Cycling Demystified - Bike Fit, Mechanics and Soft Issues

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.uk
The Science & Cycling Conference: https://science-cycling.org/
Retul - Data driven bike fit: https://www.retul.com/tts
The UCI Commissions are set up by the Management Committee to help it with its mission: https://www.uci.org/commissions/
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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!
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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
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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.

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?

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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.

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.