Cycling Demystified - Bike Fit, Mechanics and Soft Issues

REPOST: We hope you've enjoyed this mini foot / shoe optimisation series. Wei has one final important message for all riders looking to improve their connection with their bike and have been considering or are currently exploring the foot optimisation tools we've been discussing... If you're not doing this one thing, then you are putting off the inevitable and only looking at the short...

REPOST: The fourth and final part of our mini series on foot & shoe optimisation. Our aim is to explore some of the finer details of bike fit to help you find the next level of connection with your bike! In this episode we explore the world of wedging... how can a couple of millimetres of plastic have such a profound effect on our connection with the bike?!? Listen in to find out why wedging i...

REPOST: The third part of our mini series on foot & shoe optimisation. Our aim is to explore some of the finer details of bike fit to help you find the next level of connection with your bike! In this episode we discuss the fascinating world of movement symmetry and how navigate leg length differences in the context of bike fitting. The hard truth is that you, as a human, are not symmetrical i...

REPOST: The second part of our mini series on foot & shoe optimisation. Our aim is to explore some of the finer details of bike fit to help you find the next level of connection with your bike! In this episode we: 1. Define the difference between Q-factor and stance width. 2. Give you examples of how it can affect your pedal stroke, foot comfort and pedalling efficiency. 3. The method you can...

REPOST: The first part of our mini series on foot & shoe optimisation. Our aim is to explore some of the finer details of bike fit to help you find the next level of connection with your bike! Have you tried a more rearward cleat position? Do your shoes even allow you to achieve your optimal cleat position? And what are the advantages of using a more rearward cleat position? If you've ever pon...

REPOST of one of our most popular episodes from the Ten Pillars of Bike Fitting Series This week Matt, Wei and Ev explore the first pillar of bike fitting: What you need to know about cleat positioning. Your feet are your foundations upon which you can stack performance. So getting your cleat position right is the critical first step in building a strong and sustainable foundation. Blog article: ⁠...

REPOST of the second part of our conversation with master bike fitter Tony Corke. PART 2 of 2: CYCLING SHOES & INSOLES  Wei sits down with master bike fitter, Tony Corke, for the second part of their conversation about the role of cycling specific shoes and why insoles are far more important in cycling compared with running and walking.  If you’ve been struggling to get your feet comfortable w...

Since we've been talking about shoes recently here's a repost from one of our most interesting conversations regarding shoe fit with master bike fitter Tony Corke. PART 1 of 2: CYCLING SHOES & INSOLES What should you really be looking for from an ideal fitting cycling shoe? Wei goes deep with master bike fitter, Tony Corke about cycling shoes (racing slippers!) They delve into how to f...

This week I have a fascinating conversation for you with Tyler Benner, founder of Strong Feet Athletics, who have just brought to market, what many are calling, a true barefoot cycling shoe. As someone who has struggled with cycling shoe fit for years, I couldn't wait to get chatting to Tyler and quiz him on the story behind this shoe which goes boldly against all the mainstream shoe designs w...

This week the team go back to the future and are joined on the show by Ev, head mechanic at Frequency Cycleworks, to shoot the breeze on what the future holds for the bike industry... What will the new Specialized Aethos look like? What trends will stick, what will fall by the wayside? What actually constitutes a great bike, both from a performance point of view but also from an ease of purchasing...

Do you know how to dismantle a bike? Do you understand which parts can be adjusted adjusted on your modern road bike , and how this can improve you comfort and performance? As bike fitters we see every side of the equation... From the consumers perspective, from the point of view of manufacturers and bike brands and of course as practitioners who are here to help navigate the choices you have when...

Inspired by the uphill time trial and the Queens stage of the Tour de France, the team sit down to discuss young Matt's recent theory around the difference in chasing maximal vs marginal gains for amateur riders vs. pro riders. Listen in for some lessons we learnt from the tour, how avoiding stupidity is better than seeking brilliance and Mat's survey of all the common seat height methods...

REPOST: Ev ended episode ( 105: Are bikes too expensive? ) by suggesting that we are living in the golden age of bike fit . We couldn't let that one lie, so in this episode we dive into the reasons why we could be living through a golden age for bike fit. Or more specifically, is bike fitting now more relevant than it has ever been? Has the advent of integrated cockpits and proprietary seat posts...

Nic returns the the podcast, this time she is over in London from Sydney IRL! We're grateful for her taking some time out of busy holiday schedule to talk to us about her experience as a physio and bike fitter... Specifically about how we can use bike fitting and other interventions to improve injury prevention and how we can take riders through a process of improving their performance through...

The brace of Matts are back for another discussion about a very common bike fit issue... One that is well know but even experienced rider, including pros, get wrong... Could the confirmation bias be the most significant reason why so many riders still set their saddle heights too high. Listen on to find out... Discover YOUR Perfect Saddle Height in 5 Simple Steps Without An Expensive Bike Fit or G...

REPOST: Ep 76: The Use of Body Patterns in Bike Fitting, with John Higgins Today's episode is all about pattern recognition in bike fitting and although this tends to fly under the radar, pattern recognition is essentially the basis for AI, motion capture systems like Retul and actually how human bike fitters assess riders with their eye. In fact humans are built to be extremely good at patter...

Mat returns from holiday full of energy this week! The team sit down to discuss "The Dip"... The tricky period after a bike fit where things seem to be getting worse, after they were initially much better... Is this to be expected? Is it normal? And what should you do if you find yourself in "The Dip" Join us for more philosophical meanderings around how to approach progress, what to do when thing...

Repost: The second part of our mini series on foot & shoe optimisation. Our aim is to explore some of the finer details of bike fit to help you find the next level of connection with your bike! In this episode we: 1. Define the difference between Q-factor and stance width. 2. Give you examples of how it can affect your pedal stroke, foot comfort and pedalling efficiency. 3. The method you can...

Repost of a previous episode where we discusses everything you need to know flat pedals vs. clipless (clip-in?!?) pedals. Why do mountain bikers prefer flat pedals? Could roadies gain an advantage by riding flats? And why are clip-in pedals called "Clipless"? Finally we couldn't talk about pedals without talking about shoes... so if you're interested in why a Last is called Last...

Repost of one of our most popular episodes... Did you know there are at least 7 distinct sizing variables that you should be considering when choosing your drop handlebars? This is a really packed episode where the team discuss all aspects of handlebars... including the biomechanical considerations of drop bars vs flat bars, how our shoulder stability can affect the effectiveness of our pedalling,...

Sometimes the truth is hard to hear... Our job as bike fitters is to help riders find their truth... And once you have found your truth, you can make better bike buying decisions. Unfortunately the it can be difficult to understand that need, but it's becoming more an more important to ask these questions in the modern era, where bikes are becoming more expensive, less adjustable and harder to...

Wei and the two Matts join forces again to discuss Young Matt's latest bike purchase... How has he been dealing with 172.5mm cranks on this new bike when he usually rides 160mm? And from this point we end up discussing whether or not riders who rotate through different bikes or bike positions actually become better or more robust athletes. Should this be something you do? If you have one bike,...

Wei is joined by a brace of Matts to discuss the pros and cons of 3D printed saddles... Are they really worth it? Is Fizik's Custom 3D saddle programme aware of this problem? Where would be a good application for a 3D printed saddle? And are they any better than a Brooks leather saddle? Join the discussion for more insights from the bike fit team, and find out which saddles they have been test...

Bike fitting often concerns itself with solving a particular problem or goal which is results in a specific solution - relevant for a specific rider at a specific time... But can you flip this on it's head? Is it possible to be a "Jack of All Trades" rider? Can you compete in a crit race and in the same week comfortably ride a long distance sportive? Matt & Wei sit down to discus...

Now the dust has settled on the 2025 Paris Roubaix race, Matt and Wei provide insights on the unique challenge Paris Roubaix presents for pro and amateur riders both from an equipment choice point of view and but also a bike fit point of view... Do you need to change your bike position if you're taking on Paris Roubaix? The team discusses what changes you could make and for what reason... And as y...