With the Tour Down Under right around the corner, we thought there was no better time to interview our sportsmed bike fitter Hannah!

What is your role at sportsmed? 

I’m a physiotherapist at sportsmed. As part of this role, I see clients across all ages. From adolescences to retirees, treating a range of injuries and conditions.

I guide clinical Pilates classes at sportsmed Blackwood, and 1:1 sessions in the gym. This is to help clients recover from injuries and/or help reduce the risk of injury.

One of my main passions is bike fitting, which is a large part of my day-to-day work. I have been doing bike fitting for 4 years, and I love seeing everyone from beginners to the elite, and everything in between. I love that I can make a positive impact on a rider’s experience.

Tell us about your cycling experience

I was a junior swimmer and runner in Tassie, whose squad mates told her that if she did a triathlon next weekend and did well, she might be selected to compete at the national triathlon championships.

I was in the fortunate position that my parents could afford a road bike for my brother and I, and we were both selected for nations. The rest is history really!!

I combined open water nationals with triathlon nationals when I was 13, but pivoted to focus purely on triathlon the years to come.

I moved to Adelaide for university fresh out of high school, and was offered a spot on SA’s premier women’s cycling team, to race in the National Road Series. I completed for this team for 2 years, with my highlights being SA State Road & Criterium Champion in 2012.

From 2014-2017 I turned my focus on adventure rides, retreats, the W100 and the women’s TDU rides. I also rode 337km in a day in Tassie at the age of 21 to raise money for the Amy Gillett Foundation and Beyond Blue.

In Victoria, I was contracted to organise retreats & getaways for a company called CycleHosts. Hosting events across regional Victoria and Tasmania.

I was also invited to be 1/3 global ambassadors for Ridley from 2017-2020. In 2019, I made a comeback to racing after a 5 year layoff, and had the best race of my life! Winning the Tour of Bright elite women’s points jersey, which has been the highlight of my cycling journey.

I moved back to Adelaide in 2021 and competed in local MTB racing and the Super Series. This year, I have been very recreational but still having fun! Bikes will always be there, there is a bike for every stage of your life which I think is so special.

Who/what inspired you to take this career path?

I turned to bike fitting as a physio when I realised how frustrating it was to treat cyclists who would get better from my intervention/management, but flare up as soon as they rode again!

Also, when leading the adventure rides & retreats, I realised how many people were uncomfortable and suffered in silence. I’ve also suffered from serious discomfort on the bike at numerous points in my life.

I like to break down stigma and discuss taboo topics to help people. I think I’m in such a privileged position to be able to do so, combining my health knowledge with my personal experience.

What is your favourite thing about cycling?

My favourite thing about the bike is something I mentioned before – there’s a bike for every stage of your life.

• Riding as a baby with your parent
• Learning to ride a bike
• Competing in one of the many disciplines involving a bicycle
• Riding to the supermarket or a café
• Riding to work or school
• Pushing yourself hard or going easy
• Riding to travel and sightsee
• Riding for wellbeing or to relax

There are so many places to explore by bike and it can just be so magical!

What does a typical day look like for you?

I often ride before work (or ride to work), walk my doggo and have a coffee to start the day. My workday is a lovely mix of seeing clients in the rooms, bike fitting, Pilates classes, and contacting/following up clients or referrals. I really love that mix as I’ve found I work best when I have variety.

My parting comment is that I hope in the future we can have a better two-way respect between all road users. At the end of the day, everyone deserves to go home safely, and everyone is loved by someone. I figure more bottoms on bicycles is wonderful for society on a holistic level and for the environment. 

If you would like to enquire or book a bike fit with Hannah, please call 08 8130 1128 or contact us here.