Phil Cavell is an author, educator and one of the original worldwide pioneers of modern bike fitting. As co-founder of Cyclefit, he helped establish bike fitting as an evidence-informed discipline. He wrote course and devised practices that have served to educate: teachers, students and practitioners around the world – influencing the way the modern cyclist thinks about: performance, comfort, efficiency and the enduing relationship between athlete and machine. Phil also worked as a bike-fitter at Cyclefit until July 2026, when a spine injury made his daily profession difficult.
Chronicler of the Cycling Condition
Phil is a restless questioner of both first-principles and the surrounding mythology of how people relate with the bicycle. His work connects science, psychology, history and culture to explore the deeper questions behind cycling. Rather than focusing solely on performance, he examines what cycling reveals about health, identity and the human condition. Phil’s first book The Midlife Cyclist was a no1 best-seller for many years in the US and Europe. His second book, The Cycling Addiction was published 30th July 2026 and went straight to number 1 in the Amazon chart (cycling titles).
His books combine rigorous research with compelling storytelling, making complex ideas accessible to a broad audience. His latest book, The Cycling Addiction, explores the psychology of cycling – why a healthy passion regularly becomes something more powerful and complicated.
Phil is a regular speaker at festivals, conferences and public events, where he brings together evidence, experience and curiosity to challenge conventional thinking and inspire new conversations.
If you would like to reach Phil to organise a talk, article or consultation, please contact donna@philcavell.com
I am blown away by the level of detail Phil Cavell brings to his work.
Elinor Barker MBE (Olympic Champion)