there will be more conversation related to desired characteristics of the way a bike handles for the rider. Being an experienced fitter, and having worked with various frame builders, we know more details to inquire about to get the best custom bike, designed for the individual rider with individual ride qualities. This is often a beneficial opportunity to work on the Retül MUVEor Serotta Size Cycle to provide the frame designer with very thorough data.
The bike shop near me does bike fitting. Why should I make an appointment with you?
Our commitment to the process of bike fit has been established for as long as we have been in business and at this point, that is almost 20 years! This is not a ‘trend’ to us and we are genuinely interested in helping a rider maximize their riding time. We provide a thorough approach to the bike fit process as a result of numerous certifications, classes, instructional time, thousands of bike fit hours with recreational and elite athletes, and the continuous investment in bike fit tools. We can only speak to our abilities and results, and we’d encourage you to take the time with Benidorm Bikes and BikeFitCT.
I’m not in a lot of pain on my bike. Would you just take a look at me?
Anyone on our staff can take a look at a rider, but a bike fit is performed by Jan. A “look at” approach can easily overlook a consideration. Because of our positive fit reputation, we don’t want to put ourselves in a predicament. Pain is not always the indication that your bike isn’t properly set up for you. The onset of pain may just take more miles and that isn’t really worth the wait. We are certainly willing to listen and advise accordingly.
Do you fit bikes for people that have physical limitations and are unsure of riding a bike?
We like to think out of the box! Most constraints have a solution that may be achieved through numerous steps. The most important considerations are to work within one’s abilities and continue to make progress along the way. We have worked with prosthetists to help in the design of an ‘exoskeleton’ for a rider with significant muscle atrophy, and have worked with custom bike designers to address individual needs of cyclists. With open communication, understanding of the cyclist’s goals, our knowledge of custom bike design and the importance of shifting and braking technology, we will help to develop that riding confidence, all within realistic and safe considerations.
I think I need a new saddle because my existing one is not comfortable. Can you help?
Yes! There is an extensive selection of saddles to consider. Through years of experience, one’s saddle discomfort may be associated with an improper bike fit position. Let us help you understand the importance of this ‘platform’ before you start a collection of saddles. It may just be that you need a bike fitting to get your existing saddle in the correct position!
Will you give me a bike fitting when I buy a new bike?
The bike fitting fee is always separate from a bike purchase. In some cases, the bike fitting takes place before the bike purchase or custom bike design to aid in that decision. Our bike fit service combines thousands of hours of bike fit time with cutting edge technology to help in addressing every fit experience.