SENSEI Bike Fit · Fitting riders since 1976
Professional Bike Fitting in Brooklyn and Walnut Creek
An RA Cycles bike fit goes further than measurements. Our fitters have spent nearly 50 years learning how fit numbers behave on real bikes, so the position you leave with suits your body, your riding and the bike you ride.
Road, Gravel, MTB and Track fits $400 · Triathlon fits $450 · Follow-up fit included
- 1976 The year we started fitting in Brooklyn
- 1,000s of riders fit
- 40+ bike brands fit, custom builders included
- Free follow-up fit within a month
Why RA Cycles
Fit numbers are the start. Knowing what to do with them is the fit.
Any good fitter can measure you and produce a saddle height, a reach and a drop. The hard part comes after that. Fit numbers almost always land in a range, and that range can work on more than one frame size and more than one setup. Two riders with the same measurements can belong on different bikes.
That's where an RA Cycles fit is different. We look at how your weight balances between the saddle and the bars, how the bike was engineered to handle, and how you're going to ride it. Then we work out where in your range you belong.
Every fit leaves some variance. We show you where it is and which way to take it.
That matters on the bike you own today, and it matters even more when you're choosing the size of your next one.
The SENSEI method
We guide. You ride.
A sensei doesn't hand a student a rulebook. A sensei watches, listens and guides each student toward what works for them. We fit the same way. There's no template to squeeze you into and no formula that overrules how your body feels on the bike. Every rider is different, so every fit is different.
What we're looking for is the point where three things meet:
X
Comfort
The foundation of every fit. If your body isn't at ease, the rest won't last past the first hour of a long ride.
Y
Power
A position that lets you push hard and put that effort into the pedals efficiently, so you ride at your strongest.
Z
Aerodynamics
The most streamlined position you can hold while keeping your comfort and your power.
Where those three meet is your fit. It won't be a pro's position copied onto you. It's the position that makes you the best rider you can be.
Rider first
Your feedback drives the fit
You know your body better than anyone, so we pay close attention to what you feel on the bike. We know the science and the math of bike fitting, and we use both. If your body is happier slightly outside the textbook range, we respect that.
In the vast majority of our fits, listening to the rider leads to a position that matches the science anyway. Experience has taught us to trust both.
It starts with you, then the bike
- A full body assessment before you get on a bike: flexibility, posture, side-to-side differences and injury history
- Position testing on a specialty fit bike, using power data
- Your own bike set to your final position
- Equipment check: shoes, pedals, saddle, bars and more
Unbiased advice
We fit the rider, whatever bike you ride
We sell bikes and we'd be glad to sell you one. Our mission is to keep you riding. If the bike you own can be set up to fit you well, we'll tell you and set it up. If it can't, we'll tell you that as well and help you find a size and model that will, even if you end up buying it somewhere else.
You'll get honest advice and no pressure to buy a bike, a part or anything else.
Our history
Nearly 50 years of fitting, across more than 40 brands
RA Cycles founder Philip Cabbad began fitting riders in Brooklyn in 1976. From the late '70s through the '90s he fit Masters Olympians and many of the top racers in the Brooklyn race scene. In the late '90s Albert Cabbad helped modernize triathlon fitting, and he has kept moving our methods forward as fitting has changed.
Many of our original fitters still work here. Together the team has completed thousands of fits on more than 40 bike brands, from current race bikes to handmade frames. We fit any bike, not only the ones we sell. That's how we know how a geometry will feel before you ride it, and why we can help you choose between two sizes that both "fit."
Brands we fit often
- 3T
- Argon 18
- Bianchi
- BMC
- Cervélo
- Colnago
- De Rosa
- ENVE
- Felt
- Look
- OPEN
- Pinarello
- Ridley
- Scott
- Van Rysel
- Wilier
Custom builds, including
- Moots
- Serotta
- Passoni
- Officina Battaglin
- and many more
Your fitters
Meet the team
Walnut Creek, CA
Tim Jannisse, PT, DPT
Board-certified Orthopedic PT · Serotta-certified fitter
A Bay Area native, Tim earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at UCSF and became a certified bike fitter through the Serotta International Cycling Institute. He's a board-certified Orthopedic Physical Therapist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. Tim combines that clinical background with a passion for cycling to help riders with comfort, performance and longevity on the bike.
Brooklyn, NY
Jonathan Fey
Fitting riders since 2014 · Retül trained
Jonathan has helped cyclists ride more comfortably and efficiently since 2014. He's trained in the Retül system and draws on methods from across the bike fit world, with more than a decade of experience fitting riders of every type.
Pricing
What's included
We offer fits for every discipline. Every fit includes the same full process and a free follow-up.
Road, Gravel, MTB and Track
$400
A complete fit for your discipline, on your bike.
Triathlon and Time Trial
$450
Aero positions take extra time and detail to get right.
- A full body assessment before we touch the bike
- About 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes with your fitter. If your fit needs longer, we keep going.
- A specialty fit bike and power data to test positions
- Your bike adjusted to your final position
- Your fit data saved to your RA Cycles account. Sign in with your email to see it anytime.
- A free follow-up fit within a month. Riding real roads can show things the studio can't, and a small adjustment afterward is normal.
Add-on: custom footbeds, made on site. $150 plus the cost of the footbed.
Mechanic labor
Adjusting your bike to your final position is part of every fit. Mechanic labor to swap or install parts, such as a new stem, handlebar or saddle, is not included in the fit price for bikes not bought from RA Cycles. If you buy your bike from us, that labor is included when your fit is done with the original build. If you take the bike home and get fit later, any new labor is additional.
Buying a factory-spec bike?
A factory-spec bike comes as the manufacturer built it. Factory bikes cost less than an equivalent custom build, but they don't include customization. If your fit calls for different parts or changes, those are at the buyer's cost.
Before you come in
What to bring
Bring everything you normally ride with. Your fitter can spot problems with your equipment, even ones that have nothing to do with fit.
If you arrive without shoes, pedals or cycling clothing, you'll need to buy them in store to complete your fit.
- Your bike
- Your pedals (required)
- Cycling shoes and the socks you ride in
- Shorts or bibs and a jersey
- Gloves
- Your helmet. Yes, really.
Book online
Book your SENSEI Bike Fit
Choose your studio and discipline, then pick a day and start time.
Bike fit deposit policy
Bike fit bookings require a 20% deposit. Deposits are non-refundable within 72 hours of your appointment. If you cancel more than 72 hours before your appointment, your deposit is refunded minus a credit card and processing fee of 10% of the deposit.
Miami is opening soon, and fits are already available
Online booking for Miami isn't open yet. Email us at support@ricycles.com and we'll set up your appointment.
Studio pages: Brooklyn bike fitting · Walnut Creek bike fitting
FAQ
Bike fit questions
How much does a bike fit cost?
Road, gravel, mountain bike and track fits are $400. Triathlon and time trial fits are $450 because aero positions take extra time and detail. Every fit includes a free follow-up fit within a month. Custom footbeds made on site are an optional $150 plus the cost of the footbed.
Is a deposit required to book a fit?
Yes. Bike fit bookings require a 20% deposit. Deposits are non-refundable within 72 hours of your appointment. If you cancel more than 72 hours before your appointment, your deposit is refunded minus a credit card and processing fee of 10% of the deposit.
How long does a bike fit take?
Plan on about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes. We don't watch the clock. If your fit needs more time, we take it.
Is mechanic labor included in my fit?
Adjusting your bike to your final position is part of every fit. Mechanic labor to swap or install parts, such as a new stem, handlebar or saddle, is not included in the fit price for bikes not bought from RA Cycles. If you buy your bike from us, that labor is included when your fit is done with the original build. If you take the bike home and get fit later, any new labor is additional.
I'm buying a factory-spec bike. Are changes from my fit included?
A factory-spec bike comes as the manufacturer built it. Factory bikes cost less than an equivalent custom build, but they don't include customization. If your fit calls for different parts or changes, those are at the buyer's cost.
Do I need to buy my bike from RA Cycles?
No. We fit any bike, from any brand, whether you bought it from us or not. We regularly fit Pinarello, Colnago, Cervélo, BMC, Wilier, Look, OPEN, 3T and many more, plus custom frames from builders like Moots, Serotta, Passoni and Officina Battaglin.
Can a bike fit tell me what size bike to buy?
Yes, and it's one of the most useful times to get fit. Your fit numbers often work on more than one frame size. Our fitters know how different geometries handle and balance, so they can tell you which size suits your riding. If you can't get to a studio, our online sizing service can recommend a starting size from your measurements.
What happens at the follow-up fit?
Within a month of your fit, come back for a free follow-up. Riding outside sometimes shows something the studio can't, and we'll make any adjustments you need.
What's different about a triathlon bike fit?
A triathlon or time trial position has to be aerodynamic, comfortable enough to hold for a long time, and still leave you able to run. Pad position, extension setup and saddle position all interact, so these fits take more time and cost $450.
Do you fit gravel, mountain and track bikes?
Yes. We fit road, gravel, mountain, track and triathlon riders, and each discipline has its own fit priorities.
What should I bring to my bike fit?
Your bike, pedals (required), cycling shoes, the socks you ride in, shorts or bibs, a jersey, gloves and your helmet. If you don't have shoes, pedals or cycling clothing, you'll need to buy them in store to complete the fit.
Where can I see my fit results?
Your fit data is saved to your RA Cycles account. Sign in with your email to see it anytime, which helps when you set up a new bike, a rental or a travel bike.
Can I get a bike fit in Miami?
Yes. Our Miami store is opening soon and we can already fit riders there. Online booking isn't open yet, so email support@ricycles.com and we'll set up your appointment.
Ride the bike the way it was built to be ridden
Nearly 50 years of fitting experience, honest advice and a fit built around you.