Vankru Cycling

I actually feel sick writing this 😢

Please find below the zoom link for Garth's funeral on Monday 23rd February@ 12.30pm. Because it is a zoom link, it can be watched anytime.

Garth had many friends worldwide so please share. Many thanks.

Kate x

https://zoom.us/j/97286961885?pwd=0hvPrUJl2EiQXUlWiOet9COcNHnR4O.1

Meeting ID: 972 8696 1885

Passcode: 990704

I don’t want to miss anyone, so this is why I am posting on here. With a very heavy heart, I want to share that my husband has passed away. He was loved by so many, and we will be holding a service to honor his life. Please feel free to share this with others who may want to attend.

With love,
Kate

Why I raised the bars when the rider wanted to be more aggressive.

This rider travelled over an hour to see us which is fantastic.

It was his first bike fit, and his goal wasn’t simply to be more comfortable on the bike.
He was dealing with ongoing nerve sensations and lower back stiffness — both on and off the bike and wanted to eliminate the bike position as a contributing factor.

An MRI had already come back inconclusive.

At first glance, his position didn’t look bad.
On paper, there were a few obvious changes that could have been made.
Lower the saddle.
Tweak cleats.
Keep the front end low to preserve an aggressive look.

Visually, that would have made sense.

But the symptoms told a different story.

He was riding with a very low front end, loading the lower back and neck, and guarding just to be able to look forward. The discomfort wasn’t dramatic — but it was persistent, and that’s often the bigger warning sign.

So instead of chasing how the position looked, we changed what it was asking his body to tolerate.

We raised the handlebar height to unload the spine and neck, addressed a small leg length difference, and corrected subtle foot and cleat factors that were feeding instability further up the chain.

The position isn’t perfect — and it isn’t meant to be.

But the changes were immediate and meaningful:

● he felt far more planted on the bike
pressure through the feet reduced significantly.
● hand pressure and neck discomfort dropped by around 30–40%.
● the lower back felt calmer and less guarded.

Could we have kept him lower and more aggressive?
Yes.

But positions don’t usually fail on day one — they fail weeks later, once fatigue and repetition catch up.

For riders dealing with persistent issues, the goal isn’t to be aggressive or to look good.
It’s repeatable.

And repeatable positions keep people riding.

Before ➡️ After bike fit

This rider came in with a mix of issues that had been building over time:

• Right knee (patella tracking) discomfort
• Lower right-side back pain
• Hand discomfort
• Numbness in the toes

Rather than chasing one symptom, we looked at the whole system — rider, bike, and contact points.

Key changes made during the fit:

• Saddle height increased by 80mm
• Saddle angle adjusted
• Handlebar position completely revised and shifters levelled
• Cleats moved back 11mm with a slight stagger (after foot size and navicular drop assessment)
• Arch support added

Small details. Big difference.

This is exactly why winter is such a powerful time to get a bike fit — plenty of time to adapt, resolve issues, and start the season in a far better place.
If something doesn’t feel quite right on the bike, it’s usually there for a reason.
—
VanKru Bike Fitting

Wishing all my clients a very Merry Christmas 🎄

As the year comes to an end, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you.

Thank you for the trust, the support, and for choosing VanKru — every rider that walks through the studio doors is genuinely a privilege to work with.

I’m incredibly grateful for the confidence you place in me, whether it’s improving comfort, working through injuries, or chasing your riding goals.

Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas and a strong, healthy year of riding ahead 🚴‍♂️

— The Team at VanKru

❄️ Winter might feel like the “quiet” season for cycling…
But it’s actually the smartest time to get your bike fit sorted.

Why?
Because winter gives you something that peak season never does:
space.

Space to ride indoors consistently.
Space to adapt your position gradually.
Space to fix the little things before they become big things.

Most discomfort athletes feel in spring and summer — knee pain, numb hands, saddle soreness — has already been building through the winter. That’s why making small position adjustments now can completely transform how you feel when the season starts again.

As an IBFI Level 4 Certified Bike Fitter, my work focuses heavily on injury prevention, alignment and restoring balance for riders who want to perform better and feel better on the bike.

If you want to get ahead of next season, the window starts now.

Most riders wait until spring to get a bike fit…
But the truth is, winter is the best time to fix those nagging pains and improve comfort before the new season begins.

Small position tweaks now = huge gains when the longer rides return.
Winter gives you the perfect window to work on balance, comfort, and efficiency without pressure.

If you’re training indoors, preparing for events, or want to finally ride pain-free — this is the perfect moment to get things dialled in properly.

I’m an IBFI Level 4 Certified Bike Fitter with over 15 years of experience working with cyclists of all levels — from beginners rebuilding confidence to competitive riders chasing performance and injury prevention.

👉 We still have some slots available before the Christmas holidays!
(We will also be open between Boxing Day and New Years Eve 😁)

One being replaced and the other getting dialed in.

Some great changes to Euan's position just in time for tomorrow's Nat B (I believe) at Abingdon. Let's go, 1st Cat is on the cards!!

On another note, I picked this song as my daughter has just finished learning how to play it on the drums, and Euan Can't be Stopped!! 😃😁🦾🦿

Best of luck dude!!

Gregory getting his first ever Tri bike dialled in for IM Vichy and then Weymouth later on the year. And what a beauty it is!!

On another note, check out those calves!

First time working on one of these Elves TT/Tri bikes.
Front end is very adjustable, but the seatpost has to be cut down quite accurately, so make sure you get the saddle height correct, or else you will be buying a new seatpost! 😱