Already well-established across the international bike retail space, Body Scanning CRM is now expanding its offer to strengthen ‘the future of specialty retailing’. Based in Breuna, in central Germany, Body Scanning CRM is a bike fitting tool on the customer side and, on the retailer side, is a unique CRM service platform to assist retailers in their engagement with their customer base.
The tool therefore aims to provide a ‘good fit’ for retailers – enabling a focus on customized sales and marketing funnels.
As seen at Eurobike, ‘the integrated CRM solution can open a bi-directional communication between retailer/manufacturing and customer (e.g. via a newsletter) and connects with ERP as well. It matches a) stock and b) the right fitting bike in real time or offline.’
As with all bike fit solutions, Body Scanning CRM seeks to answer the key question: what’s your size? The company relates this to an athlete’s ‘anthropometry’ – the measurement of the human individual for the purpose of understanding human physical variation. From this, the varying questions posed by multisport and endurance sport athletes can be answered…
What is the best possible ergonomic adjustment for my bicycle? Which bicycle seat width would be optimal for me, considering my body weight, height and frame size? Which running shoe fits me best, while fulfilling all of my biomechanical needs? What would be the correct length for the sleeve of my all-weather jacket? Which neoprene wetsuit will get me the best results in my next triathlon?
There are four main aspects measured by Body Scanning CRM:
- Bike – finding ideal ergonomic bicycle position and calculating perfect frame geometry
- Textile – extracting the measurements that are relevant for a clothing item, such as an all-weather jacket or neoprene wetsuit
- Seat – for automobile applications and the matching of man-machine interfaces
- Scan Your Feet – optimising the biomechanical demands made on the shoe; for running and walking as well as cycling shoes
The Body Scanning CRM bike solution was developed in cooperation with orthopaedic specialists, physiotherapists, cyclists and engineers. The system allows physical measurements to be taken without the need for direct physical contact between sales representatives and clients. A range of measurements are taken:
- Saddle height: the measurement process starts with the saddle measurement and its correct height.
- Saddle offset: Body Scanning CRM notes that the saddle offset or saddle position is crucial for the right feel and power while pedalling.
- Distance saddle – handlebar: the correct distance between the saddle and the handlebar will depend on upper body length and the seat position.
- Handlebar height: the handlebar height is adjusted relative to the saddle height. In this case there is a lot of tolerance; with three basic back postures: comfortable, mezzo and athletic, with many positions in between. These three seat positions, always correspond to the chosen bicycle category.
- Frame height: Body Scanning CRM states that the frame height is a tangential issue. Primarily, the three contact points where the rider touches the bicycle are important for the right ergonomic feel. When there were still diamond frames with horizontal top tubes, the frame height (usually measured from the bottom bracket to the centre of the top tube) was the indicator for the overall frame size. Although, in these times of sloping top tubes and spring mounted seat posts, the top tube length has emerged as a vital factor.
- Crank arm length: a longer crank arm means that more torque (rotational force) will be transferred to the bottom bracket. The difference between 175 mm and 177.5 mm means an approximate 1.5% increase in torque. That suggests the longer the crank, the more efficiency, which is basically correct – however, the physical abilities of the cyclist and leg length must be considered in the equation. With mountain bikes, ground clearance is an additional factor, which is why crank lengths of max. 175 mm are offered in this category. The standard-crank length with trekking and city bikes is 170 mm. In this case, the efficiency factor is less important than comfort. Body Scanning CRM notes that a racing cyclist with competitive ambitions requires other values yet again.
- Seat positions: The ergonomics of every cyclist are different. For example, it is important for the ergonomics of the city cyclist to have a comfortable seat; a, good view of the traffic; and quick mounting and dismounting ability at stops. By comparison, the racing cyclist depends on a streamlined seat, high pedalling frequency and ideal efficiency for perfect ergonomics.
