Kevin Netto says better bike handling could prevent catastrophic crashes amongst cyclists and improve safety on our roads.

The Curtin University school of physiotherapy and exercise science associate professor is using groundbreaking technology to study the way riders move on a bike.

Attaching motion sensors to riders, Professor Netto is using inertia motion capture technology to “take the laboratory outdoors” for the first time.

“All the research done on cycling has been in a lab, but we are taking it out on the road,” he said.

“What we are doing is looking at what is the best bike handling and how you can train someone better.

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“Even the best riders are having problems handling their bikes — races are lost and won on bike handling.”

Professor Netto said Tour de France favourite Richie Porte crashed out of this year’s tour because of poor bike handling and several other riders suffered similar fates in downhill crashes.

He said the technology could be used to help elite to everyday riders.