Tips from Peak Bike Fitting

Top bike fit tips for Tor Divide riders with Lee Endres from Peak Bike Fitting

Preparing for Tor Divide is about more than training. Long days on the bike demand comfort, efficiency and a position you can rely on when fatigue starts to build. Getting your setup right before the event can make a huge difference to how you feel and perform out on the route.

Lee Endres from Peak Bike Fitting has years of experience both riding ultra-cycling events and helping riders fine-tune their bikes for endurance riding. In this guide, he shares some of his top advice for Tor Divide participants, along with useful tips for bikepackers taking on any long-distance challenge.

Start by checking in with your body and your bike

Before any event, it is worth taking a step back and asking a few simple questions. How are you feeling on the bike? Where are you noticing pressure or discomfort? Are there any early warning signs that something is not quite right?

Your three main contact points on the bike are your hands, your feet and your saddle. If one of those areas is taking more strain than it should, it is often a sign that something in your setup needs attention.

Bike fit issues are rarely caused by one thing alone, but there are some quick adjustments and simple checks that can help you identify the source of common problems.

Burning quads while riding

If your quads are burning more than you would expect, your saddle may be too low.

A low saddle can overload the front of the legs and make it harder to pedal efficiently, especially over long distances. Try making small changes of around 5 mm at a time, then ride again and see whether the issue improves.

Before you adjust anything, mark your starting saddle height with tape or note the position of your seatpost. That way, you can always return to your original setup if needed.

Sliding forwards on the saddle

If you constantly feel like you are creeping towards the nose of the saddle, there are two likely causes.

The first is the saddle angle. If the nose is tipped down too far, your body will naturally slide forwards. A good way to picture it is to imagine placing a ball on the back of the saddle - if the angle is too steep, it is only going one way.

The second possible cause is a saddle that is too high. In many cases, riders shift forwards to reduce their effective saddle height and bring themselves closer to the bottom bracket. It is often the body finding a way to protect itself from overreaching and discomfort.

Pressure through the hands

Pressure in the hands can come from a number of factors, but handlebar height is one of the most common.

If the bars are too high or too low, your weight distribution can be thrown off and create extra strain through your upper body. Experiment with small changes to stem height and see how your position feels.

It is also worth remembering that lower handlebars are not automatically a bad thing for endurance riding. Comfort is not always about sitting more upright - it is about finding the right balance for your body and your bike.

Saddle discomfort

Saddle discomfort is one of the most common concerns riders have, but it is often misunderstood. In many cases, the saddle itself is not the real issue.

For example, if your saddle is 40 mm too high, you are likely to be overextending at the bottom of the pedal stroke while repeatedly moving over a firm surface between your legs. No saddle will feel comfortable in that situation.

This is why it is so important to look at the whole position rather than immediately blaming the saddle. Persistent discomfort is one of the clearest signs that a proper bike fit could make a real difference.

Knee pain

Knee pain is another common problem, and cleat position is often one of the first things worth checking.

In Lee’s experience, moving the cleat further back is a simple adjustment that can help many riders, with very few downsides. When cleats are positioned too far forwards, more of the workload is pushed through the smaller bones in the foot. That can contribute to numbness, discomfort and a less stable pedalling platform.

If you are struggling with knee pain, check your cleat position and try moving it back slightly to see if the issue improves.

Numb feet

Numb feet are often caused by shoes that are too narrow.

A lot of riders have wider feet than they realise, but not every cycling shoe brand caters well for that shape. If your shoes feel tight, restrictive or uncomfortable over long rides, it is worth taking that seriously.

Check whether all of your toes can rest naturally on the footbed and whether the shoe feels supportive without squeezing the foot. Cleat position can also play a role, so make sure that is not contributing to the problem.

For riders with wider feet, brands such as Lake and Bont can be well worth exploring.

Why a proper bike fit matters

These tips are intended as simple starting points - small experiments you can try to see whether something improves. But the reality is that fit problems are often more complex than they first appear.

The best way to get to the root of an issue is to work with a professional fitter who can assess your position properly and make changes while you are on the bike. At Peak Bike Fitting, Lee uses a range of tools to do exactly that, including a fitting jig that allows both rider and fitter to see changes in real time and understand how each adjustment affects comfort and efficiency.

For Tor Divide riders, that kind of confidence in your setup can be invaluable heading into the event.

Ride comfortably, ride confidently

Tor Divide is a big challenge, and the more comfortable and efficient you are on the bike, the more you can focus on enjoying the experience.

A few small adjustments now could save you a lot of discomfort later. And if you are dealing with an issue that will not go away, booking a professional fit is one of the best investments you can make before the start line.

Lee from Peak Bike Fitting is based at Veloroo in Sheffield.

Good luck to everyone taking on Tor Divide 2026. Most of all, enjoy the ride.

If you are interested in booking a bike fit with Lee at Peak Bike Fitting, use this link or images below to book.

As a Tor Divide 2026 rider, you will receive 20% off the total cost of a bike fit with Lee.
Full details can be found in your event confirmation email.