Most riders have never had a professional bike fitting. They buy a bike off the floor, adjust the seat height by feel, and ride — sometimes for years — without realizing that persistent knee pain, numb hands, or lower back stiffness could be fixed with a proper fit.
A professional fitting is not the same as sizing a bike at the point of sale. It is a dedicated, hands-on session where a trained fitter assesses how your body interacts with your bike and makes precise adjustments to optimize comfort, power transfer, and injury prevention.
What a Professional Fitting Actually Involves
At Hanover Bikes and Fitting in Overland Park, our fitting process starts with you — not with a computer. Our fitters evaluate how your body moves, where it compensates, and how it fatigues over the course of a ride. This manual, body-aware approach gives us information that a 15-minute computer scan simply cannot capture.
We look at contact points (saddle, handlebars, pedals), joint angles, pelvic stability, and overall riding posture. From there, we make adjustments to cleat position, saddle height and fore/aft, handlebar reach and drop, and stem length — all based on what your body is telling us, not just what a measurement tool says.
Why Our Approach Is Different
What sets Hanover apart from other fitting options in the Kansas City area is the expertise behind the process. Mike Irwin, our head fitter, brings an occupational therapy background to bike fitting. OT training means he understands not just how the body is positioned, but how it moves, compensates for imbalances, and responds to sustained physical stress. This is especially valuable for riders dealing with injuries, chronic pain, or physical disabilities.
Bob Schroeder, our second fitter, comes from an engineering background with a degree from Wichita State University. His precision-driven approach ensures that every measurement and adjustment is methodical and repeatable.
Together, they offer something most bike shops in the KC metro cannot: a fitting program that combines clinical body awareness with engineering precision.
Who Benefits Most from a Professional Fitting
While every cyclist can benefit from a proper fit, our approach is particularly valuable for:
- Riders recovering from injury — hip replacements, knee surgery, back problems
- Riders with disabilities — adaptive fitting for unique physical needs
- Triathletes — aerodynamic positioning that does not sacrifice comfort or power
- Riders with persistent discomfort — numbness, pain, or fatigue that does not go away
- New cyclists — starting with a correct fit prevents bad habits and overuse injuries
We also offer a Saddle Test Ride Program, so you can try different saddle options as part of your fitting process before committing to a purchase.
Schedule Your Fitting
Fittings at Hanover Bikes are by appointment only. We offer Comfort, Road, Tri, Mountain, Tandem, Spin Cycle, Recumbent, and Consultation fittings.
Call us at (913) 363-9933 or email shop@hanoverbikes.com to book your session. You can also learn more about our fitting philosophy and meet the fitters on our fitting page.
Hanover Bikes and Fitting is located at 10380 Mastin Street in Overland Park, KS 66212.