Huge News - The Pedaler returns to Nundah!!

We are very excited to announce that we will soon have a new health location up and running in Nundah, the very suburb we started out in 8 years ago!

We kicked off The Pedaler (previously termed Tuileries Podiatry) in a sleepy street in Nundah in 2012 whilst Nathan was still commuting to Hobart for work every week. Initially ‘Dangerous’ Dave Gruhl looked after clients whilst Nathan was away (and also helped himself to the fridge mercilessly). After Nathan stopped flying to Hobart in 2015, we moved the business to Milton to be close to the cycling centre of Brisbane.

It comes with great joy then to return to our roots. Our partnership with Northwest Physiotherapy has expanded our footprint enormously and seamlessly. The Nundah location with serve as a base for Podiatry for all of our inner north clients who find the drive to Milton inconvenient. The location is also close the Nundah criterium track, the north Brisbane bike path and a whole bunch of riding groups and Tri clubs.

All bookings can be organised directly via the Nundah NorthWest Physio page.

The Pedaler Podiatry is now available at

• Milton (Headquarters) including cafe, workshop, massage, physiotherapy and dietician.

• Everton Park

• Keperra

• Eatons Hill

• Nundah (opening Jan)

Contact us for more details. We are sure to be offering a few sneaky promotional offers for Nundah in the coming weeks.

Should I use my walking orthotics in my cycling shoes?

This is one of the most common questions we get at The Pedaler when cyclists call and ask for an appointment. Orthotic therapy has been used in a walking context for far longer then cycling and we are still catching up. As a consequence, we see a lot of riders stuffing a pair of walking orthoses into their cycling shoes and giving themselves problems.

Generally the conditions we treat when creating cycling orthotic solutions are not the same as when we treat runners. Most pains and problems are largely due to high peak pressures,, volume issues, shoe issues and overuse injuries of the leg knee and hip. Consequently, the treatment and orthotic prescription is very different to walking solutions. Above all, the space occupied by walking orthoses (often made from foam) is prohibitive to making a shoe fit well. We only use Carbon Fibre to create all our cycling orthotics to ensure the fit in the shoe is as perfect as it was for the previous shoe liner albeit now custom for your foot.

By using thin yet stiff carbon fibre it allows us the space to easily add pressure deflection, cushioning and load shift elements without filling up the shoe. The custom arch profile then makes the pedal pressure feel more even and stable, which is certainly an endearing sensation.

If you have questions about cycling orthoses (or standard orthotics for that matter) feel free to contact us for more information.

Remember, it’s not long now till the end of the year so use your health insurance before December 31.

Welcome Podiatrist Ana Downey-Smith to The Pedaler.

We are very excited to introduce the newest member of our team Ana Downey-Smith. Ana kicks off next week at both our Milton headquarters and at North West Physiotherapy Everton Park. She has been working over the past few years in Bathurst and is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities presented by working at The Pedaler.

Ana grew up in Central West NSW and studied a bachelor of podiatry through Charles Sturt University completing her studies in 2013. Initially she started her career in a public hospital in Sydney working with a prosthetics and orthotics team, then returned back to the country. Ana is currently studying a degree in Sports Medicine through the University of Melbourne, expected to be completed by December 2019.

Ana is qualified in dry needling, trigger point therapy and soft tissue mobilisation. This helps to provide an in-depth treatment with longer lasting results. Ana also has a keen interest in biomechanics and alignment. After several years of experience in private practice, Ana has clinical skills with people of all ages and health types, but particularly enjoys working with children, teenagers and athletes.  

Ana prefers to take a holistic approach to treatment, focusing on more than just the areas of pain. She also has over 6 years experience making and prescribing orthotics, as well as adjusting or modifying and fitting shoes and cleats. Ana and her husband have been long-term members of cycle clubs in Central West NSW and you will often find them around the local cycling crowds. 

During spare time Ana enjoys mountain biking, hiking with her 2 dogs and travelling.

The Pedaler Health Team is growing!

Our collection of heath specialists has grown again in 2019. We have recently added two new massage therapists to The Pedaler Health giving our clients access to massage 3 days per week. We are excited to welcome Amie on Mondays and Thursdays, and Vicki on Fridays. Both clinicians have a wealth of experience dealing with cyclists and multi sport athletes.

Amie and Vicki join Nathan (Podiatry), Anouksa (Physiotherapy) and Matthew (E.P) who consult weekly from The Pedaler.

We will be announcing a few new names to the health team over the coming weeks to help us look after the needs of Brisbane’s cycling, running and multi sport community. We are also excited to almost be ready to roll out our two new key technology additions to The Pedaler as well - Saddle Pressure Testing Hardware and a Virtual Wind Tunnel. These are hugely exciting additions to our business and allow athletes a chance to get more comfortable on the bike whilst also being more efficient. These new features will be handled primarily by Anouska - our Physiotherapist.

Whilst we are usually busy, we typically have appointments available each week so give us a call and let us help you get more comfortable. All health bookings can also be managed online as well.

The Pedaler and North West Physiotherapy Team Up!!

After 6 months of discussion and behind the scenes work, we are very pleased to announce that The Pedaler and Cobra9 Orthotic Labs will be teaming up with North West Physiotherapy to provide Sports Podiatry, Orthotic Services and Bike Fit assistance from their Everton Park location.

We are stoked to be working with the well established and professional team on the Northside who are renowned for their quality holistic physiotherapy and with whom we have shared patients with in the past. It also provides easy access for our Northside clients helping them to schedule appointments around their work and school life more conveniently.

Our mission at The Pedaler has been to provide high level Cycling and Sports Podiatry services without compromise. This attitude fits perfectly with North West Physiotherapy who were looking to expand their health services with the certainty that comes from years of industry experience, and the benefits of a one stop shop for orthotic fabrication. Ron and Roger from NW Physiotherapy and Nathan from The Pedaler hope that with the successful collaboration between the two businesses we will see expansion in the near future to both the Keperra and Eatons Hill locations as well.

As of November, you will be able to access high level Sports and Cycling Podiatry, Running/Walking/Cycling Orthotic services and basic bike fit from the Everton Park location. All high end bike fit clients will still be directed to The Pedaler HQ at Milton to enable access to our bike fit technology.

We look forward to caring for a greater portion of the Brisbane community and we are thrilled to be working alongside such a quality team. Call (07) 3353 4111 or book online from next week.

Nathan

DON'T MISS OUT. Free Orthotics*

It's that time of the year again! 

For most health insurers, December 31st marks the point where your benefits reset. It means, if you want a 2nd set of orthotics to use in your cycling or walking shoes, now is the time to use your benefits prior to the reset period.

All our valued clients at The Pedaler are entitled to 2nd set of orthotics with no 'out of pocket' costs with the use of their Private Health Fund*. 

Make sure you book a time, or give us a call to avoid missing the December 31st deadline as we get quite busy in December.

We are fortunate to be one of the few remaining Podiatry Practices that still has its own lab. This allows us to create unique solutions for all shoe and foot issues.

If you’ve been putting off seeing a Podiatrist to organise orthotics to alleviate pain, improve comfort or prevent potential problems, then get in now and we can prescribe your custom set of orthotics now, then issue you with a 2nd set in the new year at NO GAP.

The benefits of being a Pedaler Patient.

(*must have had previous orthotics from The Pedaler for a No Gap set - please check your health fund for details)

What makes a comfortable cycling shoe?

We are frequently asked the question; ‘'what are the best cycling shoes?’’ and to be honest, there is no blanket answer for this one. There are certainly cycling shoes that are made with better materials and have design features that set them apart from their peers, but when it comes down to it, you need to make sure you get the right shoe for your foot.

There are a few key points to ensure you are on the right track when it comes to finding a good shoe fit.

• The length of the cycling shoe should ideally run just past your longest toe (not necessarily your big toe). On occasion there might be just a slight touch at this point when sitting but it should diminish when on the bike (we often trial shoes with patients on the bike to double check). Avoid getting shoes where the gap at the end of the shoe is more then one centimetre as it makes the shoes widest point DIFFERENT to the widest part of your foot. It’s a common mistake as riders go longer for width. As the shoe gets longer, the widest part of the shoe also moves forward. It also then becomes very difficult to get the cleats far enough back for an appropriate fit.

• The width of the shoe should cradle the foot without FIRM compression. It’s totally acceptable for the walls of the shoe to push on the foot, but not to compress and create issues. The insole of the shoe will normally be narrower then your foot - that’s ok because the upper will balloon a little around your foot. As a rule of thumb, if the insole is wider than your foot, then your shoe is too wide. There are exceptions here for feet with specific problems, but as a rule of thumb, an insole that is a little narrower then the foot is fine.

• Toe Box Shape is crucial for reducing the potential for toe issues and numbness. Make sure your foot type and toe shape suits the upper shape of the shoe. They are all different, so don’t cram your foot into the wrong shoe. Also, toe box volume or ‘depth’ differs across shoe ranges. If you have a big forefoot or big toes, get a deeper toe box. Some shoes are very narrow here and this can create huge issues.

• Heel Cup width and fit is also very important. Each shoe brand has different heel cup shapes that can hug the heel well, or cause irritation and numbing. The back of your heel is very boney and often has lots of lumps and bumps. If this is the case, look for a softer heel cup. Many cycling shoes now have adjustable heel cups or mouldable heel cups as well. These certainly do help improve the fit. As a rule, if you have lumpy heels, don’t look for a lightweight shoe with no heel padding.

• Closure Systems vary across all shoes. In general, the more the merrier. More straps or boa dials may slightly weigh down the shoe somewhat, but it certainly improves the specificity of the fit. Laces, whilst being difficult to adjust whilst riding also provide a very secure and comfortable closure system. Ideally, if you have issues with your forefoot, it is normally a good idea to have a closure system located in this area to allow for micro adjustments.

• Stiffness becomes important as your ability starts to improve. Just like your bike, the difference in shoe stiffness becomes realised as you demand more from your riding. The stiffer sole creates a more effective lever arm for pedalling and makes for a better riding experience in general. Keep in mind however, correct fit becomes more important in high performance shoes due to their high levels of rigidity.

• If you have problems, pain or numbness in your shoes, seek help from a qualified podiatrist or chat to your bike fitter. If you aren’t sure who to see, then check on the partners page of cobra9.com.au/partners for those who have more experience dealing with cyclists and cycling shoes. There is also a useful brand by brand advice sheet regarding which cycling shoes suit certain feet.

  Nathan White

  Podiatrist
  

Please Note: Due to the wide variety of fit options available across the brands we supply, we do not hold a large amount of stock instore. Shoe fittings are available by appointment only.

The Evolution of The Pedaler

When you're busy in the middle of a business, it's easy to forget the huge changes that have occurred across the past few years.  We started creating Carbon Cycling Orthotics in 2009, and at that time, we weren't planning on creating a comprehensive Health Practice in Milton, Brisbane.  

With the addition of Physiotherapy and Bike Fitting, we can now manage the full range of services that athletes require.  

The timeline of services and projects looks as follows

• July 2009 - Cobra9 Cycling Orthotics created

• July 2009 - Cobra9 Racing starts

• January 2014 - Cobra9 Intebuild Racing forms

• August 2015 - The Pedaler Opens

• September 2015 - Podiatry, Retail Online

• February 2016 - Workshop , Bike Sales Online

• September 2016 - Coaching Commences

• November 2016 - The 4064 Cafe Opens

• January 2017 - Dedicated Workshop Manager Commences

• June 2017 - The Pedaler Hit Squad Forms

• September 2017 - Exercise Physiology Commences

• December 2017 - Brisbane Continental Forms

• January 2018 - Dedicated Massage Therapy Room created

• April 2018 - Physiotherapy Services Commence

• July 2018 - Bike Fitting Services Commence

We now have the ability to fully cater for the needs of cyclists and multi-sport athletes from start to finish. 

1. This means advice for the beginner on bike servicing and catering for their initial set up needs. 

2. We can help those suffering hot spots or poor shoe fitting with our Podiatry services and Cobra9 Cycling Orthotics. 

3. We can modify a bike during a bike fit within our workshop and change handlebars and stems easily and professionally. 

4. Physiotherapy and Podiatry can work together to ensure a comprehensive treatment platform is issued. 

5. We can provide the exercise programs and tools required to ensure injury risk is minimised and follow that up within our coaching programs. 

6. Our coaching programs can be measured against testing provided by our Exercise Physiologist.   

7. We can source and set up new bikes for clients alongside our workshop and bike fit services. 

8. Ongoing body maintenance is managed by our massage therapists who provide feedback to Physiotherapy as required. 

All these seperate but linked services are provided right here in Milton and offered in conjunction with access to the best coffee available in the 4064.  That's right, you can grab a Fonzie Abbott coffee from our cafe while you wait.