Raptor Ready: Your bike fit
This guide is part of Raptor Ready: practical advice from the team behind Raptor. Every Raptor includes a full bike fit, and this is what happens at yours.
Why the fit comes first
Every Raptor starts with a full bike fit, before a single part goes on the frame. The measurements from your fit set your crank length, stem length and handlebar width, and we build the bike around them. It's the difference between a bike in the right size and a bike set up for you.
Your fit is with Chris at Cycling Performance, our specialist fit partner in Wimbledon. Allow about 2 hours, so there's time to get every detail right without rushing.
What happens at your fit
A chat about how you ride
Before you go anywhere near a bike, Chris will sit down with you and talk about your riding: what kind of riding you do, how long you've been at it, and any niggles or past injuries. Everything he decides later builds on this, so the more you tell him, the better your fit will be.
A head to toe look at you
Next, on the studio floor, Chris looks at you off the bike. He'll measure things like your shoulder width and take you through a few simple movement tests to see how flexible you are and how your body moves. It tells him what position you'll be comfortable holding before you start pedalling.
Onto the adjustable fit bike
You'll then ride an adjustable fit bike: a static bike where the saddle, bars and cranks can all be moved. Chris sets it to a starting position based on what he's learned so far, then adjusts it bit by bit towards your new setup while you ride.
Setting up the back of the bike
Chris works on the back of the bike first, because this is where your power comes from. He sets where the cleats sit on your shoes, how high your saddle is and how far forward or back it sits, and finds the right crank length for your legs. He films you riding from both sides, so he can see exactly how your hips, knees and ankles are moving and fine tune from there.
Then the front
With your position over the pedals sorted, Chris moves to the front of the bike. He works out how far you should reach to the bars, which is set by the length of your stem, and how wide your handlebars should be. Get these right and your back, shoulders and hands stay comfortable on long rides.
Your position, drawn up
Once you're both happy, Chris records your final position. He then produces a drawing of your bike with all your measurements on it, which confirms exactly which components we need to build it around you.
After your fit
Your fit data comes straight to us, and we build your Raptor by hand around it, with the crank length, stem length and handlebar width set for you. Your bike is ready to ride 7 days after your fit.
FAQs
How long does the fit take?
About 2 hours. It's worth keeping the rest of your morning or afternoon free so nothing feels rushed.
Who does my fit?
Chris at Cycling Performance in Wimbledon. He's our specialist fit partner and fits every Raptor rider.
When can I ride my bike?
Your Raptor is ready to ride 7 days after your fit.
Built around you
Every Raptor includes a full bike fit and is ready to ride 7 days after it.
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