International Cyclefit Symposium 2012 - Day 1

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.