Cycling Demystified - Bike Fit, Mechanics and Soft Issues

Cycling Demystified - Bike Fit, Mechanics and Soft Issues
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Professional bike fitters from Foundation Bike Fit Wei & Matt sit down weekly with Frequency Cycleworks mechanic/owner Ev to rant about the bike industry and discuss the ins and outs of cycling with a bias towards bike fitting and custom bikes.

  1. 6d ago

    196 Unresolved Saddle Pain After Multiple Bike Fits - What Can You Do?

    Wei and the two Matts—tackle one of the most frustrating issues in cycling: How to solve persistent saddle pain and numbness? They explain why "just borrowing a demo saddle" rarely solves the problem and why throwing money at expensive 3D-printed seats often fails if the rest of your setup isn't right. Moving past quick fixes, they unpack the "hierarchy of stability," how foot support and crank length directly affect saddle pressure, and why off-bike movement patterns and body asymmetries (opening up "Pandora's box") dictate how comfortable you feel on the bike. Whether you're dealing with single-sided rubbing, persistent numbness, or feel like you've tried every saddle on the market without success, this candid chat outlines how to actually solve the root cause. Link to our saddle article: Saddle Pain? Wait It Might Not be the Saddle...

  2. Aug 2

    195 Curiosity Created a Bike Fitter: Matt’s Journey from Rider in Pain to Pro Fitter

    In this episode of Cycling Demystified, hosts Wei and Matt (the younger) dive headfirst into the "silly season" of bike fitting, unpacking the sudden surge of new triathletes and riders investing in $10,000+ superbikes. They explore the changing demographics of the sport, why standardizing bike fit education is more urgent than ever, and how Matt transitioned from a curious rider into a full-time, competent fitter. Beyond high-tech gear and shiny components, they pull back the layers on human movement, why internal cable routing and proprietary cockpits make professional fitting crucial, and why the "Wild West" of bike fitting is overdue for a shakeup. Whether you’re curious about turning your passion into a profession or just want to understand why your body hurts on the bike, this conversation offers a candid look behind the scenes. If you have any further questions for us, join the conversation at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cyclingdemystified/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Are you 'bike-fit curious'? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book in for a session and get your fit dialled in at London's premier bike fit studio.

  3. Jul 26

    194 Is Bike Fitting Becoming an Official Healthcare Profession? (with IBFI’s Lee Prescott)

    For years, the bike fitting world has operated like a patchwork of independent crafts—every studio running its own playbook, with big differences in methods, technology, and rider experience. But as the cycling industry rapidly evolves, the need for standardized quality, shared knowledge, and a unified global community has never been more urgent. In this episode we sit down with Lee Prescott, President of the International Bike Fitting Institute (IBFI). Lee outlines the IBFI's mission to bring bike fitters together from every corner of the globe under a single, accredited certification framework—elevating the trade into a universally recognized profession. Key moments in this episode: Unifying a Global Community: How the IBFI’s 4-level certification syllabus and international conference are connecting fitters across 20+ countries to share research, establish minimum educational standards, and support one another through structured mentorship. Mastering Communication with Gillian Corke: Why technical data and high-tech tools aren't enough. Lee discusses the critical addition of formal communication skills into the IBFI syllabus, drawing on experiential educator Gillian Corke’s renowned workshops. Learn how empathetic listening, reading client psychology, and navigating soft skills turn a technical bike adjustment into a life-changing rider experience. Protecting the Title of "Bike Fitter": The ongoing work behind the scenes to gain government and industry recognition, paving the way for standardized apprenticeships and official health insurance referrals. Building a Sustainable Fit Business: Why moving away from quick "retail sizing" and toward long-term client trust is the ultimate commercial model for modern bike studios. Whether you’re a rider looking to understand the standard of care you should expect, or a fitter seeking to connect with a global network of peers and elevate your soft skills, this conversation is an essential guide to the future of the industry! Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Learn more about the International Bike Fitting Institute (IBFI): ibfi-certification.com Explore Gillian Corke's relational and communication workshops: gcpdtrainer.co.ukThe Science & Cycling Conference: https://science-cycling.org/Retul - Data driven bike fit: https://www.retul.com/ttsThe UCI Commissions are set up by the Management Committee to help it with its mission: https://www.uci.org/commissions/If you have any further questions for us, join the conversation at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cyclingdemystified/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Are you 'bike-fit curious'? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book in for a session and get your fit dialled in at London's premier bike fit studio.

  4. Jul 19

    193 Whale Helmets, Assos vs. Rapha, Laces & De-Optimising: Your Tour de France Questions Answered

    Join us for a Tour de France mailbag episode where we answer your bike fit and tech questions from the best race of the year. We cover: - Is it better to have padding in your bib shorts or in your saddle?- Are 3D printed saddles better in the heat? - Who else is doing Pogacar's pre race banded warm up? - Who has the most ridiculous TT helmet of the tour? And more! If you have any further questions for us, join the conversation at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cyclingdemystified/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Are you 'bike-fit curious'? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book in for a session and get your fit dialled in at London's premier bike fit studio.

  5. Jul 12

    192 Time Trial vs. Triathlon, Le Tour vs. Challenge Roth, Low & Slammed or High & Long?

    In this episode of the Cycling Demystified podcast, the Foundation Bike Fit team breaks down the latest tech and position trends from the Tour de France time trials and Challenge Roth. The guys dive into the evolution of cockpits—explaining why fully integrated, 3D-printed custom aerobars have taken over the peloton and how they balance real-world aerodynamics with upper-body stability. They also contrast the strict UCI-regulated setups of the Tour with the "high and long" positions dominating long-distance triathlons. Finally, the team looks at the controversial biomechanics of top riders, analysing why some pros thrive in seemingly unorthodox positions and how everyday amateurs can find the sweet spot between peak optimization and actual on-the-road comfort. Alanis Siffert - controversial biomechanics If you have any further questions for us, join the conversation at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cyclingdemystified/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Are you 'bike-fit curious'? Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book in for a session and get your fit dialled in at London's premier bike fit studio.

  6. Jul 5

    191 The New Dominant Saddle of the 2026 TDF? - The Tour de France Series: Stage 2

    Think the pros only ride what's best for their bodies? Think again. There is a new dominant saddle company completely taking over the 2026 Tour de France peloton—and the reason behind its dominance might surprise you. Welcome back to another special Tour de France series episode of Cycling Demystified, brought to you by the Foundation Bike Fit team. In this episode, we put on our bike fitter glasses to dissect the pro peloton from the butt up. We crunched the numbers on what every single world tour team is riding this year, and the results completely caught us off guard. In this episode, we dive deep into: The Italian Takeover: How a single manufacturer managed to sponsor nearly half the peloton, and why historic heavyweights like Fizik have fallen out of the top spot. Marketing vs. Anatomy: Does what the pros ride actually translate to what you should choose for your weekend road bike? The Geometry Hack: How modern riders are shifting away from traditional long noses to short-nose and even time-trial saddles just to cheat strict UCI frame regulations. Peak Saddle & 3D Printing: Have we reached the absolute limit of saddle innovation, or is the industry just trapped in a cycle of expensive "aerodynamic flaps" and hype? Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to leave us a rating or review to help other riders find the show! Have you spotted any weird blacked-out saddles or custom tape jobs in the tour yet? Drop us a message on Instagram at @fdn_bikefit or email us at info@foundation.fit. Keep on spinning! Previous episodes: Ep 41: The Ten Pillars of Bike Fit - Part 2 of 10: A Fool-Proof Guide To Saddle Height Ep 47: The Ten Pillars of Bike Fit - Part 9 of 10: How to Choose a Saddle Ep 149 Why Do Pros Sit On The Nose Of Their Saddles? If you have any further questions for us, join the conversation at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cyclingdemystified/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Are you 'bike-fit curious'? Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book in for a session and get your fit dialled in at London's premier bike fit studio.

  7. Jul 4

    190 The Pain Before the Right Saddle - 🟡 The Tour de France Series: Prologue

    The Tour is upon us which means we're going to be very busy over the next three weeks bringing you bike fit insights from the world's greatest race. This episode is going to be our Prologue and you'll see we're going take a slightly more unusual angle to this year's Tour de France - exploring the race through saddle choice, fit, position and what you should do if you're still trying to find "the one". If you have any further questions for us, join the conversation at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cyclingdemystified/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Are you 'bike-fit curious'? Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book in for a session and get your fit dialled in at London's premier bike fit studio.

  8. Jun 28

    189 Surviving Fatigue With Body Awareness: Lessons from a Pyrenean Ultra - Deena Blacking

    How connected to your body are you on long rides, or are you just zoning out? In this episode, Coach Deena Blacking shares raw insights from her gruelling first ultra-distance race through the Pyrenees to explain how outdoor cycling can become your ultimate tool for building proprioception (body awareness). We discuss how slow, heavy mountain climbs strip away cognitive distractions, forcing you to tune into every muscle contraction and skeletal shift. Learn to spot the gap between how you think you look versus how you actually move, and discover how to actively use the road to build a bulletproof mind-body connection. If you have any further questions for us, join the conversation at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cyclingdemystified/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Are you 'bike-fit curious'? Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.foundation.fit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book in for a session and get your fit dialled in at London's premier bike fit studio.

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7 Ratings

About

Professional bike fitters from Foundation Bike Fit Wei & Matt sit down weekly with Frequency Cycleworks mechanic/owner Ev to rant about the bike industry and discuss the ins and outs of cycling with a bias towards bike fitting and custom bikes.

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