Tacoma Bike literally combed the globe in search of the right fitter. After much searching and some industry insider word of mouth referral, Mike contacted London’s Tony Corke of CycleFit – the premier fit studio in the UK and Europe.
Tony brings much to the table by way of his multiple certifications and associations with the best in the industry. He is SICI Advanced Fit and Tri-Fit certified (Serotta’s highest level), BikeFit certified and is trained in Esoles podiatry, SIDAS custom formable footbeds and Shimano shoe molding. Tony also works along side physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors and podiatrists.
Tony has instructed fit with Paul Swift (Bikefit.com) and at Dan Empfield’s FIST (SlowTwitch) triathlon fitting classes.
I think one of the things that separate’s Tony from most fitters is that he approaches the theory of fit from a wider perspective. Where most fitters will snuggle up to one primary fit methodology and use that as their marketing starting point – Tony constantly studies all of the various fit methods so he can understand and apply what is best for each individual.
It could be said that you could go to 10 different fitters and walk away with 10 different fits. This is all too often true when the fitter maintains a single minded posture or a “method-in” approach, rather than the “individual rider-centered” approach. It’s this level of openness in part that makes Tony unique.
As some will require more advanced fit needs than others, Tacoma Bike offers 3 fundamental fit services, based on time and assessment to fit both your riding needs and the needs of your budget.
Pro Fit – $300 3 Hours
Sizing Fit – $200 2 Hours
Hail Mary Fit* $150 1.5hr
Click here for more information
Steve Tidball and his brother Nick, two of Men’s Fitness sponsored Adventure Racers visited Tony in London. This is what Steve had to say:
‘I first went to CycleFit after deciding to take up triathlon 2008. I’d barely ridden for the last 10 years after fracturing my spine as a teenager. I needed to know whether cycling hard and long was ever going to be possible. Given I can’t sit in a chair for more than a few minutes without quite severe pain and that my background’s actually in running, I wasn’t expecting them to turn me into Lance Armstrong. Despite that, the position Tony got me in felt comfortable almost straight away. As he fine tuned the jig over the next few hours I found I wasn’t grinding away at the pedals anymore or straining my lower back muscles. Instead I felt as though I was just flowing along. In the last year my riding has changed beyond recognition. I’ve been able to build an enormous amount of strength in my legs in comparison to before, and I can now sprint hard 4 or 5 hours into a ride. It’s also had a knock on effect in my running. The ability to build endurance and train for hours on end without injuring myself has meant I’ve been able to become a pro Ultra Marathoner – something I’d have told you was impossible just a year ago.’
For more information and to book an appointment with Tony, please call to store on 253 272 1460 or email heading your email ‘Cyclefit’.
Steve and his brother Nick are also working with Tony on their Vollebak project to produce cutting edge sports equipment. Check them out at www.vollebak.com