International Cyclefit Symposium 2012 - Day 2

The 2012 ICS - International Cyclefit Symposium took place January 25th-26th at Design Council in Covent Garden. The speakers and indeed delegates came from all around the world to discuss and learn together how better to co-join a human being with a humble bicycle. What follows is a brief synopsis of what was discussed and a short clips from each symposium in order.

DAY 2 - Thursday 26th January - 9:00 - 10:15
Get Microsoft Silverlight 10:30 - 11:45
Get Microsoft Silverlight 12:00 - 13:15
Get Microsoft Silverlight

Snippets synopsis from Paraic McGlynn and Alberto Fonte to follow - see below.

Alberto Fonte

Fi'z:k Marketing Manager
Spine Concept - how human flexibility affects the saddle choice

Paraic McGlynn

Faster
Biomechanics, Biometrics and Drag – the cyclists balancing act

Day 1 Synopsis

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!