The Posture Advantage - Episode 3 - Beyond The Line: Rethinking Knee Tracking and Leg Alignment

Cycling: lower limb tracking evaluation

​For many years, cyclists have been told that the “perfect” knee path is a straight, vertical line over the pedal. Fit systems, wedges, and shims have been promoted as ways to correct any deviation. The message was simple: if your knee doesn’t track in a straight line, something must be wrong.
There is a certain appeal in this clarity. Organisations like BikeFit and Trek Precision Fit deserve credit for making fitting more structured and accessible. Their rules helped raise the profile of bike fitting and gave cyclists and fitters practical tools.
But the body is rarely so simple. After more than a decade working at the intersection of osteopathy and bike fitting, I’ve come to see knee tracking not as a rule to be imposed, but as a window into the cyclist’s whole system.
A knee that doesn’t follow a straight line isn’t always a problem. It can reflect natural anatomical variation, past injuries, or the way the pelvis and hips coordinate movement. Foot structure, tibial torsion, muscle balance, and even medical history all leave their imprint on the knee’s path. To reduce this to “6 degrees of forefoot angle” is to overlook the richness of the human body.
This is where my approach differs. I integrate biomechanics research, fitting principles, orthotic tools (such as wedges and shims), and — most importantly — the person in front of me. My aim is not to force the knee into a prescribed line, but to understand why it moves as it does, and whether that movement is efficient, sustainable, and pain-free.
Sometimes, mechanical adjustments are needed. Other times, the solution lies in posture, mobility, or addressing a longer-term imbalance. By combining anatomical knowledge with careful observation and the athlete’s story, we avoid shortcuts and find solutions that respect individuality.
Bike fitting organisations have laid a strong foundation, but our scientific goal must be to evolve further — from simplification toward integration. Beyond the line lies a more holistic, more human, and ultimately more effective way of helping cyclists ride with comfort, resilience, and performance.