Update #2 From London.

Below is a synopsis of the day here.
We  started with a session led by a Physiotherapist who has worked with the British  Olympic program and Team Sky. He had some interesting observations regarding athletes who are as he puts it micro-adjusters at one end of the scale and macro-adapters at the other. Confirming some of what we have seen in the fit room for years that some cyclists came adapt very readily and productively to moderate contact point changes, while others can feel a shift in performance from a millimeter change. The upshot being the athlete who is adaptable is "more robust and less likely to injury issues.

Kit Vogel presented an excellent review of her research of the last two years relating to the details and the cascading effects of pelvic assymetry on pedaling mechanics and position. The main element here is that basically due to the inherent complexity of the pelvic shape we are all asymetric in some aspect, which drivesome of the apparent leg length discrepancies, knee track variation and saddle discomfort issues.

The next presenter was Dr Nigel Stevens who is a cardiologist and cyclist who has been treating a number of cyclists and runners with an interest in the 40-60 year old group. The lecture was full of fascinating case studies which are too involved to recount here. His most interesting observation was that the sporting cyclist/athlete has a better long term general health prospect than the elite athlete who has pushed the limits of the body to the absolute maximum range in training and competition. Hmmmmm.


At the very end of the day a group from Germany went through a really neat set up they developed using pressure reading pads as a saddle cover and in the shoes. This is most impressive, not just the data acquisition aspect but the software they have developed that shows pressure variation dynamically. The system also shows the center of pressure and its movement. This group will then construct a custom saddle based on the pressure information. Price, well if you  have to ask...right now they think about 300 euros.  I don't know about doing the saddles but perhaps the pressure reading system will be a real possibility in a shop environment.

Ciao