Bike shop, physio or osteopath: who should do your bike fit?
Three professions now offer bike fits around Chambéry, Aix-les-Bains and Annecy. They do not do the same thing. Here is how to choose, honestly.
| Bike shop | Physiotherapist | Osteopath (at the practice) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Your measurements (leg length, inseam) and software | An assessment of the body: mobility, strength, history | An osteopathic examination: mobility, asymmetries, history, pain |
| Analysis while pedalling | Often yes, sometimes static | Yes, on an indoor trainer | Yes, on an indoor trainer, at real cadence |
| If a stiffness stops you adopting the position | The bike is adapted to the stiffness | Rehabilitation over several sessions | Hands-on treatment during the session, then setup |
| If you have tendon pain | Out of scope | Clinical assessment | Clinical assessment, soon complemented by ultrasound |
| Equipment sales | Yes, that is the business model | No | No |
| Prices seen in the area | €90 to €250 | €220 to €280 | €250 (€280 TT), cleats included |
| Who it is for | Pain-free cyclist, new bike, tight budget | Cyclist with established pain or in rehabilitation | Cyclist with pain or stiffness, triathlete, or anyone who wants a lasting position validated by a health professional |
Prices taken from the websites of providers in Chambéry, Aix-les-Bains and Annecy on 12 October 2026. They may change.
What osteopathy changes in practice
A cyclist whose back “pulls” after two hours rarely has a bike problem alone. They often have a hip that does not flex enough, a pelvis locked in posterior tilt or a stiff thoracic spine. You can raise the handlebar by 2 cm and mask the symptom. You can also restore mobility to the hip, then adjust the bike for a position that is both more efficient and more comfortable. The second option is the one I practise.
The other contribution, soon, is musculoskeletal ultrasound. When a knee hurts, knowing whether the patellar tendon is thickened, whether a bursa is inflamed or whether everything is normal changes the setup and the return to riding. I am trained in this examination and I am installing the equipment at the practice in the coming months.
What I do not do
I do not sell bikes, saddles or stems. I do not provide long-term rehabilitation: if you need a strengthening programme over several months, I refer you to a physio, and I adjust your bike alongside. I do not replace a sports doctor: a pain that cannot be explained by the position or by a tendon is referred on.
How to choose, in practice
- New bike, no pain, wanting a correct position: a good shop is enough. Or the basic bike fit at the practice (€90, 1 hour) if you prefer a health professional’s eye.
- Pain on the bike, stiffness, a history of injury: a health professional. An osteopath if you want the pain treated during the session, a physio if you need rehabilitation.
- Triathlon, time trial: a health professional who is a triathlete, ideally. The aero position is negotiated with the body, not with software.
See the comparison of options around Chambéry, Aix-les-Bains and Annecy
Your questions
Do a physio and an osteopath do the same bike fit?
Both are health professionals who examine the body before adjusting the bike, and both can do very good work. The osteopath adds hands-on treatment of a joint restriction during the session and, at the practice, ultrasound to assess a tendon objectively. The physio often brings rehabilitation and strengthening. The right choice depends on your problem.
Are bike-shop fits bad?
No. For a pain-free cyclist who wants a correct position on a new bike, a shop fit with a good technician does the job. Its limits: settings based on static measurements, no examination of the body, and a commercial interest in selling a component.
Why does your bike fit cost €250?
For 1.5 to 2 hours of work with a health professional, including the osteopathic examination, measurements, dynamic analysis, setup and a written report. Physios in the area charge between €220 and €280, shops between €90 and €250.
Pain on the bike? Let’s start with your body.
Appointments Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 8 pm, in Viviers-du-Lac. Book online any time or call 06 13 66 09 55.