We are based in Calgary, offering insurance-billable bike fitting done by experienced physiotherapists. We are proud to be the only Retul certified bike fitting physiotherapists in Western Canada.
In an effort to combine the medical training of a physiotherapist with the biomechanical knowledge of a professional bike fit specialist, Intrinsi has partnered with The Bike Shop to offer physiotherapy bike fitting services. We use industry-leading bike fitting technology coupled with a physiotherapy-based biomechanical assessment to perfect your bike fit for performance, comfort, and injury prevention.
The Tech
“The most advanced technology available for improving comfort, reducing injury and increasing performance”.
Retul Premium Bike Fit System: A real-time 3D motion capture system that measures and records biomechanical data while you ride. 3D real time fit data is an essential component of an accurate fit.
We are the only Professional Bike Fitters in Western Canada offering this service.
GebioMized: Cutting-edge saddle force mapping tool that illustrates pressure and movement on the saddle while riding to improve the accuracy of saddle selection. Essential information for a bike fitter to objectively assess saddle fit.
Specialized Body Geometry: Physical assessment and fit process supported by a range of fit-conscious bike fitting products through Specialized
Our fitters are physiotherapists trained in Retul technology who specialize in treating cyclists, triathletes, and runners both in the clinic and fit studio. We provide the missing link between the biomechanical knowledge of a fitter and the medical knowledge of a physiotherapist.
Spencer earned his Bachelors of Kinesiology from the University of Calgary and his Masters in Physiotherapy from the University of Alberta. He’s worked in bike stores in one way or another for almost 10 years alongside his education and physiotherapy career.
Spencer is active in the cycling community and experienced in many cycling disciplines. A former varsity competitive runner, he has achieved Category 3 in road racing and Expert level in cyclocross. More frequently, he is a single-speed commuter and weekend warrior on the mountain bike. He has cycle-toured across Canada, and completed multi-week tours in Australia, New Zealand, and Arizona.
As a physiotherapist and bike fitter Spencer has worked with more than 500 cyclists ranging from commuters and recreational bike path cyclists to professional road racing cyclists and triathletes.
Jon
Jon trained as a Physiotherapist in Manchester, UK. He has vast experience working in various areas of Physiotherapy, including in professional sports for Manchester City Football Club, Bora Cycling and Triathlon Canada.
Jon lives and breathes triathlon and has been a keen supporter of local and international partners in the sport.
As a physiotherapist and bike fitter, Jon has worked with some of the best in the industry, including the former 5th in the world at under 23 level and one of the few men to break the 8 hour Ironman record.
Spencer and Jon believe that everyone should feel comfortable on their bike, whether it be for cruising in the city, achieving a bucket list race or aiming to slash a personal best.
The Fits
Basic Fit – $225 – 75 mins
This option is suitable for newcomers to cycling who are not complaining of pain and are just looking to get started in the correct position on the bike. This fit focuses on saddle and handlebar height and positioning. This option is not suited for riders who are injured or those who are experiencing pain with cycling. Also not appropriate for triathlon aerobar bikes.
Complete Fit – $399 – 2.5 hours
Our most popular fit. A comprehensive bike fit assessing every aspect of fit including cleat positioning, saddle selection, saddle and handlebar positioning, and factors such as bike handling, aerodynamics, and medical considerations as appropriate.
Appropriate for cyclists with clip in pedals, performance goals, injury considerations, and high mileage training.
Includes a fit report so your measurements can be applied to other bicycles, and physiotherapy recommendations and treatment plan as required.
Frame Sizing – $250 – 90 mins
A fit session focused on ensuring your purchase of an appropriately-sized bicycle. Try up to 5 different bicycles of almost any brand and size on our Retul Müve bike. The Muve bike can be configured to most bicycle geometries and will allow you and your fitter to select the ideal size of a given bicycle depending on your preferences and goals. You will leave the appointment with size and brand recommendations, and fit measurements that will let you or a bicycle store set up a bike accordingly. Useful for purchasing new bicycles and ensuring test rides are performed with a correct fit which can be a massive source of error when purchasing.
Follow-Up Fit – $175 – 60 mins
A bike fit for clients with a previous Intrinsi & The Bike Shop fit. Bike fits can be a dynamic process and the ideal fit can change with time. For a new or different bike, we recommend a Basic or Complete fit.
FAQ
1. Can I bring multiple bikes?
For triathlon and time trial bikes which require a more detailed process, please bring only one bike to your fit.
For other bikes (road, mountain, cyclocross, endurance, hybrid) you can bring up to 2 bikes if desired. However, be aware that bringing more than one bike will necessarily decrease the time spent on each. You will be provided with fit measurements after the fit to apply to other bicycles as desired.
2. Is there a discount for fitting multiple bikes?
We know that many on two wheels believe in the ‘N plus 1’ rule. Talk to us about multiple bike packages!
3. What should I bring?
Bring your bicycle, shoes & pedals, a water bottle, and your riding clothing. Tighter fitting is preferred to assist with camera biomechanical measurements. If you have other saddles, stem, handlebars etc. that you are considering, bring them as well. Bring any extra headset or aerobars spacers or components if applicable.
4. Insurance Billable?
The session is billable as a traditional physiotherapy assessment and treatment, and an insurance receipt including the practitioner’s license number will be provided. We recommend contacting your insurer for enquires for what amount will be covered under your specific plan.
5. Where does the fitting take place?
Due to the popularity of our service, we are excited to now offer fits out of both the Bike Shop Central and the Bike Shop South locations.
Please be aware of which location you are booking.
6. Can I get shoes, pedals, cleats etc during the fit session?
Our fitters can help you select appropriate equipment from The Bike Shop inventory. It is a more efficient use of your fit time if you purchase these items in advance with advice from retail staff.
7. Which type of fit am I looking for?
If the descriptions on the website are insufficient, please contact the Intrinsi reception team at 403-229-9214 or care@intrinsi.ca and they will be happy to assist.
8. When is the best time to get a fit?
The spring and early summer gets busy with wait times as long as 6-7 weeks. Offseason is better for availability. From a performance perspective, Alberta cyclists generally complete much of their early season training indoors. Early season is the better time to make adjustments to prevent issues before they begin, ensure training in performed in an optimal position, and avoid significant fit changes immediately prior to goal events. Sometimes good changes to fit results in short term decreases in performance while the body adjusts.
9. Should I get a bike fit immediately with the purchase of a new bicycle?
A fit is typically recommended for any new bike. However, we can be more accurate during the fit process if you have ridden the bike a few times and have a sense of what is working and what’s not. Generally, we recommend 5-10 rides on a new bike before an in-depth fitting, starting with the initial fit (sizing) provided by the bike shop where the bike was purchased. If you have purchased a used bike and are starting without a fit, you can go either way depending on your confidence with selecting a beginning saddle height.
10. How often should I get a bike fit?
For regular cyclists a fit is closer to a haircut than a vasectomy. It’s not uncommon for your ideal fit to change through the cycling season as your flexibility, strength and control change. Many competitive cyclists receive fit tweaks several times a year as needed, or at the beginning of each season.
As a beginner road cyclist, I was experiencing a lot of knee pain when I moved to clipless pedals. I saw Spencer for a bike fit in June 2018. Not only did Spencer correct by knee issues but also improved my posture on the bike & made me a faster biker. Since my bike fit, I have completed two touring trip to Jasper & Vncouver from Calgary & also spent countless hours on the saddle without any issues at all! My wife also got a bike fit done from Spencer after me & she also can’t recommend him enough. Thanks a lot Spencer & Intrinsi for making us love biking more & more with each passing day ! Cheers!
– Sumit Chawla
Spencer did an amazing job fitting me on the bike. He spent a lot of time going over different stem length and saddle options to get it right. Being a physiotherapist, he has a great understanding of the body and how to fit for proper body alignment and to prevent injuries. I would highly recommend
– Julie Kelly
I’m a competitive road cyclist and was having considerable knee pain which was severely impacting my training. I had an off site bike fit with Spencer and immediately noticed a huge improvement. It’s amazing how such small and subtle changes can make a big impact to overall movement patterns. Spencer’s knowledge of bike related movement issues and his attention to detail are second to none. I highly recommend a fit with Spencer for both experienced racers and beginner cyclists alike. Thank you!
– Meghan Brown
For all questions related to Bike Fitting Services, please email your query to bikefit@intrinsi.ca
