Phil teaching Trek dealers to fit bicycles
Jules teaching Fabian about foot-control
"The new millennia promised many things, but mostly excluded bicycles that fit their owners properly"
Looking Back... But Mostly Forward
As we cycle toward twenty-five years of Cyclefit, it seems like the appropriate time to take a breath, review the landscape and consider Cyclefit's humble place in the world for the next quarter of a century.
The new millennia promised many things, but mostly excluded bicycles that fit their owners properly. Our humble mission was to Make Cycling Better by being the first company in Europe to offer an evidenced-based, wholly scientific, Cyclefit process, to evaluate how a human dynamically functions in time and space, on a bicycle. A small contribution to Life's Great Ledger, but it was nevertheless, our contribution. And it was one we took seriously - we proselytised our message, spoke at cycle-clubs all around the country, taught course all around the world, spoke at conferences and bought our process to everyone from Brompton owners to Fabian Cancellara, with a ceaseless evangelical zeal.
Annual Team Camp Fit-Circus
Jimmy delivering a dream
"For most of our clients and everyone at Cyclefit, riding a bicycle is as natural as breathing in and out."
"We will only be offering our world-class and proven range of Cyclefit services, to people who have bought a bicycle from us, or who have made a commitment to do so"
Equal on Two Wheels
Cyclefitting effectively became our contribution to the great democracy of cycling - everyone was equal on two-wheels. The bicycle was the great leveller and we were Cyclefit chefs that were happy to share our recipes. Knowledge's greatest power resides in its ability to be shared. And our mission was to share. Over the last twenty-plus years we have worked with at least fifteen thousand clients at Cyclefit, with the express goal of making them more functional on their bicycle. But what does function actually mean.
Deconstructing 'Function'
Function maybe the second most overused word after deconstruct. Function for Cyclefit equals making someone more resilient to the loads and forces that they are going to subject themselves to, in the highly unusual constraints of a modern bicycle. Cycling on a good day is a cipher for naturalistic freedom of expression and movement. Except it isn't. Cycling is entirely unnatural, not what we evolved to do and necessitates our natural bodily mechanics being entirely constrained by a 360-degree dictator - aka - the modern bicycle. Some lucky folk can fold themselves into the same racing position, decade after decade, without pain or performance loss. Most of us can't - maintaining function and performance requires constant discipline and process. Which is accepted because being able to ride our bicycles and train is as important as work and marriage (to paraphrase Dr Nigel Stephens - Consultant Cardiologist). For most of our clients and everyone at Cyclefit, riding a bicycle is as natural as breathing in and out.
To Infinity & Beyond
Whilst we still want to Make Cycling Better. But we also have to accept that we cannot make cycling better for everyone. Bicycles and the industry of bicycles has changed.
The Enshittification of The Cycling Industry
Enshittification was a term that was invented by Cory Doctorow to describe how services and products appeared to inexorably decline over time. Doctorow coined the term with respect to how online platforms and services are specifically designed to incrementally evolve away from the consumer interest and toward the company's financial interests.
Bikes. Not Beans.
We now live in a world where all too often, expensive bicycles are bought online or even in-store, without any meaningful evaluation process. In too many instances the bicycles neither fit or work as the person who purchased them, hoped or expected. This is enshittification. It has nothing to do with driving standards or making people happy; it is a focus on increased profit.
Everyday at Cyclefit, we try and help people interface a little better with bicycles that they are ill-suited to. The process is frequently expensive and disappointing, because modern bicycles are increasingly less adjustable:
- Integrated bars and stems
- Internal cable routing
- Proprietary parts
- Integrated power-cranks
The frustrated rider would ideally need a new frame with radically different geometry. Or failing that, a work-around of: new bar/stem, crank, seat-post - a thousand pounds at least, if the components are available. There is simply not enough sugar-coating available to make these choices palatable for people. Hence...
The Cyclefit Way
We have the process, the expertise, the brands and even own bicycle design to ensure these mistakes do not exist. The Cyclefit way is the right way. A deliberative, award-winning, science-based, process that makes sure you are on the perfect bike, in the perfect position. Not quick, not cheap. But it is the right way.
Going Forward - We will only be offering our world-class and proven range of Cyclefit services, to people who have bought a bicycle from us, or who have made a commitment to do so.
Cyclefit Services
- Cyclefit Sessions
- New Bike Cyclefits
- New Shoe-Fits
- Sidas custom footbeds
- Orthotic clinics
- Workshop
- Bike-design and building
Core Team
The core Cyclefit team of Barna, Jimmy, Julian & Phil, have worked together for a decade and a half. We are bound together by a desire to do things well and a mutual respect for each other's, and Cyclefit's collective abilities. We are a very small team of experts who have experience working at the pinnacle of the industry and World Tour sport.
Looking Forward - We are incredibly excited to be able to focus our unique experience and skills on clients who demand and deserve the unparalleled standards to which Cyclefit works.
We look forward to working with you.
Barna, Jimmy, Julian, Phil
