BIG INTERVIEW
‘IMPORTANT WITHIN THAT IS THE NEED FOR WELL-EDUCATED, CERTIFIED, AND TRUSTWORTHY FITTERS.’
idiosyncrasies for sure, but the basics now are pretty much all agreed on.” One of the key benefits of being an IBFI bike fitter is being recognised globally as achieving a specific level, and then being able to promote that. To support its members, the IBFI has a global directory with an interactive map on its website that allows cyclists and prospective clients to find a bike fitter locally. This currently showcases more than 200 IBFI members.
Training future bike fitters As with any trade or skilled profession, bike fitting can only look to a brighter future if there is new talent looking to launch a career within it.
“A fitter should be like a coach or a mechanic that you see semi-regularly. Little and often to make the most of your cycling. And that’s kind of really the change. “But important within that is the need for well-educated, certified, and trustworthy fitters.”
Global standards
The IBFI has a simple certification system of Levels One through to Four. Each tier is based on a globally-recognised syllabus and requires a specific amount of online theory and guided learning delivered in-person. Prescott and the IBFI are currently interacting with all education providers to bring their training in-line with the IBFI’s global syllabus, thus creating a standard that is reflected across the industry. “Most of them [training providers] are pretty much there anyway,” he says.
“The training courses that are still around, are still around because they’re good ones. A lot of the quick one hour online training courses have sort of disappeared.” Although the creation of a syllabus sounds like a simple task, it took around three years to create, and contacting the educators has added a further two. “They’re still in the process of adding little bits here and there, but I think there is a generally accepted, standard way to do a good bike fit,” says Prescott. “Each practitioner will have their own little
24 | June 2024
To encourage this, the IBFI is in the process of creating a non-certified membership for those looking to learn more. “We realised that if you want to learn to become a fitter or you want to get into the industry, there’s no aid for you there in the BFI, and part of our remit is to help educate fitters.,” explains Prescott.
“With a non-certified membership., you will pay a small
fee to join the IBFI as someone who’s never done a bike fit, but wants to learn, and then that will give you some benefits in terms of access to training, reading lists, and mentoring schemes that we’re going to set up with all the Level Four fitters. “It will be a route into the industry that wasn’t there previously. It’s pretty fundamental.” Onwards from that, the plan is to push to get the IBFI a Royal Charter. This will see bike fitting gain significantly more recognition as a trade and the IBFI will be able to award ‘Chartered’ status to its members.
A further consequence of this is an increased chance of Government support with apprenticeships and other schemes.
“It’s a long process, but we’re doing all of the right things.
We just need that last push over the line,” says Prescott. “Andy [Brooke] has been giving it his all for 10 years. He’s handed the reins to me and hopefully with a little bit of momentum we can really get it going.”
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