Bike fitting is often accused of being an easy up-sell for cycling retailers, but it is actually a crucial part of any bike set up.

Little changes, such as stem length and reach, can have a profound impact on performance and comfort.

Stem reach is an important part of bike fitting.

Here are our top 5 reasons to get yourself a bike fit, whether you have a new bike or just want to make sure your current one is the best fit.

1. Are you sitting comfortably?

Being comfortable on the bike doesn't just mean having a comfortable saddle, although that is part of it. Your position on the bike is important for preventing those aches and pains you may get on long rides, or which may build up over time if you ride short rides regularly. 

2. Power position

Your position on the bike isn't only important to maintain comfort, it also has an effect on your performance. If your cranks are too short, your saddle too high or your cleats positioned wrong it can affect the amount of power you are able to transfer through the pedals - which could mean the difference between winning or losing a race. 

3. Everybody has a different body

Whilst there are guides online on how to set your bike up to be a perfect fit, many of them won't take into account your own body quirks. It might be that you have one leg slightly longer than the other, or have some medical issue that means you need to ride in a more upright position. A professional bike fitting will take all of this into account.

4. A data mountain

A proper bike fitting service - like our Guru bike fitting in Nottingham, Derby and the East Midlands - will provide you with a heap of data during the fit in various positions. It will show you what the best stem length and saddle positions are by testing a vareity of combinations. 

5. Buyer's market

Once you have your perfect fit, you can customise your ride to ensure you're getting the best out of your performance. Once you have this information you can also look into the market for a new bike with complete confidence about the sizing specifications you need, allowing you to buy with confidence and that you aren't compromising on both comfort and performance.