Cycling in the Spanish sun

Bikefitting with JCP Trainings, Malaga

As well as being home to one of the three legendary grand tour cycling events – La Vuelta – Spain, and indeed Malaga, is a regular go-to location for both ordinary cyclists and the riders of the pro peloton. This sun-kissed Andalusian town on the southern coast, gives all-year-round opportunities to ride, with some of the most epic cycling on the Spanish mainland - for road and trail. Yes, the nearby Sierra de Tejeda and Sierra de Almijara mountains are also a haven for adventure seekers, helping to make Malaga the perfect location for anyone on 2-wheels.

Juan Carlos Pascual was born and brought up in the heart of this arena of cycling excellence; in an area where his father is still a local legend on the scene, and where he rode mountain bike alongside his father and brother, and where he now runs the respected JCP Trainings bikefitting studio. With a degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences and advanced bike-fit training with international experts like Tony Corke, Carlos has worked with cyclists of all levels, from enthusiasts to high-performance athletes. His personal approach combines detailed analysis, cutting-edge technology and a deep cycling knowledge, to create precise and effective solutionsfor all riders seeking his skilled assistance towards the perfect ride.

Feet first analysis for cyclists

Carlos has been coaching cyclists since the third year of his degree studies. Having also lived in London, he worked with leading retailers, learning the industry side of the business, before returning to Spain and joining the renowned cycling scene of Andalusia. Initially working for friends, as he developed his bike fitting skills, working up to Olympic level with clients, before he set up independently in 2023, and was finally able to put his well-developed ideas and bike fitting philosophy into practice for himself.

For Carlos, a key part of his fitting process focuses on foot activation, shoe fit, and cleat setup;areas that are too often overlooked but which are essential to power transfer, stability, and injury prevention. By speaking with cyclists, analysing their feet and technical information, he carries out a unique shoe matching analysis for each client, with foot-specific assessments to ensure a solid and aligned foundation on their bike, giving them that perfect trilogy – comfort, fit and performance.

Whilst the local cycling community of Malaga was initially unaware of the in-depth benefits of a bike fit, the post-pandemic period caused an explosion in cyclists wanting more for the ride and more information about their performance. Now, working closely with the local retailers, clients are directed towards the expertise that Carlos has developed and where he works to improve theirindividual ride needs through a feet-first approach.

The benefits of a detailed bike fit

Chatting at length with Carlos, he tells me however, that sometimes bike fitters can be better at social media than bike fitting… whilst recognising himself that social media can be a useful tool in making people more aware. Getting the message out to cyclists is important to Carlos, as he tells me that too frequently, cyclists don’t know that cycling shoes have different shapes and widths, as well as size variations. Some riders come to him after previously being given the wrong information, too; leaving Carlos to rectify problems caused elsewhere. Dealing with this lack of awareness and its consequences – numbness in the feet, pain and hot spots – Carlos soon found that Lake cycling shoes frequently provided the most reliable fit solution for the majority of riders. He tells me how people are now willing to travel a distance for the right cycling shoe, with the reputation of the JCP Trainings studio having grown, and now being well-known across the Andalusia cycling scene.

His bike fitting diary is constantly filled, and he’s happy to recommend Lake as his lead brand for cycle shoes, thanks to our range of many different shapes and size options, created through the number of shoe ‘lasts’ that we currently use. It’s the foundation for us at Lake, as one of the world’s most extensive cycling shoe ranges. As Carlos says: ‘Other brands maybe have only one shape for all their models, and the widths are fundamentally fixed and limited. Their supposedly wide cycling shoes aren’t always wide.’

He relates an case where a cyclist came to him with a shoe from a different brand, supposedly a wide shoe, yet only being 9 cm wide. He continues by telling me how this exemplifies the educational aspect of bike fitting – how he’s constantly talking to cyclists and the important of form and fit, and how comfort leads to improved performance – the same philosophy that guides us here at Lake, in creating some of the most comfortable and best fitting cycling shoes in the world.

Lake CX239 – the all-around cycling shoe for excellence

In terms of the most popular cycling shoe with his clients in this cycling-mad Malaga scene, it’s our new Lake CX239 that seems to hit the mark most frequently. Carlos describes it as a ‘good all-around cycling shoe’, and one that seems to suit the form and fit of the majority of riders he sees. He doesn’t see cost as an issue when buying the right cycling shoe for your own unique feet. After all, as Carlos says: ‘Buy well once, rather than buying a badly fitting cycle shoe too many times. ‘

Lake CX302 – a cycling shoe for summer sun

In terms of the mix of riders at his bike fitting studio, his client base is a 70/30 split, with road cyclists taking up the majority. However, he still likes to hit the local trails himself; these days riding both mtb and road. His current cycling shoe of choice is our Lake CX302; it’s the ultimate cycling slipper for climbers, being lightweight without sacrificing comfort, fit or power transfer. It utilizes clarino microfiber and has well placed vents along the upper to aid air flow on those hot summer rides into the Spanish hills.

For Carlos, he sees that bikefitting is thankfully now a more frequent choice for riders, looking to find that perfect fit in the bike they ride and the shoes that wrap their feet. With Lake cycling shoes, he has the most extensive range of cycling shoes to offers all riders on tarmac or trail. Spain will always be one of the main areas for European and world cycling, producing cyclists that lead the pro peloton, and attracting others from around the world to ride in the endless sun. Thankfully, due to Carlos and JCP Trainings bike fitting studio, more and more Andalusian cyclists will be riding with fit, comfort and performance in perfect harmony, as they join the growing Lake cycling shoes global cycling family.