Matt Hallam: Velo Edge Cycling Studio

Finding your fit, with style attached

Cycling isn’t just a sport, nor simply a lifestyle. It’s an inter-woven tapestry of these and other elements; and thankfully, Matt Hallam at Velo Edge understands this. All of the nuances that make up the vast spectrum of cyclists, they all mean something to Matt, and they’ve helped him to develop one of the best bike fitting studios and cycling retailers in the north-west area of the U.K… Situated in one of the heartlands of U.K. cycling, close to the Potteries region and to Manchester – home to British Cycling. On any weekend, you can find world leading cyclists enjoying a freshly roasted coffee, alongside local club riders in the Velo Edge café.

When you consider the cycling community that Matt helps to cater for, it’s not surprising that he chooses to work with some of the best brands in the cycling world – and yes, that obviously includes Lake cycling shoes. Matt works with cyclists who are willing to be guided towards improvements in both comfort and performance. He understands that there’s a balance to be achieved, and that the technology that he uses in his bike fitting studio is simply another tool to help him to guide each cycling client towards the perfect bike fit and shoe fitting, by simply clarifying through data, the hard work and personal communication that goes into every Velo Edge bike fitting session.

A continuing journey towards the delivery of excellence

Strangely for somebody who has dedicated themselves to the delivery of cycling excellence, Matt doesn’t come from a cycling family. At university in Leeds, his cycling was only recreational, as swimming was his focus among the numerous sports that he still participates in. Wanting to develop and test himself in triathlon, it was then that Matt invested more time on the bike and subsequently ended up setting up his own race team only a few years later, with huge success in the U.K. domestic scene. Working at the Rapha studio in Manchester, filled his field of vision even more, and it was from here that he decided to set up Velo Edge and to try to create a new offering for performance orientated riders looking for excellence.

Having worked as a bike fitter for several years, including time spent at the iconic Cycle Fit studio, in Manchester, Matt was frustrated at times with the service he saw being offered elsewhere in this developing industry. He’d seen bike fitting from all its angles and areas of focus – from the very best to the other end of the spectrum. For him, technology was and is important; however, it’s the communication with the individual that counts most, and the detailed analysis by eye, then being confirmed and validated by technology, that matters. He’s recently taken on the Gebiomized pressure mapping system in his bike fitting studios. It’s another key tool in helping to get the right data for individual cyclists’ needs. For Matt, interpretation of data and using tech as a tool is useful – but it’s only one part of a jigsaw that he puts together for every cyclist.

Yes, technology helps to validate things but never drives the process for Matt - it simply assists the team at Velo Edge to provide cyclists with the best possible outcomes. Thankfully, it’s a recipe that works, with several world tour riders regularly using his bike fitting services. However, he’s just as happy helping out the everyday rider who has purchased a bike online or elsewhere, only to find out that their expensive ride is the wrong bike for them. From members of the pro peloton to the local club rider, Velo Edge caters for all.

Lake Cycling Shoes at Velo Edge

With a focus on detail and the individuality of each rider, it’s not surprising that Matt and the team work closely with Lake cycling shoes. As Matt mentions to me, it’s the variety of offerings for all cyclists that Lake has; shoe shapes and sizes, and different width fittings too – this all benefits his performance orientated clients and customers. When a cyclist attends for a shoe fitting, their feet are looked at in detail and measured for length, width and volume, and looked at for their unique shape and how the rider uses their bike. Thankfully, here at Lake, we provide cycling shoes several width fittings and with several ‘lasts’ as the foundation, giving further options in width and shape of the shoe, to maximise the opportunity to find the perfect fit for every Velo Edge customer.

The best-selling shoe is the globally popular CX 238 road cycling shoe. It has a good fitting width, excellent stability for the foot, heel support and good tensioning from the dual BOA system. Alongside the CX333 cycling shoe, Velo Edge riders are wrapped in comfort and performance, with the styling and quality of Lake wrapping their feet in years in cycling shoe innovation and excellence. Riders come in with a variety of issues, including some who are wearing cycling shoes that are 2x too big for them, compensating for poorly measured feet. For Matt and the team at Velo Edge, it’s not about the brand – it’s about finding the perfect fit and the right cycling shoe for every cyclist. That requires communication with people as individuals and an attention to detail.

If you’re riding in the area close to the Peak District National Park and tackling some of the toughest cycling routes in the U.K., then maybe it’s time to take a ride over to Alderney Edge and have a coffee stop at Velo Edge. Take in the ambience of one of the top cycling retail studios in the northwest and talk to Matt about getting your own professional bike fit. Ultimately, whether you ride for fun or for sport, every ride should fill you with a sense of adventure and leave you with smiles… not a painful grimace from poorly fitted cycling shoes of a bike that looked good on the page, but which is simply not right for you.

Comfort, performance and style can be achieved in harmony with each other – we simply call ourselves Lake, and we work closely with experts such as Matt to help you on your own unique cycling journey.