In this first part of our deep-dive exploring the biomechanics of pedalling we examine how the bike itself creates the environment in which our body has to operate.

This dictates the options we have to create good movement. We challenge conventional algorithmic bike fits that rely purely on knee angles, reframing saddle height, cleat position, and crank length around whole-body movement.

By examining how foot stability calms the nervous system and how modern crank lengths relieve hip flexion, we explain how you can unlock both comfort and efficiency.

Finally, we wrap up with an insightful discussion on posture, breathing, and why we should view cycling as a dynamic, whole-body gait rather than just legs moving like isolated pistons.

Is this the reason why Pogacar and Contador are / were the greatest cyclists of their time?

Key Areas of Exploration:

The Two Pillars of Pedaling: Generating forward force (watts) and maintaining stability.

The "Sit-to-Stand" Test: This illustrates how hip extension, foot placement, and balance work together to mimic optimal muscle recruitment during a pedal stroke.

Foot Stability & Proprioception: Bike fitting starts at the foot.

Saddle Height vs. Leg Extension: Unlike running, where the leg fully extends, cycling is constrained.

Optimizing Crank Length & Hip Angles: Shorter cranks are becoming essential—especially on modern, aggressive road and gravel geometry.

Fore/Aft Positioning & Body Function: Do you need to have a ripped upper body to ride a progressive forward position?

Show Links

Dutch Headwind Cycling Championships

Ep 65: Foot & Shoe Fit Optimisation PART 1 of 4: Two Good Reasons To Experiment With Cleat Extender Plates

Contralateral gait vs homolateral gait. How to walk and run organically and healthily

This week we dive headfirst into the latest bicycle hardware, geometry, and upcoming industry trends.

We kick off by geeking out over the new Trek Domane. Has it's shift away from complex IsoSpeed systems, its lightweight design, and its progressive short-and-tall geometry paired with thoughtful stock specs like riser bars and shorter cranks, produced the greatest endurance the Domane should always have been?

We then examine why endurance labels suffer from a marketing image problem, compare Western super-bikes to emerging direct-to-consumer options like Quick Pro, and break down why traditional metal and custom frames are becoming exotic, niche choices in an era dominated by carbon fiber and electronic shifting.

Cycling has turned on it's head, could this be an opportunity for independent frame builders?

182 The Marketing of Bike Geometry - How To Avoid The Modern Traps

Read more - Bike geometry 101: Find out why stack & reach are important

QuickPro Bikes

Cannondale CAAD14 Team Dream

If you have any further questions for us, join the conversation at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cyclingdemystified/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Are you 'bike-fit curious'? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book in for a session and get your fit dialled in at London's premier bike fit studio.

Looking for a bespoke bike, hand-built custom wheels or unique upgrades? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bespokecycling.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more info and for pro-level servicing.

In this episode of Cycling Demystified, hosts Matt Walton, Matt Chan, and Wei explore the concept of "athletic maturity" and how it influences a rider's relationship with bike fitting.

From brand-new cyclists who buy top-tier gear without understanding their needs to veteran triathletes trapped by numbers and overtraining, the hosts break down the psychological barriers that hinder cycling performance.

They discuss the critical role of communication, managing client expectations, and why riders must take personal responsibility for their physical conditioning rather than expecting a quick gear fix... and when is the game truly "gone"?

If you have any further questions for us, join the conversation at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cyclingdemystified/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Are you 'bike-fit curious'? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book in for a session and get your fit dialled in at London's premier bike fit studio.

In this episode of Cycling Demystified, the Foundation Bike Fit team dives deep into the art, craft, and hidden realities of professional bike fitting.

We reveal the number one barrier to a great bike fit: working in isolation.

By exploring why so many fitters fail, the limits of relying purely on motion-capture numbers, and the value of a collaborative team approach, the hosts share how prioritizing intuition, communication, and biomechanics over rigid formulas leads to better outcomes.

Whether you are a rider searching for the right fitter or an aspiring practitioner looking to build a craft, this episode offers an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it truly takes to solve complex cycling problems.

If you have any further questions for us, join the conversation at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cyclingdemystified/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Are you 'bike-fit curious'? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book in for a session and get your fit dialled in at London's premier bike fit studio.

Wei & the two Matts are back to tackle the main culprits behind saddle discomfort: excessive pressure, excessive friction, and rider movement patterns.

We break down the mechanics of pelvic interaction, explaining how mobility, strength, and saddle profile (cutouts, T-shape vs. V-shape, and flare) impact comfort.

Then we demystify popular saddle tech—from traditional cutouts and 3D printing to specialized models like SMP and Infinity—while reminding riders that saddle pain is often a symptom of underlying biomechanical stability rather than just a bad piece of gear.

If you have any further questions for us, join the conversation at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cyclingdemystified/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Are you 'bike-fit curious'? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book in for a session and get your fit dialled in at London's premier bike fit studio.

Wei and the two Matts—tackle one of the most frustrating issues in cycling:

How to solve persistent saddle pain and numbness?

They explain why "just borrowing a demo saddle" rarely solves the problem and why throwing money at expensive 3D-printed seats often fails if the rest of your setup isn't right.

Moving past quick fixes, they unpack the "hierarchy of stability," how foot support and crank length directly affect saddle pressure, and why off-bike movement patterns and body asymmetries (opening up "Pandora's box") dictate how comfortable you feel on the bike.

Whether you're dealing with single-sided rubbing, persistent numbness, or feel like you've tried every saddle on the market without success, this candid chat outlines how to actually solve the root cause.
Link to our saddle article:
Saddle Pain? Wait It Might Not be the Saddle

If you have any further questions for us, join the conversation at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cyclingdemystified/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Are you 'bike-fit curious'? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book in for a session and get your fit dialled in at London's premier bike fit studio.

Right, buckle in folks, this is the first part of our deep-dive exploring the biomechanics of pedalling and what you should be caring about.

We examine how the bike itself creates the environment in which our body has to operate. This dictates the options we have to create good movement.

We challenge conventional algorithmic bike fits that rely purely on knee angles, reframing saddle height, cleat position, and crank length around whole-body movement.

By examining how foot stability calms the nervous system and how modern crank lengths relieve hip flexion, we explain how you can unlock both comfort and efficiency.

Finally, we wrap up with an insightful discussion on posture, breathing, and why we should view cycling as a dynamic, whole-body gait rather than just legs moving like isolated pistons.

Is this the reason why Pogacar and Contador are / were the greatest cyclists of their time?
Key Areas of Exploration:
- The Two Pillars of Pedalling: generating forward force (watts) and maintaining stability.

- The "Sit-to-Stand" Test: This illustrates how hip extension, foot placement, and balance work together to mimic optimal muscle recruitment during a pedal stroke.
- Foot Stability & Proprioception: A calm nervous system creates a solid foundation for the entire lower body.
- Saddle Height vs. Leg Extension: Unlike running, where the leg fully extends, cycling is constrained...
- Optimizing Crank Length & Hip Angles: Shorter cranks are becoming essential—especially on modern, aggressive road and gravel geometry.
- Fore/Aft Positioning & Body Function: Is moving your saddle to a more progressive forward position just a trend?

Dutch Headwind Cycling Championships
Ep 65: Foot & Shoe Fit Optimisation PART 1 of 4: Two Good Reasons To Experiment With Cleat Extender Plates
Contralateral gait vs homolateral gait. How to walk and run organically and healthily

In this episode of Cycling Demystified, hosts Wei and Matt (the younger) dive headfirst into the "silly season" of bike fitting, unpacking the sudden surge of new triathletes and riders investing in $10,000+ superbikes.

They explore the changing demographics of the sport, why standardizing bike fit education is more urgent than ever, and how Matt transitioned from a curious rider into a full-time, competent fitter.

Beyond high-tech gear and shiny components, they pull back the layers on human movement, why internal cable routing and proprietary cockpits make professional fitting crucial, and why the "Wild West" of bike fitting is overdue for a shakeup.

Whether you’re curious about turning your passion into a profession or just want to understand why your body hurts on the bike, this conversation offers a candid look behind the scenes.

If you have any further questions for us, join the conversation at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cyclingdemystified/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Are you 'bike-fit curious'? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book in for a session and get your fit dialled in at London's premier bike fit studio.

For years, the bike fitting world has operated like a patchwork of independent crafts—every studio running its own playbook, with big differences in methods, technology, and rider experience. But as the cycling industry rapidly evolves, the need for standardized quality, shared knowledge, and a unified global community has never been more urgent.

In this episode we sit down with Lee Prescott, President of the International Bike Fitting Institute (IBFI). Lee outlines the IBFI's mission to bring bike fitters together from every corner of the globe under a single, accredited certification framework—elevating the trade into a universally recognized profession.

Key moments in this episode:

• Unifying a Global Community: How the IBFI’s 4-level certification syllabus and international conference are connecting fitters across 20+ countries to share research, establish minimum educational standards, and support one another through structured mentorship.

• Mastering Communication with Gillian Corke: Why technical data and high-tech tools aren't enough. Lee discusses the critical addition of formal communication skills into the IBFI syllabus, drawing on experiential educator Gillian Corke’s renowned workshops. Learn how empathetic listening, reading client psychology, and navigating soft skills turn a technical bike adjustment into a life-changing rider experience.

• Protecting the Title of "Bike Fitter": The ongoing work behind the scenes to gain government and industry recognition, paving the way for standardized apprenticeships and official health insurance referrals.

• Building a Sustainable Fit Business: Why moving away from quick "retail sizing" and toward long-term client trust is the ultimate commercial model for modern bike studios.

Whether you’re a rider looking to understand the standard of care you should expect, or a fitter seeking to connect with a global network of peers and elevate your soft skills, this conversation is an essential guide to the future of the industry!

Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Learn more about the International Bike Fitting Institute (IBFI): ibfi-certification.com

Join us for a Tour de France mailbag episode where we answer your bike fit and tech questions from the best race of the year.

We cover:

- Is it better to have padding in your bib shorts or in your saddle?- Are 3D printed saddles better in the heat? - Who else is doing Pogacar's pre race banded warm up? - Who has the most ridiculous TT helmet of the tour?

And more!

If you have any further questions for us, join the conversation at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cyclingdemystified/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Are you 'bike-fit curious'? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book in for a session and get your fit dialled in at London's premier bike fit studio.