Opening up after lockdown

As COVID-19 restrictions start to ease and bike fitters return to work, it’s important to remain safe and continue your infection-prevention protocols.

1 Clean surfaces after every fit

Sweat and other bodily fluids can help spread the virus so ensure surfaces are regularly cleaned between each visit. Use a standard soap and disposable paper towel first, as it’ll separate the virus from the contaminated surface and can be disposed of safely. A second wipe with sterilising solution will help ensure you keep your risk as low as possible.

2 Don’t just clean things that your client touches

When you touch your client and get their sweat on your hands, the virus may transfer to your computer keyboard, the tools you use and the seat you sit on. Touching these surfaces again later, perhaps during your lunch break, can result in the infection spreading. We all remember to protect our clients but it’s just as important to protect ourselves.

3 Ensure you and your client wear masks

Masks help protect others. They filter out 20-30% of airborne virus particles when breathing in, but when an infected person breathes out the virus is often attached to moisture droplets, which attach to the mask and never become airborne. Wearing a mask can help reduce viral particles in the air by over 90%. When sharing a confined space during a bike fit and breathing the same air for an extended period of time, wearing a mask is key to reducing your risk.

4 Use hand sanitiser

It’s good practice to ask your client to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser before they enter your fit studio. Some hand sanitisers remain active on your skin for hours after application, which can further help reduce risk of infection.

5 Screen your clients before the fit

If your client has experienced any virus symptoms in the last two weeks, reschedule their appointment. Whilst their symptoms might not be severe, that doesn’t mean that you won’t experience a much worse episode, or pass it on to someone who is unable to fight the virus. Remember, an easing of restrictions is not a green light to return to pre-Covid practices, just a sign that things are slowly starting to improve. However, they can quickly turn back again, so it’s important to remain vigilant and practice every infection control you can.

If you’re unable to fit due to COVID, the IBFI will pause your membership fees while you’re not working. Email andy@ibfi-certification.com for more information.