It’s one of the great paradoxes of recreational cycling. People are quick to spend 5,000 euros or more on a road bike, and a four-figure sum on top of that for lighter wheelsets. But when it comes to a bike fitting costing 250 euros, they suddenly hesitate. ‘I’m not spending that much on it’ is a phrase you hear time and time again in cycle shops and clubs. The same applies to training: people are happy to invest in power metres and smart trainers, but then ride their intervals based on gut feeling. The fact is, even the most expensive bike is of little use if your body isn’t positioned correctly on it and your training isn’t structured. Major bike manufacturers such as Canyon now even offer this kind of bike fitting at several locations across Germany.
Bike fitting: perhaps the best investment you can make for your bike
With a bike fitting, the bike is adapted to your body, not the other way round. Saddle height and offset, handlebar position, stem length and cleat position are adjusted so that you can ride efficiently, pain-free and with as little fatigue as possible. Depending on the package, a professional bike fitting usually costs between 150 and 300 euros and takes two to three hours, including a detailed analysis of your body and riding position.
Compared to the cost of a road bike, that’s a manageable amount. And unlike with many other equipment upgrades, you’ll notice the difference straight away. An incorrect saddle height can cause knee pain in the long run, a position that’s too stretched puts strain on your neck and back, and incorrectly adjusted cleats lead to problems in your hips and feet. Numb hands, discomfort whilst sitting and the feeling of being ‘done’ after 40 kilometres often have less to do with fitness than with your riding position.
That’s why, unlike a trainer, a bike fit isn’t just for ambitious cyclists. Anyone who cycles several times a week, plans longer rides or has ever experienced discomfort will benefit, even if they’re just a casual cyclist. It’s particularly useful when buying a new bike. Ideally, the fitting should take place before you buy, as this allows you to determine the right frame size and geometry straight away.
A tip when choosing: Good fitters don’t just rely on static measurements; they watch you dynamic when pedalling, ask about any symptoms, goals and range of motion, and offer a follow-up appointment. It takes the body a few weeks to get used to a new position; minor adjustments afterwards are normal.
The coach: Structure rather than gut feeling
With structured training, the approach is different to that of a bike fit, as it depends very much on what you want to achieve. Anyone who genuinely wants to get faster but doesn’t have a background in sports science can benefit enormously from a coach. Training is about more than just riding hard. It’s about finding the right balance between base training, intensity and recovery, about effective interval sessions, and about planning for a seasonal peak. Intervals based on how you feel are often either too hard to complete properly or too easy to provide a real challenge. The result is, above all, one thing: fatigue without progress. A good coach also tailors the plan to your life – that is, to your job, family and those weeks when things just don’t go to plan.
Added to this is an effect that should not be underestimated: motivation. When someone is checking to see whether you’ve done your workout, it becomes much harder to come up with excuses on a rainy Tuesday evening. For many, it is precisely this sense of accountability that is the real game-changer.
However, unlike a one-off bike fitting, it isn’t cheap. Online coaching in Germany usually starts at 80 euros a month, but can quickly run to considerably more, depending on how intensive the support is. Over the course of a year, this adds up to a tidy sum, which is often equivalent to the price of a good set of wheels. The difference is that a set of wheels makes you a few seconds faster, whereas a good training plan can, in some cases, save you minutes.
Who shouldn’t bother with a coach
But one thing is also clear: not everyone needs a coach. Anyone who spends their weekends cycling leisurely along country lanes, with no particular destination in mind and no focus on wattage, simply for the joy of cycling, doesn’t need a plan. On the contrary: a regime that’s too strict can actually spoil the fun.
For everyone in between, there’s a compromise: fitness apps and ready-made training plans. They bring structure to your training without the need for a personal trainer. If you’re good at motivating yourself and have a basic understanding of how to manage your training, these can take you a long way.
Conclusion: Bike fitting – yes; a coach – perhaps
If you want to allocate your budget wisely, you should reverse the order. A bike fitting comes first, as it’s worth it for almost anyone who cycles regularly. Next comes training: if you’re serious about getting faster, you’re better off investing in a coach – or at least a structured training plan – rather than the next lightweight component. And only then should you consider the kit. After all, even the fastest bike in the world is of little use if you’re uncomfortable on it and training without a plan.
Leon Weidner
Editor