ICS2012
International Cyclefit UK Symposium
In January 2012 Cyclefit UK hosted Europe's first bike fitting seminar in London.
On the pages in this section you can see who was speaking and snippets from their presentations.
| SPEAKER | ORGANISATION | SUBJECT |
|---|---|---|
| Graham Anderson | Balance Physiotherapy | Bike-fitting - art, science or nonsense? |
| Dr Jeff Broker | University of Colorado Springs | Pedalling Kinesiology |
| Keith Bontrager | Bontrager / Trek | The Myth of K.O.P.S. |
| Phil Burt | British Cycling / Team Sky | Elite bike fitting & Injuries |
| Todd Carver | Retul | A Complete 3D Fit and Sizing Protocol |
| Alberto Fonte | Fi'z:k Marketing Manager | Spine Concept - how human flexibility affect the saddle choice |
| Jon Iriberri | Movistar Team/Custom4.us | Range of motion and pelvic rotation |
| Paraic McGlynn | Faster | Biomechanics, Biometrics and Drag – the cyclists balancing act |
| Dr Nigel Stephens | Consultant cardiologist | Cycling versus the human heart |
| Dr Katrina 'Kit' Vogel | BikeFit.com | Pelvic Asymmetry and Effects on Lower Extremity Biomechanics of Cycling |
Graham Anderson Clinical Director of Balance Physiotherapy
Bike-fitting - Science, Art or Nonsense?
- Desire to be scientific and exact is understandable but also flawed.
- Bike-fitting like physio-therapy and heart-surgery (see Dr Nigel Stephens below) it is easy to sometimes leap into measuring, diagnosing and prescribing when in fact there are numerous variables at play.
- Hence bike-fitting is 'Stochastic' in the sense that there are some predictable as well as chaotic or unpredictable elements. A bit like life then.
Phil Burt - British Cycling / Team Sky
To fit the bike to you or you to the bike? That is the question
- Phil was limited by how much he could say pre-Olympic build-up but presented fascinating insight into his own athlete screening methods.
- Phil has coined the terms 'Micro-Adjusters and Macro-Absorbers - to describe individual's likely response to Graham's stochastic elements of training and fit.
- Micro-adjusters struggle to absorb even the smallest changes in their biomechanics in contrast to Macro-absorbers who have big safety margins for what their body can soak up.
Dr Nigel Stephens
Consultant Cardiologist
Cycling versus the human heart
- Nigel presented a unique insight into the training effects and likely changes that cycling and high intensity endurance training is likely to bring to the athlete's cardio-vascular system
- Nigel presented several case-studies that were not all that they seemed and seemed to produce contradictory evidence.
Again reinforcing the point that when science runs out then common sense and thinking around a problem starts.
Dr Katrina 'Kit' Vogel - Bikefit.com
Pelvic Asymmetry and Effects on Lower Extremity Biomechanics of Cycling
- Kit bravely went out on a limb (if you will excuse the expression).
Her assertion from her fitting and physio observations are that the human pelvis has evolved to be asymmetric. This in turn causes the person to sit rotated on the saddle to one side. - The central assertion is the pelvis in general pelvis is rotated forward on the right side - this kicks the left femur out (see video).
Todd Carver - Retul
A Complete 3D Fit and Sizing Protocol
* Todd explained the history and conception of Retul as a real-time digital assessment of physiological data for each cyclist.
* Todd also explained the new research and protocols that checked and affirmed Retul's accuracy v's Vicon and other systems.
* Todd also gave us an enthralling walk through of how Retul helps the fitter establish an ideal position both for road and Aero.
* The landmark location has to be accurate to provide pinpoint angles to establish safe performance ranges.
Dr Jeff Broker - University of Colorado Springs
Pedalling Kinesiology
* Dr Broker's role here was to provide science and data. He outlined the academic protocols he has used since mid-80's and work with the USA Olympic team.
* Dr Broker provided insight into the forces actually generated at the pedal. He developed a 'Force' pedal with sensors that measure every pedal forces. This tool has been used to analyse elite cyclists and aggregate how exactly they pedal. Leading to startling observations and conclusions; eg myth of the upstroke and relative inter-discipline efficiency.
Keith Bontrager - Bontrager / Trek
The Myth of K.O.P.S. (knee over pedal spindle)
* Keith debates and evaluates a debate he started over twenty years ago with his infamous article The Myth of Kops
* KT asserts that KOPs in bike fitting is accidental and arbitrary.
* KT further asserts that a rider's natural centre of gravity (c of g) is a better starting point for a rider position on their machine and will result in better dynamics when riding in a variety of conditions - climbing, descending and sprinting, etc.
* Jon Iriiberri from team Movistar confirmed that he has incorporated the ethos of KB's co-of-g into his team fitting programme
Jon Iriberri - Movistar Team
Range of motion and pelvic rotation
- A brave, honest and very practical lecturer from pro-team fitter and biomechanist.
- Follows on from Kit Vogel talk on Day One and focusses on what the fitter could do to adjust for a rotated position on the saddle.
- Jon sees 1/3rd of his riders rotated and has experimented with stacks, wedges and pedalling re-training to adjust. Here he presents his results and video data. Jon uses saddle pressure mat analyse to establish pelvic symmetry on the saddle.
- An insight into how when working with pro teams solutions have to work and work fast!