Bodyscanning: find the bike that really fits you
A new bike shouldn't just look good, it should feel good. With the Smartfit Q2 we measure you at our store using AI body tracking and work out the right frame size and riding position from that – before you decide on a bike. Less guesswork, fewer compromises, more fun on the bike. The manufacturer calls it bike sizing, we call it bodyscanning.
No appointment needed, and included when you buy a bike: just drop into our store in Debant near Lienz – we measure you and set your bike up to match.
At a glance
- Accuracy
- ± 2 mm
- Database
- over 120 brands, more than 50,000 models
- Result
- frame size plus ready-made set-up values
- Cost
- included when you buy a bike from us
- Appointment
- not needed – just drop by
- Where
- at our store in Debant near Lienz
Why the right size matters more than any component
A bike has three contact points: saddle, handlebar and pedals. If the distances between them don't match your body, even the best equipment won't help. A frame that is too long pulls you forward and loads your wrists and neck; one that is too short cramps your position and costs you power. A well-matched set-up improves power transfer and reduces the risk of overuse problems.
On top of that, frame sizes are not standardised. An “L” from one brand can be shorter than an “M” from another. Asking for a size label therefore doesn't get you far – what counts is matching your body measurements against the actual frame geometry of the model you are interested in.
How your bodyscan works
The process follows the three stages the manufacturer defines for the Q2.
Step 1Bodyscan
Talking it through
First we clarify what you have in mind: touring, everyday riding, sporty training or off-road. The intended use shapes the riding position – a city bike should be upright and give you a good view of traffic, a road bike aerodynamic and efficient.
The scan
You stand in front of the unit in normal sportswear. A high-resolution camera captures your body points and the software turns them into a virtual model of your body. You don't need to undress.
Inseam length
The single most important value for saddle height. It is measured with a sprung inseam gauge at a defined pressure – the one part of the measurement that involves contact, but one that is repeatable instead of depending on how someone holds a tape measure.
Step 2Bike choice and frame size
The result
The software compares your measurements against the built-in geometry database and names the right frame size within seconds – for the model you want and for the alternatives we have in stock.
Choosing in store
Based on the recommendation and your intended use, we pick out the bikes that genuinely come into question together. The size question is already settled at this point, which saves time and debate.
Step 3Saddle height and test ride
Setting up the bike
We set saddle height, saddle setback and handlebar position to your values using a laser meter. So you don't sit on a showroom bike – you sit on a bike that already fits you.
Test ride
The real test. Only on a test ride will you feel whether the calculated position suits you. We can fine-tune afterwards at any time – the measured values stay the basis.
What is worked out
The software calculates these values from your body measurements, and we then set them on the bike:
Saddle height
Measured from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the saddle. It follows mainly from your inseam length and determines whether your leg is sensibly extended at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Too low costs power and loads the knees, too high makes your hips rock.
Saddle setback
The horizontal distance between the bottom bracket axle and the nose of the saddle. It determines the angle at which your force acts on the crank, and is considered across the full pedal revolution rather than in a single position.
Saddle to handlebar reach
Depends on your torso and arm length and on the posture you want. It is the value that most strongly determines the frame length you need – and therefore the frame size.
Saddle-to-bar drop
The height difference between saddle and handlebar. There is deliberate room to manoeuvre here: comfortable, moderate or sporty. Which one fits depends on your intended use and your flexibility, and we agree on it together.
Crank length
Longer cranks generate more torque, but they don't suit every leg length and cadence. On a mountain bike, ground clearance comes into it as well, which is why 175 mm is usually the limit there. On trekking and city bikes 170 mm is standard, because comfort comes before efficiency.
And the frame height?
That is secondary today. Back when diamond frames had horizontal top tubes, it was the indicator for frame size. With sloping top tubes and dropper posts it says little – what counts are the three contact points and the top tube length.
The technology behind it
Measured in minutes, clearly recommended, confidently decided.
The Smartfit Q2 is made by Radlabor GmbH in Freiburg and built in Germany. It has one decisive advantage over the measuring jigs that used to be common: the result does not depend on how carefully somebody holds a tape measure.
AI body tracking
The software detects the relevant body points automatically and translates them into a pose estimation model – a virtual image from which the individual segment lengths are derived.
Accurate to ± 2 mm
Several images per measurement reduce the margin of error. For comparison: differences of 5 mm in saddle height are noticeable on longer rides.
50,000 models
The built-in geometry database covers over 120 brands. Your measurements are not run against a rule of thumb, but against the real geometry data of the bike you are interested in.
Laser meter
We transfer the calculated values onto the bike with a laser measuring device. That puts the saddle height exactly where it belongs, to the millimetre.
Who a bodyscan is worth it for
Ideal for you if you …
In detail, that means:
| If you … | … the scan gives you |
|---|---|
| are about to buy a new bike | certainty about the size before you spend money – and less risk of the bike not fitting later |
| fall between two sizes | a sound decision instead of a gut feeling |
| have discomfort on your current bike | a check of whether your riding position matches your body at all |
| are switching from trekking to a road bike or e-MTB | the right position for the new use rather than the familiar one |
| want to buy a bike online | measurements you can check against any geometry chart yourself |
Bike sizing or bike fitting?
The terms often get mixed up, but they mean two different things. So you know what you get from us:
Bodyscanning (bike sizing)
The starting point is your body measurements. From those we calculate the right frame size and a very good basic set-up – fast, repeatable and ideal before you buy.
This is what we offer with the Smartfit Q2.
Bike fitting
The starting point is how you ride your own bike, usually with motion analysis of your pedal stroke, saddle pressure mapping and several sessions. Worth it for persistent discomfort or competitive riding.
If that's what you need, we'll say so and point you to the right people.
For most customers the bodyscan is exactly the right thing: it answers the question that comes up before the purchase.
Who is behind the system
Smartfit is a brand of Radlabor GmbH in Freiburg, which by its own account draws on more than 25 years of experience in bike fitting and bike sizing. The systems are developed and built in Germany and are used by specialist retailers across Europe. You can read more on the manufacturer's page for the Smartfit Q2.
Just drop by
You don't need an appointment for the bodyscan. Come to our store during opening hours, we'll measure you and you'll test ride a bike that is already set up for you.
If you buy a bike from us, the bike sizing is included – there is no extra charge.
If you want to compare several specific bikes, let us know beforehand so we can have them ready. Call us on +43 4852 68866-0, from Germany on 0800 724 67 68, or write to info@fitstore24.com.