Photo: ThömusA Great Cycling Experience Starts with Bike Fitting
At Thömus’ headquarters in Oberried, bike fitting is carried out to the highest standards. Sylvain Fragnière works in the Bike Fitting Lab, where he ensures that every bike is perfectly matched to its rider.
In this interview, he explains how Thömus uses the Smartfit Q5, why precise bike fitting makes such a difference, and how the technology benefits both retailers and customers.
Sylvain, tell us a little about Thömus and what you do.
Sylvain: Thömus is a Swiss bike manufacturer with 13 Thömus Bike World locations across Switzerland. We offer a wide range of high-quality bikes—from everyday models to high-end road bikes—supported by a nationwide network of service and expert advice.
I work at our headquarters in Oberried in the Bike Fitting Lab, where we offer professional bike fitting and performance testing. Most customers come to us because they are looking for a new bike. Every Thömus bike can be fully customised, allowing us to build it around the rider’s individual needs.
We also work with customers who already own a bike. Through a professional bike fitting, we can adjust their existing setup to suit their body, riding style, and personal goals.
You’ve worked with several bike-fitting systems. What do you see as the key strengths of the Smartfit Q5?
Sylvain: What impresses me most about the Smartfit Q5 is its efficiency and precision. You can carry out a highly detailed fitting in under an hour, which is something I have not experienced with any other system. The camera-based analysis is extremely professional, and the automatically generated report gives customers something tangible to take away with them. They can review their data and results at their own pace afterwards. As a bike fitter, I really value that because it creates transparency and helps build trust.
What challenges do you face in-store, and how do Smartfit systems help you overcome them?
Sylvain: Many customers fall between two frame sizes, and Smartfit helps us determine the best option with precision. Choosing the right stem length is another major challenge, as there is no standard solution—it has to be tailored to the individual rider. Using the rider’s body measurements, Smartfit enables us to provide a personalised, professional consultation. This reduces the risk of choosing the wrong frame size and helps customers feel comfortable on their bike from the very first moment.
What tangible benefits have you seen from using Smartfit?
Sylvain: Smartfit does not necessarily make the consultation shorter, but it makes it significantly more valuable. The results are precise, objective, and easy for customers to understand.
Although I cannot provide exact conversion figures, we can clearly see that the investment is paying off. It sets us apart from retailers that do not offer a professional fitting system. Customer satisfaction has increased noticeably, and we receive many recommendations through word of mouth. That shows that precise bike fitting in Switzerland is more than just an additional service—it is a genuine factor in our success.
Photo: ThömusFinally, what does bike fitting mean to you personally?
Sylvain: To me, bike fitting is not a luxury. It is the foundation of comfort, performance, and long-term well-being on the bike. Once you have experienced what a perfectly adjusted bike feels like, you never want to go back. That is something we see every day at Thömus—when customers get on their bike after a fitting and ride away with a smile.
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