a press release - cyclefit / sici - europe's first bike-fit school LONDON, (December 5th-8th, 2008) ---

"Dear CycleFit/Paraic,

Thanks to you all for a great weekend. Learnt a hell of a lot for my bike fitting and also my coaching"
Adrian Timmis - CycleFit/SICI Graduate Dec 2008

London's CycleFit and The USA's SICI (Serotta International Cycling Institute) opened Europe's first independent professional bike-fitting school with delegates drawn from the retailing, scientific and physical therapy communities. The three-day course was held in Covent Garden and was an absorbing immersion into the up-to-date science of perfecting the human-to-bike relationship.

The UK education team comprised: CycleFit Directors Julian Wall and Philip Cavell, Dr David Hulse (Sports Physician to The Tour of Britain ) and Paraic McGlynn from the USA - (SICI's Director of Applied Cycling Science).

The UK school is certified and endorsed by SICI - the cycling industry's influential institute for applied cycling science and also the USA 's principal provider of fitting-related educactional courses.

cycling biomechanics - the emerging science

“Bike fitting is a relatively new phenomenon in the UK ,” commented CycleFit's Julian Wall.
“Although worldwide, the UK is among the few markets where public appreciation of the sport of cycling is high, the general understanding of bicycle fitting is underdeveloped, similar to where the US was ten years ago. CycleFit, with the guidance of SICI, is changing that perception and other retailers are striving to follow suit.”

Currently in the UK, and throughout Europe, many bike shops, even at the high-end of the market take a somewhat haphazard approach to the vital task of fitting their clients on their bikes. This risks under-performance, lack of comfort or even injury for the cycling public. This can lead to cycling losing valued participants or even worse give a perception that our industry is uncaring or simply lacks professionalism.

“SICI education challenges the approach that cyclists are the sum of their body measurements,” says Paraic McGlynn, SICI's Director of Applied Cycling Science. “SICI upholds and teaches that cyclists have individual flexibility, posture, fitness, injury history and athletic aspirations. Body measurements and anecdotal bike fitting techniques overlook these factors —SICI is changing this outdated approach to fitting with every class offered, in the US and now in Europe".

course details and graduation The intensive three day CycleFit/SICI Personalised Class curriculum was split between hands-on practical fitting experience in CycleFit's industry leading Sudio One. And class-room sessions that covered subjects as diverse as:
functional anatomy, flexibility, cycling biomechanics, cycling injuries and common complaints, cleat-position, foot-structure, frame geometry and fit, triathlon/TT position and theories of aerodynamics and fit business fundamentals.
All delegates sat and passed a thorough examination on the afternoon of the last day.
The graduates have now returned to their businesses and practices to complete the SICI certification process that requires them to have ten well-documented and photographed fits assessed and passed by Julian and Phil from CycleFit. Each graduate will then receive a coveted SICI diploma and inclusion on the SICI Certified Fitter listing on the SICI website.

"Dear CycleFit/Paraic,

Thanks to you all for a great weekend. Learnt a hell of a lot for my bike fitting and also my coaching"
Adrian Timmis - CycleFit/SICI Graduate Dec 2008

information and contacts

SICI - Is a member-based organisation that has two primary roles. First as the USA's primary provider of 'fitting'-related educational courses to the cycling community. And second they are standard-bearer of advanced cycling science and research by linking the academic and practitioner communities - the focus of which is SICI's annual hosting of the Cycling Science Symposium in Colorado.

CycleFit - In the last six years CycleFit has emerged as the UK's most influential organisation in the field of building better human-to-bicycle relationships. CycleFit presently has three Advanced Certified technicians at Covent Garden and undertakes in excess of 1000 CycleFit sessions per annum. They work with commuters, sportiv riders as well as Olympic champions and past and current word champions.

Serotta's eponymous founder Ben Serotta adds:
“Teaching a class in the UK completes a long journey back to the root of my passion for building world class bicycles. CycleFit embodies that passion for excellence that Saville Row tailors have made famous worldwide. Phil and Julian carry on that bold spirit of fashioning a one of a kind creation that expresses the aesthetic and cycling desires of the owner".

CycleFit School Audio
Thanks to Carlton Reid from BikeBiz for kindly donating some images used here - the rest of Carlton's pictures of the Fitting School can be viewed Here

For Carlton's audio profile of the School please lease click to www.quickrelease.tv and/or the podcast which is at iTunes at:  http://tinyurl.com/quickrelease

media contact For further information and/or hi-res images from the CycleFit / SICI Fitting School please contact Phil Cavell on 020 7430 0083 or email at CycleFit/SICI School Enquiry

Forthcoming Fit School Dates:
London - March 14th, 15th and 16th 2009