How To Become A Pro Cyclist with Jack Burke Dan Bigham
Aug 11, 2025
Dan Bigham is a renowned engineer and elite cyclist, previously the hour record holder and Olympic silver medalist. He shares insights on the importance of using objective crash data to define safety issues in cycling, challenging conventional wisdom about speed-related crashes. Bigham advocates for smarter gear regulations instead of arbitrary limits, emphasizing equipment efficiency. He also discusses innovations in bike preparation for the Tour de France, including simulation tools that enhance performance. Safety improvements, including better helmets and tire designs, round out this engaging conversation.
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Define The Safety Problem First
- You must define the safety problem with data before proposing fixes.
- Dan Bigham stresses collecting speed, context, and causation metrics first.
Don't Start With Gear Limits
- Stop debating gear limits as a first-line fix because they likely won't reduce crash rates.
- Prioritize data collection and solutions that affect energy in / drag out instead.
Learn From Motorsport Engineering
- Motorsport solved safety by redesigning courses and runoffs, not by clipping engine power.
- Bigham argues cycling should mirror that engineering approach: simulations and runoff mitigation.