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Professional Bike fit certification

IBFI Certification Levels

Level 1: IBFI Accredited Technician
If you’re new to cycling or need a basic bike fit to ensure a comfortable and safe ride, a Level 1 IBFI Accredited Technician is a great choice. These fitters have completed introductory training and possess a solid understanding of fundamental bike fitting principles. This means they are perfectly suited to help you select a new bicycle in the correct size, prior to you making a purchase. They can also perform essential adjustments to help you achieve a comfortable position on your bike, making it a good starting point for recreational cyclists or those just getting into the sport.
Level 2: IBFI Certified Bike Fitter
For cyclists seeking more precise adjustments and who may have specific comfort issues, a Level 2 IBFI Certified Bike Fitter is ideal. These fitters have undergone advanced training on multiple cycling discipines such as TRI/TT and MTB and gained practical experience, enabling them to address a wider range of fitting challenges. They are proficient in more complex fitting techniques and can help optimize your bike setup for improved comfort and performance, making them suitable for dedicated enthusiasts and amateur racers.
Level 3: IBFI Advanced Bike Fitter
If you are an experienced cyclist dealing with persistent discomfort or looking to maximize your performance, a Level 3 IBFI Advanced Bike Fitter is the right choice. These experts have extensive training and experience, allowing them to solve complex fitting problems. They use advanced technologies, such as motion capture systems, to provide detailed analysis and fine-tuning of your bike fit. This level is perfect for serious cyclists, competitive racers, and those with specific biomechanical needs.
Level 4: IBFI Master Bike Fitter
For the ultimate in bike fitting expertise, a Level 4 IBFI Master Bike Fitter offers unparalleled knowledge and skill. These top-tier fitters have demonstrated mastery in all aspects of bike fitting through extensive experience, advanced coursework, and contributions to the field. They can address the most challenging fitting issues and provide mentorship to other fitters. Cyclists seeking the highest level of precision and performance enhancement, particularly professionals and elite athletes, will benefit most from a Master Bike Fitter’s services.
Group lectures online and in person

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IBFI Certified Membership includes free listing on our find a fitter listing and a host of other benefits.

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Common Syllabus

The IBFI’s common syllabus was created alongside experienced education providers from across the globe and continues to be developed by the organisation’s education committee.

This ensures that the syllabus is owned and run by the industry, allowing education providers from across the world to have their say on what is taught in bike fitting education.

Syllabus

Level 1: Principles of Bike Fitting

Lesson 0: Introduction to bike fitting as a service

What is bike fitting? How does it fit into retail and service? Bike fit protocol/process Interview Pre-fit screening On-bike assessment Key skills of a fitter Anatomy Basics Biomechanics Mechanic skills Interpersonal skills/bike-side manor Problem solving Parts knowledge/understanding what can be changed on a bike Online content is designed to complement the in-person, hands-on learning but not teach you how to be a fitter on its own

Lesson 1: Introduction to Anatomy

Skeletal System Functions of the skeleton: support, protection, movement. Joint types: Fibrous: fixed, little to no movement. Cartilaginous: limited movement. Synovial: freely moving, includes hip, knee, and ankle. Joint Movements Types of movements: Flexion/Extension Plantar flexion/Dorsiflexion Abduction/Adduction Pronation/Supination Elevation/Depression Rotation/Circumduction Examples from cycling: Flexion/extension at the knee during pedaling. Plantar flexion at the ankle when pressing on the pedal. Anatomical Position and Directional Terms Anatomical position: Standard reference position. Directional terms: Anterior/Posterior: front/back. Medial/Lateral: towards/away from midline. Superior/Inferior: above/below. Proximal/Distal: closer to/farther from the trunk. Muscles and Joints Hip muscles: Gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, iliopsoas, adductors. Knee muscles: Hamstrings: biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus. Quadriceps: rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius. Ankle muscles: Tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, soleus. Some muscles act over more than one joint (bi-articular). Nervous and Cardiovascular Systems Nervous system: Controls muscle innervation and coordination. Cardiovascular system: Supplies oxygen and nutrients to muscles during movement (e.g., cycling).

Lesson 2: Pre-fit Interview

1Demographics • including age, gender, height, weight, build 2Major discomforts • aches and pains, run through key parts of the bike (shoes, knees, saddle, back, neck and shoulders, hands) 3History of discomfort – e.g SOCRATES a.Site: Where exactly is the pain? b.Onset: When did it start, was it constant/intermittent, gradual/ sudden? c.Character: What is the pain like e.g. sharp, burning, tight? d.Radiation: Does it radiate/move anywhere? e.Associations: Is there anything else associated with the pain, e.g. climbing, intensity. f.Time course: Does it follow any time pattern, how long did it last? g.Exacerbating / relieving factors: Does anything make it better or worse? h.Severity: How severe is the pain, consider using the 1-10 scale? 4Previous injuries • Look to identify potential related causes of existing issues • Sport and non-sport related injuries • Surgical history (injury or otherwise) • Current medical treatment and rehab – physio/PT, chiropractor, osteopath, etc 5Active history a.Work related history – manual jobs, asymmetric tasks, sitting/driving b.Previous sports – asymmetric sports, inactivity c.Experience cycling 6Riding characteristics a.Riding style i.Discipline – road, mountain bike, Time Trial, Triathlon ii.Intensity – race, endurance, general iii.Level – recreational, race, pro b.Handling/riding characteristics i.Stability at speed ii.Confidence cornering/descending iii.Perceived weighting on the hands iv.Preferred hand position v.Cadence

Lesson 3: Introductory pre-fit screening

Hamstrings – passive straight leg raise, active knee extension test Hips Flexion Internal/external rotation Plank Forward bend Fit related implications of each test

Lesson 4: Bike Measurements

Stack and reach XYs Importance of reproducible measurements Key measurements to replicate a position Saddle brand and model Saddle height Saddle setback Saddle angle Crank length Pedal system/model Cleat model Hood reach Shifter lever model Shifter drop from saddle Shifter angle Handlebar angle
Level 1: Bike Fit Skills

Bike Fit Skills 1

Postural cues of bad fit Rocking hips Excessive plantarflexion Excessive heel-driving Excessive reach/spinal curvature Order of interventions – starting with cleat, saddle then bars. That’s the order they impact each other! Identification of a functional saddle position window (fore-aft and height) Identification of a functional handlebar position window Intro cleat position Road neutral fore-aft Stance width Rotation Intro to insoles Arch height Arch length Basic mechanic skills Equipment inspection (wear, safety, correct installation – bike and shoes/cleats) Torque settings Changing/replacing cleats – safety and positional accuracy Swapping a stem Preloading a headset Adjusting a saddle position Fore-aft Height Bike sizing Identifying the correct frame size Static and dynamic approaches Using a size cycle Finding suitable bikes to meet optimal frame dimensions Appropriate resources to help

Detailed below is the minimum that your formal education needs to have covered prior to you garnering the required experience for each level.

The Route to Certification

The IBFI’s certification system is built on qualifications achieved through the organisation’s common syllabus, which is agreed by leading bike fit educators around the world.

Join the IBFI

Take the first steps towards becoming a certified bike fitter with our Non Certified Membership program. As a member, you'll have exclusive access to business and educational resources, as well as a network of existing fitters to help guide you along the way. Let us help you start your journey towards a successful career as a bike fitter.

Education

Our Education program offers a comprehensive approach to learning, where you can enroll in educational courses with approved educators until you have completed all of the common syllabus. We work with a variety of providers, so you can mix and match with any number of them as long as you tick all of the boxes. We’re committed to helping you achieve your education goals, so enroll today to start your journey.

Gain Experience

At IBFI, we believe that a combination of both education and real world experience is key to success. . To become certified, students must meet a set standard of qualifications that require both education and experience in the field. We strongly recommend that our students take advantage of our members area and mentorship programs to enhance their learning experience.

Become Certified

IBFI is your partner in career growth. Our certification program is simple and straightforward. Once you have fulfilled the educational and experience requirements of each level, you can apply for certification by submitting a form and supporting evidence. As you continue to build up your education and experience, we also offer higher levels of membership, providing you with opportunities to enhance your skills and further your expertise.

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