BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
BikeFit founder Paul Swift has formed bike-fitting educational firm CyclePoint. Based in Spokane in the State of Washington, CyclePoint will be the exclusive educational provider for BikeFit Systems, offering BikeFit level 1 and level 2 courses.
“The courses focus on the foot-pedal interface, contact points and include updated technologies, including the BikeFit app, and up-to-date industry product information,” said Swift, who founded BikeFit in 1995. Late last year he sold the majority of his shares in BikeFit to an outside investor.
Swift told BikeBiz:
“I am still a minority owner and often considered the face of BikeFit. I built BikeFit to a world recognisable brand and I am grateful for the opportunity to have BikeFit run by someone that is truly a business person. This has allowed me to get back to more product development and teaching.”
CyclePoint retain’s Swift’s partnership with SlowTwitch’s F.I.S.T. foot-pedal training programme.
CyclePoint and BikeFit will jointly develop new BikeFit products, said Swift.
BikeFit products are sold globally to professional bike fitters and bike shops.
BikeFit’s new sizing stem was created by Swift, and he also updated BikeFit’s Saddle Changer. Forthcoming products include 2° Cleat Wedges for 3-hole pedal systems.
CyclePoint works with elite track cyclist Katrina Vogel as its freelance director of education – she develops programmes for non-clinical and clinical classes. Vogel has a doctorate in physical therapy.
BikeFit’s level 1 focuses on the foot-pedal interface and contact points of the bike.
Bike Fit Systems was founded by Swift in 1995 after he co-developed the Cleat Wedge (originally known as “Big Meats”). Swift’s interest in bike fitting started while he was a racer – he was eight-time US national champion and rode for the US national team between 1983 and 1997. The first modern bike fitting system – the Fit Kit – was developed in the 1980s – Swift’s BikeFit was the second, but the first to focus on the foot-pedal interface.
Swift’s bike fitting products have been known by a number of brand names over time, including when he worked with LeMond Fitness.
