Conceptualizing the Integrative Bicycle Fit model can be assisted by understanding more about Paul Chek’s Totem Pole.

This image represents a hierarchal map of how the nervous system will prioritize aspects of the body in context of survival. That is, anything higher on the totem pole will take precedence over anything below it in a moment of perceived threat or stress.

For example, if someone is challenged to breathe, the biological systems below breathing on the map will be compromised in order to attempt to optimize breathing. This is intuitive if you think about it for a moment; the priority of the life force that inhabits your “biological space suit” is to continue to live, and there are mechanisms in place to ensure this happens as efficiently as possible. This is an adaptation strategy and all life forms have them by definition.

Notice that the “slave joints” [everything from the hip bones to the feet, including the spine] are at the bottom of the pole. This is the domain of the standard bike fitting [and coaching] model; the understanding is that all biomechanical problems are caused and solved by biomechanical methods or solutions. This is not incorrect, however this understanding is far from complete.

The “mother” or root of a challenge [often in the form of an injury, but not necessarily] is frequently much higher on the totem pole than area of the slave joints.

To hear Paul give an excellent explanation of the Totem Pole, watch the video he has posted on this page [9 minutes long]:

Paul Chek’s Blog: The Psyche

An Integrative Fitting is the culmination of my experience and understanding that helps an athlete have a deeper insight into their relationship to cycling and movement. This happens with an examination of the athlete with consideration of muscular, fascial, visceral, neurologic, lymphatic, circulatory, respiratory, and limbic systems. These are understood in the context of how the dream, goal or objective aligns the client’s choices and habits. The psyche, the environment, and drive will influence the current expression of athletic ability. As we understand these factors we can shape and direct athletic potential.

This product was created to serve riders who have not found satisfactory results from conventional fitting methods. By taking time to understand an athlete on a level with more depth, we allow space for change in trajectory which can bring about healing.

Orthodox or conventional bicycle fitting looks at a rider through a biomechanical lens, understanding the athlete as a system of levers that applies power to the pedals. Ostensibly, when the relationship of these levers is optimized, the rider will perform to their potential. If a rider’s challenges fall outside the scope of this model, often the problems will go unresolved. 

If a rider is having pain or challenge from cycling, the biomechanical model finds solutions in the relationships of contact points: saddle height, saddle to bar drop, saddle offset from the bottom bracket. As this model becomes more nuanced, it explores more subtle relationships such as cleat wedging, footbeds, and saddle nose angle.

While there are instances when a challenge an athlete is experiencing will be resolved by application of a solely biomechanical solutions, this is not very often the case. Why?

Humans are more than metronomic engines that power a bicycle up a mountain or over a route. We are infinitely complex biological, psyche driven organisms that exist in relationship to our environment.

By attempting to solve all problems with only biomechanical tools, we are limiting the choices we have to bring the athlete into a higher state of health. We must expand our toolbox and widen the scope of our methods in order to serve the client more completely.

The psyche manifests the physical expression of our being-ness through billions of biochemical reactions per second, charged by electrical energy that is the life force of the soul [which can be thought of simply as “pure potential”]. Ultimately, the psyche drives all choices and behaviors. Our psyche is formed in the cauldron of life which includes individuation from our parents [the first 7 -14 years of life], as well as our experiences, traumas, cultural, familial, and social influences.

The expression of your psyche will dictate your posture on the bike, whether you are an attaquer, a rouler, or a grimpeur. It will also dictate how aero you are, what your digestion is like, your temperament, and whether you have chronic knee pain or arthritis at a young age. It will dictate why you forget to eat on the bike or why you keep crashing [or getting crashed by others], or why your head is filled with self doubt when you roll up to the start line or are deep in the pain cave on a long climb.

In order to truly move the dial on athletic performance and achieve excellence in sport, there is one single rule that is the most important principle any athlete can and must follow:

KNOW THYSELF 

For an athlete to truly know themselves is to understand their drivers, their limits, their strengths, and how these have come to influence and authorize the outcome of their relationship with sport.

Cycling is a sport which will test you on every level, if you go far enough. It will reduce you to your nucleus and give you the opportunity to build yourself back up again. It can provide the landscape for your own Hero’s Journey. The Integrative Bicycle Fitting is designed to assist you in this process.

Integrative Bicycle Fitting looks beyond the biomechanical model, and involves:

• teaching in addition to doing

• education as a catalyst for long term, sustainable change

• big picture concepts as well as practical application and actionable insights

• resonance

• consideration and attentive action to changes

• working in accordance with natural law

• rhythm

• methods are not old school, not new school…..all school

As we work towards an Integrative Bicycle Fitting model, we do not disregard or negate the biomechanical perspective, it is integrated and included in our work. Biomechanics are part of the outcome of our intent and energy in sport. Just as when a person evolves to a new level of personal development, the previous levels are integrated, biomechanics are a fundamental component of our relationship to the beautiful mechanical device that is the bicycle.