194 Is Bike Fitting Becoming an Official Healthcare Profession? (with IBFI’s Lee Prescott)

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.ukThe Science & Cycling Conference: https://science-cycling.org/Retul - Data driven bike fit: https://www.retul.com/ttsThe UCI Commissions are set up by the Management Committee to help it with its mission: https://www.uci.org/commissions/If you have any further questions for us, join the conversation at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cyclingdemystified/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.