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Click below to learn more about the scientific and empirical basis for fitting cyclists to their bikes.
This underpins the work we do at Kinetic-One!

170+ articles, journal pages etc - We'll be updating over next few weeks too!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL LIBRARY REFERENCES

 Some featured articles

Tri Bars: A History -- We need your help!

We are currently embarking on a "History of Tri-bars". We want to trace the history and usage of this most talked about bit of kit from the earliest days to the present. We have learnt much over the years and are intending to incorporate our findings into a book aimed at enabling a better understanding that might enable riders to make a more informed choice about whether to use tri-bars.

We see so many people at our fittings who use tri-bars and who might arguably be much better performers without them. And when asked many people admit that they thought this was probably the case. So why do so many people seem so automatically attached to them, yet lack real confidence in them when asked?

We are also particularly interested in hearing from anyone who remembers the arrival of tri-bars "back in the day"; (late 70's early 80's) What were they seen as being for? Who used them? How quickly did they catch on? who invented them? How quickly were they taken seriously?

Various branches of cycling have claimed that they invented tri-bars over the years, (tt riders, tourists and ultra-distance racers to name a few!) and for a variety of purposes too. We want to get to the bottom of this. 

Thanks. Andy. Kinetic-one

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Focus on pedalling. June 08

A seemingly throw-away comment about the pedalling technique known as "ankling", which appears on a bike mechanics website (Sheldon Brown, the ultimate bike mechanic, of all people!), seems to have resulted in many web forum participants sagely rubbishing a technique that is understood by many expert biomechanists speciailising in cycling science to be a beneificial technique for cyclists looking to improve their efficiency.  This rubbishing seems to have gained currency too! Sheldon apparently had a bad experience in one race as a boy and without any practice or understanding of what he was doing went and hurt himself. Google this subject and you'll see where it took us. Scroll down the page here for example http://mcraig.org/mark/archives/002264.html

 We wanted to explore all this further and particularly to understand something more about where all of us as cyclists in the internet age, get our information and our "knowledge"! 

As a result of all this we did a literature search (of both academic and journalistic works) and then compared the findings anecdotally with where the "cycling community on the web"  seems to be on the subject of pedalling technique and the results are fairly scarey. Amongst the many considered and enquiring contributions to forums, there were a huge number of unattributed statements that don't look at all like the work being done for more than 10 years by the experts! We wondered why this might be?  Perhaps as people we do need to allign ourselves to particular camps:  In this case the "spinners" and the "mashers" of the pedalling world! What we also felt was that  much of what was being said was dangerous and irresponsible - particularly as much of it was presented as "fact" and moreover this is at a time when there are huge numbers of people entering this sport who are looking for assistance in these areas!

We think there is a huge amount of damaging information in circulation now and as a result we felt determined, (as bike fitters, not biomechnical scientists) to locate a single brief article that clearly and responsibily and accessibly introduces the fundamentals of good pedalling for competitive cyclists, who are interested in increasing their effectiveness in pedalling and also that critically refers to the different needs of recreational and racing cyclists and also that conveyed that what might lead to maximal performance in pedalling might not lead to minimal injury. The link below takes you to that article.

http://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6610,s1-4-41-15647-1,00.html

Just one point on the science underpinning pedalling theories. The late Dr Ed Burke, in many respects the "daddy" of communicating cycling science to a wider audience, soberly reflects (in his seminal book- "High Tech Cycling: 2003, Human Kinetics"), that there are several key areas of study which "demand further exploration" (page 144-145). One of these areas is the need to develop bike-fitting systems which are capable of applying the work of biomechanicists to the specific individual needs of each rider "with due consideration being given to performance optimisation and injury minimisation".

Our view as bike-fitters is that such systems capable of looking at the precise bio-mechanical configuratons of individuals are quite a long way off - at least ones that could be made available and affordable to all the but the most elite and well funded cyclists.

This is not to say that we are nowhere. There are some good solid fundamental principles to guide us all in our pedalling and in our over-all bike setup (in practice the "don'ts" are often easier to identify than the "do's" as in many aspects of life!) and thats we are involved in at Kinetic-One and thats the point of our fitting service. The key message for cyclists of all types is surely not to become wedded to any particular theory on the subject - but to become informed on the fundamentals and to keep an open mind, to listen to our bodies especially if they protest and to recognise that this is a field in its infancy and that we are all learning.  

Some More Articles

Bike fitting injuries FAQ.

Neck and Back Pain in Bicycling.doc

The Myth of KOPS.mht

Aerodynamics and cycling 
The research underpinning this particular article seems to have been claimed by
several people!! Not sure who is fibbing - but is does make some fascinating reading. We've linked here to the version on the Cevelo site
where its most attractively presented. The authorship is not attributed on the Cevelo site.
We also understand it to be written by - Jim Martin Ph.D, an engineer, associate professor in exercise science
at the University of Utah. Whoever wrote it (!) its fascinating!

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PLEASE NOTE: WE are not endorsing the advice given in any of the articles included here. Rather, we are presenting the information that we have come across in the course of our work and our own learning.  Many of these articles describe making adjustments to certain key dimensions such as top tube length, crank length, bar drop, seat height and angle etc and foot poistion etc. We would always advise you to get a professional bike fitting to establish what the exact measurements are for your bike  specifically and to cnsult medical specialists on any issues to do with your body. Don't employ trial and error as its a very unreliable tool. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. Its also where all of us start from - Used sensibly it can be a great asset and a springboard to more knowledge!! You should of course consult a doctor or sports injury specialist in the event of any concerns about injury.