Rad & Sport Blaichach in Germany’s Allgäu region is fully committed to creating a standout in-store experience, with a modern retail space, an open workshop, and a strong cycling community built around regular events. Smartfit is firmly integrated into the sales process—from quick bike sizing to in-depth bike fitting for custom builds. In this interview, Leonie Stüken explains how Smartfit gives customers greater confidence when choosing the right bike size and makes the shop’s commitment to quality visible throughout the customer journey.

Leonie, tell us who you are and what sets your shop apart.

Leonie: Our bike shop has been at this location in Germany’s Allgäu region since 1994. My partner, Simon Alt, took over the business in 2018 through a traditional business succession, without any family connection to the previous owner. At the time, the shop covered around 300 square meters, or 3,200 square feet, and had one full-time employee and two apprentices. Simon was also completing his master-level qualification in bicycle mechanics before joining the business full-time.

Over the years, we have extensively modernized the shop. In 2022, we doubled the retail space. Today, we have around 600 square meters, or 6,500 square feet, a highly modern setup, and a team of 11 full-time employees. Simon is a true perfectionist when it comes to bikes, while I primarily handle brand management, marketing, HR, and all the organization behind the scenes.

What is especially important to you about your concept?

Leonie: For us, the focus is clearly on high-quality advice and service—especially in the shop itself. It’s all about the in-store experience. We want customers to feel comfortable and enjoy coming back.
We have a very open retail and service concept. Even if someone bought their bike online, secondhand, or from another shop, they are always welcome here. We offer service as well as bike fitting and bike sizing packages for everyone.

Our community rides are open to all riders, regardless of where they purchased their bike. We see a strong need for this, especially because many people buy online but still want expert support and guidance for everything related to cycling.

How do you integrate Smartfit into your concept?

Leonie: Our goal is to offer Smartfit to as many customers as possible, particularly for bike sizing. Customers are often unsure which of two frame sizes is right for them. In those cases, we usually put them on the Smartfit system during their first visit—often without an appointment, as long as the station is available.

We generally conduct a full bike fit once the customer has mostly decided on a bike. Virtually every bike leaves our shop with a personalized setup, whether it is a road bike or an e-mountain bike. We frequently adjust components such as the stem, handlebar width, seatpost, and saddle to suit the individual rider.

We also work extensively with SQlab components across all bike categories and incorporate them into the process. Overall, Smartfit comes up in nearly every sales consultation.

A significant part of our business also involves fully customized bike builds. Customers travel to us from across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for these projects—and Smartfit always plays an important role.

How did you first discover Smartfit, and what challenges were you hoping to solve?

Leonie: We first connected with Smartfit through our regional sales representative, Robert Weinhofer. It quickly became clear to us that Smartfit was something we wanted—and needed—to integrate into our process. It primarily helps us in three areas:

1. Making bike sizing tangible: Customers can see actual measurements and gain a better understanding of frame sizing. Even the basic data often reveals that people have misjudged their height or body proportions.
2. Professionalism and quality: For us, Smartfit is a clear indicator of quality. Especially in the performance segment, customers expect their bike to be properly set up for them.
3. Test rides and comparisons: During the winter, we also mount bikes on a Wahoo indoor trainer. We start with a sizing session and make a few quick adjustments to the bike, which creates a completely different test-ride experience. Smartfit also makes it easy to compare bike geometries and models side by side.

For us, Smartfit is a must-have—especially when selling performance bikes such as road and gravel bikes, as well as custom builds. One thing we’ve clearly noticed is that awareness of and demand for bike sizing and bike fitting have grown significantly within the cycling community in recent years.

In the past, these services were often seen as something only professional riders needed. Today, far more cyclists understand their value—and we think that’s exactly how it should be.