Meet the Education Committee

SETTING THE COURSE FOR BIKE FIT EDUCATION

The IBFI Education Committee will take on the long-term development of the common syllabus. Here, we introduce you to the committee’s first five members, and outline how you can apply to join them.

To ensure the new common syllabus is something owned and run by the industry, the IBFI has worked with industry to create a new committee to manage it, and continue its development. The committee will be made up of eight experienced fitters and fit educators, who will help to keep the syllabus up to date and ensure it remains at the cutting edge of bike fitting education.

The first five members of the committee have already been recruited and you can read about them here. The final three places will be filled using an application process outlined on the next page. This will ensure that the committee isn’t pulled too far in any one direction by large education companies, and allows for representation from a more diverse cohort. These elected representatives will also work with members and seek feedback on how the syllabus could be improved, allowing every IBFI member to have an input on the future of bike fitting education.

Tony Corke - Torke Cycling

Tony Corke

Tony has worked in bike fitting for over 20 years, starting at Cyclefit in London before moving over to the US to work with Paul Swift and Kit Vogel at BikeFit. He has worked as a fit educator both for BikeFit and under his own brand, Torke Cycling. He has worked for independent stores, chain stores and fitting studios in the UK and the USA. Tony helps to develop sales strategies for bike shops using bike fitting as their lead. He has presented on bike fitting to top dealers at the Giant Dealers’ Conference in the USA and to frame builders at Bespoked UKHBS. He has been International BikeFit Pro Instructor with Paul Swift and assisted at Slowtwitch and ICS courses. Tony was SICI certified with Paraic McGlynn. He is an expert in custom bicycle design and building, and the constituent parts thereof.

Tony’s courses, run through Torke Cycling, are some of the most comprehensive courses available. By partnering with co-instructors across Europe, Tony has delivered courses in several different countries and in multiple languages.

John Higgins - Fit Kit Systems

John Higgins

John entered the world of bike fitting in 2007 while working for a major outdoor recreation chain selling bikes and attending an introductory course on bike fitting with Fit Kit Systems. This sparked a fascination and curiosity with the bike-body relationship, and a progressively singular focus on bike fitting. Following years of practice in the cycling retail world, John started an independent fit studio in 2014.

Recognising that there is always more to learn on this topic, John has actively pursued continuing education from other leading fitters and fit educators, including attending national and international conferences, and greatly benefitted from the IBFI mentorship program. John acquired Fit Kit Systems in 2015 but continues to work “in the trenches” as a full-time professional bike fitter, testing ideas and equipment, and gaining insight and feedback from customers.

As a bike fit educator John brings to his students a unique blend of experience, including: a career background in corporate training and development; retail bike shop employee; independent fit studio operator and fitter; industry supplier, and multidisciplinary cyclist.

Jon Iriberri - Custom4us

Jon Iriberri

Jon has been a leading innovator in bike fitting since the late 1990s.

Often one of the first to embrace new technologies, Jon constantly pushes the envelope to discover new ways to help his clients. And having worked as the lead fitter for Movistar, Lotto Jumbo and the Spanish Olympic Team, those clients are some of the best in the business. Jon’s interest in cycling biomechanics began in the late 90s, when working for the Basque National Sports Agency. Their understanding of cycling biomechanics was limited so he was asked to undertake two research projects to help fill the gaps. Those papers, later published and presented at international conferences, sparked a new passion, and led to Jon launching Custom4.us – which offers biomechanical screening and consultancy services in cycling and running. Jon teaches bike fitting courses to much of the Spanish speaking world and Custom4.us has expanded into an international network of fitters and fit educators. Through his consultancy work, Jon has also been involved in the creation of iconic products like the shark fin saddle.

Paraic McGlynn - Cyclolgic

Paraic McGlynn

After racing at Cat 1 level, Paraic moved into coaching, sports biomechanics, sports science, and performance analysis. He spent time with both Cycling Ireland and the French Cycling Federation, working towards National Coaching and Training Centre tutor certification.

Paraic has a passion for technology and education, influenced by working for Intel’s training department in Ireland and the United States, and has a Graduate Qualification in Corporate Training and Development. In 2000, Paraic relocated to the US and became co-owner of a retail store in Arizona. He worked to develop a more scientific approach to bike fitting, sports orthotics, and developed cycling motion analysis methodologies. Prior to founding Cyclologic, Paraic was a director of Serotta’s SICI Fit school and was active in the development of the world’s first Cycling Specific Wind tunnel.

Paraic has worked with elite cyclists and triathletes from across the world and spent nine years as the lead fitter for Trek-Segafredo. He also consults on product development for global cycling brands and runs Bike Fitter Supply, a multivendor website supplying bike fitting products to the industry.

Marcelo Rocha - marcelorocha.com

Marcelo Rocha

Marcelo is one of the leading fitters in South America and has been fitting since 2002 when he was the first person to offer bike fitting services in his hometown, Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. A keen sportsman, Marcelo has participated in many different sports, including basketball, BMX, triathlon, and road cycling. He is also a highly decorated Jiu-jitsu practitioner and teacher.

With a degree in Physical Education, and another in Acupuncture and Chinese medicine, Marcelo has a broad understanding of the human body and sporting performance. In his fitting career,

Marcelo strives for balance and takes a holistic approach to ensure no stone is left unturned. He has worked with some of the best cyclists and triathletes in Brazil, and indeed from across South America. Marcelo has a passion for learning and has gained several qualifications in bike fitting, including FIST, Serotta, Retul, Bikefitting.com and Guru.

MarceloRocha.com offers training courses to fitters across Brazil. Marcelo is an incredibly experienced educator, having delivered courses for Retul and Guru before setting up his own education centre.

Help shape future courses — join the IBFI’s education committee

If you’d like to help shape the future of bike fitting education, why not join our committee? You’ll get a direct say in the future direction of the syllabus and work with the wider IBFI membership to provide feedback at committee meetings.

HOW TO APPLY The application process is open to any IBFI member, you don’t need a background in education or training, but useful and related experiences outside of fitting will strengthen your application.

To apply, simply send your CV to andy@ibfi-certification.com, outlining in the email the reasons you’d make a good committee member.

We would love applicants from geographical regions not currently represented on the committee so preference will be given to applicants from outside the US and Europe. At least one place on the committee will also be filled by a female fitter, regardless of their geographic location.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 4th February 2021