Retul fit on Saturday
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Triangle, NC
Posts: 1,480
Bikes: S-Works Tarmac
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 182 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Retul fit on Saturday
I've read positive things about these fits, so I thought I would try one. Its been a couple years since I had a bike fit so, its about time for a check-up. Age has a way of changing us (in ways we generally don't like). The Retul is more of a dynamic fit and, hopefully will provide insight as to why my knees tend to wander in and out while pedaling (though this doesn't appear to have any effect on my performance).
If anyone has had this type fit, I would be interested in your comments.
If anyone has had this type fit, I would be interested in your comments.
#2
Version 7.0
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 13,127
Bikes: Too Many
Mentioned: 297 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1340 Post(s)
Liked 2,482 Times
in
1,457 Posts
I had one and the result was moving my seat back about 1/4 inch. My knees were in line while pedaling which is one of the dynamic measurements it provides. In general, my fit was really close going in. Your knees wandering may be a hip issue. According to our PT person, cyclists over develop certain muscles at the expense of others. There are a couple of good but easy exercises to help with hips. One is to take a large rubber band and put it over both knees. While standing, you walk sideways stretching the rubber band. Then lay on our side and spread your knees like a clam opening.
The other one is to get on the floor on all fours with a rubber band or long rubber tube connecting your opposite arm and leg. The goal is to push your leg back in a straight line. Since it is not longer constrained by the pedals and saddle, your hip must control your leg movement.
The other one is to get on the floor on all fours with a rubber band or long rubber tube connecting your opposite arm and leg. The goal is to push your leg back in a straight line. Since it is not longer constrained by the pedals and saddle, your hip must control your leg movement.
#3
Senior Member
I never had that fit, but if you get in the drops and do some fast spinning you may correct your knee swing. If you knees keep hitting your elbows, you'll start bringing them in where they are suppose to be. Good luck with the fit.
__________________
George
George
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,489
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
2 Posts
I had one two years ago. Here's a link to the rather lengthy post I made about it then. https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ighlight=retul
I forgot to add that I used the figures from the Retul fitting as a starting place for the fitting done for my custom built Indy Fab. The fitter for this process was impressed with how spot on my current set up seemed to be. The two major limits that Indy Fab addressed was building a bike with a taller head tube and one with a shorter seat tube to accomodate my rather short legs and longer torso. Bottom line is that with these types of measurements and a custom built frame, I've never been happier with my fit.
I forgot to add that I used the figures from the Retul fitting as a starting place for the fitting done for my custom built Indy Fab. The fitter for this process was impressed with how spot on my current set up seemed to be. The two major limits that Indy Fab addressed was building a bike with a taller head tube and one with a shorter seat tube to accomodate my rather short legs and longer torso. Bottom line is that with these types of measurements and a custom built frame, I've never been happier with my fit.
__________________
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
Last edited by NOS88; 01-07-11 at 06:51 AM.
#5
Let's do a Century
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,316
Bikes: Cervelo R3 Disc, Pinarello Prince/Campy SR; Cervelo R3/Sram Red; Trek 5900/Duraace, Lynskey GR260 Ultegra
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 651 Post(s)
Liked 879 Times
in
408 Posts
Are you getting it done in Raleigh?
__________________
Ride your Ride!!
Ride your Ride!!
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Triangle, NC
Posts: 1,480
Bikes: S-Works Tarmac
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 182 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for the comments and that is a good report NOS88. The fit notwithstanding, I will make note of some of these comments especially the exercises.
I'm getting the fit at Studio Velo in Mooresville, Joe. He ran a winter special on anther forum and I decided to give it a try. I don't know anything about the place but the fitter seems to have good credentials. I'm not expecting a lot since I'm pretty happy with my current position. Its just time for a check-up and get some advice on a couple things (eg., I don't seem to be able to find the perfect saddle, should I keep trying them; I don't seem to find the perfect shoe, should I just bite the bullet and go D2; my knees seem to wander at times, should I make an adjustment to help keep them in alignment, etc).
I'm getting the fit at Studio Velo in Mooresville, Joe. He ran a winter special on anther forum and I decided to give it a try. I don't know anything about the place but the fitter seems to have good credentials. I'm not expecting a lot since I'm pretty happy with my current position. Its just time for a check-up and get some advice on a couple things (eg., I don't seem to be able to find the perfect saddle, should I keep trying them; I don't seem to find the perfect shoe, should I just bite the bullet and go D2; my knees seem to wander at times, should I make an adjustment to help keep them in alignment, etc).
#7
Let's do a Century
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,316
Bikes: Cervelo R3 Disc, Pinarello Prince/Campy SR; Cervelo R3/Sram Red; Trek 5900/Duraace, Lynskey GR260 Ultegra
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 651 Post(s)
Liked 879 Times
in
408 Posts
Thanks for the comments and that is a good report NOS88. The fit notwithstanding, I will make note of some of these comments especially the exercises.
I'm getting the fit at Studio Velo in Mooresville, Joe. He ran a winter special on anther forum and I decided to give it a try. I don't know anything about the place but the fitter seems to have good credentials. I'm not expecting a lot since I'm pretty happy with my current position. Its just time for a check-up and get some advice on a couple things (eg., I don't seem to be able to find the perfect saddle, should I keep trying them; I don't seem to find the perfect shoe, should I just bite the bullet and go D2; my knees seem to wander at times, should I make an adjustment to help keep them in alignment, etc).
I'm getting the fit at Studio Velo in Mooresville, Joe. He ran a winter special on anther forum and I decided to give it a try. I don't know anything about the place but the fitter seems to have good credentials. I'm not expecting a lot since I'm pretty happy with my current position. Its just time for a check-up and get some advice on a couple things (eg., I don't seem to be able to find the perfect saddle, should I keep trying them; I don't seem to find the perfect shoe, should I just bite the bullet and go D2; my knees seem to wander at times, should I make an adjustment to help keep them in alignment, etc).
BTW the Polar Bear ride by Rocky River is tomorrow morning out of Davidson just a couple miles away!!! But you might already be signed up. I used to ride over from my house, do the ride and veer off near the end making it a 80+ mile day.....
__________________
Ride your Ride!!
Ride your Ride!!
#8
The guy in the 50+ jersey
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Davidson, NC
Posts: 715
Bikes: Specialized S-Works Roubaix, Litespeed Tuscany Road, Specialized Allez Epic lugged carbon frame Road,Giant Anthem 29'r, Klein Hardtail
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Oh yeah--that's Bruce that used to own Cool Breeze. He is very good. I think you'll like him. He was one of the speakers at our TT seminar we did a couple years ago. I will have him take a look at me on my TT bike if and when I can get back on it.
BTW the Polar Bear ride by Rocky River is tomorrow morning out of Davidson just a couple miles away!!! But you might already be signed up. I used to ride over from my house, do the ride and veer off near the end making it a 80+ mile day.....
BTW the Polar Bear ride by Rocky River is tomorrow morning out of Davidson just a couple miles away!!! But you might already be signed up. I used to ride over from my house, do the ride and veer off near the end making it a 80+ mile day.....
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Triangle, NC
Posts: 1,480
Bikes: S-Works Tarmac
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 182 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Darn, I didn't know about the Polar Bear ride. Can't make it tomorrow but, will make note of it for next year. We used to have a Frostbite Tour event near Clayton in early February but, this has not happened the past couple years. Wish I had known about that PB event. Palt, hope you don't have to battle any black ice out there tomorrow. Have a great ride.
Glad to hear good comments about Bruce.
Glad to hear good comments about Bruce.
#10
Climbing Above It All
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Basking in the Sun.
Posts: 4,146
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Oh Mooresville, somehow I read Morrisville. So you have a bit of a drive in the morning. I have 5" of snow here at the house. No riding up this way.
#11
Old & Getting Older Racer
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5,343
Bikes: Bicycle Transportation: 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric, 2019 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
5 Posts
Hi,
I got a Retul fit about 1-1/2 years ago. I was very happy with the experience. I did my road bike and my TT bike. I was pretty confident that my road bike was good and the fitter confirmed that. I knew my TT bike was way off and the fitting was great for me. Since that fitting I've set PRs at every TT course on which I compete. The real kicker was going under an hour for a 40K TT. I had been wanting to do this since the 1970s. I'd been very close in the 1980s but I did it last year by going way under, 58:30.
The Retul system by itself does not guarantee a good fit. The fitter needs to be competent. I was pretty happy with mine. He also used a Computrainer system in conjunction with the Retul. That way we could see how changes were affecting my pedaling efficiency and power. For reference, the fitting for two bikes and cleats on two pairs of shoes took 7 hours.
Hope this helps.
I got a Retul fit about 1-1/2 years ago. I was very happy with the experience. I did my road bike and my TT bike. I was pretty confident that my road bike was good and the fitter confirmed that. I knew my TT bike was way off and the fitting was great for me. Since that fitting I've set PRs at every TT course on which I compete. The real kicker was going under an hour for a 40K TT. I had been wanting to do this since the 1970s. I'd been very close in the 1980s but I did it last year by going way under, 58:30.
The Retul system by itself does not guarantee a good fit. The fitter needs to be competent. I was pretty happy with mine. He also used a Computrainer system in conjunction with the Retul. That way we could see how changes were affecting my pedaling efficiency and power. For reference, the fitting for two bikes and cleats on two pairs of shoes took 7 hours.
Hope this helps.
__________________
Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
#12
Legs; OK! Lungs; not!
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Coral Springs, FL
Posts: 2,096
Bikes: ''09 Motobecane Immortal Pro (Yellow), '02 Diamondback Hybrid, '09 Lamborghini Viaggio, ''11 Cervelo P2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
4 Posts
I had a Retul fit in May of '09 and a refit in May of 10 when I changed saddles. Fit is critical, and these were the best investments I've made in my bike. Retul is a great system but the fitter is critical too. John at Racer's Edge in Boca Raton is great. He's done thousands of fits.
I've written a few posts about my experience. Search my name and retul.
I've written a few posts about my experience. Search my name and retul.
#14
Let's do a Century
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,316
Bikes: Cervelo R3 Disc, Pinarello Prince/Campy SR; Cervelo R3/Sram Red; Trek 5900/Duraace, Lynskey GR260 Ultegra
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 651 Post(s)
Liked 879 Times
in
408 Posts
Here's a link to the local writeup of the Polar Bear ride. The folks on the tandem are part of my regular T/T ridiing group. The lady competed in Nationals this past year and finished 6th I think.
Pretty good turnout of 300+ riders on a chilly, windy snowy day.
https://davidsonnews.net/2011/01/09/f...ride-was-epic/
Pretty good turnout of 300+ riders on a chilly, windy snowy day.
https://davidsonnews.net/2011/01/09/f...ride-was-epic/
__________________
Ride your Ride!!
Ride your Ride!!
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Triangle, NC
Posts: 1,480
Bikes: S-Works Tarmac
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 182 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Good write up on the Polar Bear ride, and its nice to see a healthy turnout. I hated missing it but, its on the list for next year.
The fit went very well. Bruce Guild (Studio Velo) seems very knowledgable and skilled. I was very comfortable with the process. The bottom line is handlebars up 1.5cm (drop is now 5cm), saddle forward 1.5cm, stem 1cm longer, two shims under each cleat to correct for my severe pronation (I'm severely flat footed), and a slight saddle tilt adjustment. Seems like the adjustments were not all that much given the 3+ hours it took. But the process is slow, comprehensive and methodical. I feel very good on the bike now. Just need some decent weather here so I can get in some road miles. It won't happen this weekend since I'm out of town but, perhaps the following weekend. I slipped on ice today and fell hard on my shoulder so, I also nursing a sore shoulder and arm right now. It will need some time to recover. At least it isn't broken - I don't think. We are having some terrible weather here in the South East.
The fit went very well. Bruce Guild (Studio Velo) seems very knowledgable and skilled. I was very comfortable with the process. The bottom line is handlebars up 1.5cm (drop is now 5cm), saddle forward 1.5cm, stem 1cm longer, two shims under each cleat to correct for my severe pronation (I'm severely flat footed), and a slight saddle tilt adjustment. Seems like the adjustments were not all that much given the 3+ hours it took. But the process is slow, comprehensive and methodical. I feel very good on the bike now. Just need some decent weather here so I can get in some road miles. It won't happen this weekend since I'm out of town but, perhaps the following weekend. I slipped on ice today and fell hard on my shoulder so, I also nursing a sore shoulder and arm right now. It will need some time to recover. At least it isn't broken - I don't think. We are having some terrible weather here in the South East.
#16
Senior Member
Thanks for the update Neal. I guess I'll have to save some money for a fit myself.
__________________
George
George
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 885
Bikes: 2011 Trek SOHO Deluxe, and 2010 Specialized Roubaix Expert
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Any feedback regarding Cynthia Stewart in Houston?
#18
Senior Member
#19
Let's do a Century
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,316
Bikes: Cervelo R3 Disc, Pinarello Prince/Campy SR; Cervelo R3/Sram Red; Trek 5900/Duraace, Lynskey GR260 Ultegra
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 651 Post(s)
Liked 879 Times
in
408 Posts
Good write up on the Polar Bear ride, and its nice to see a healthy turnout. I hated missing it but, its on the list for next year.
The fit went very well. Bruce Guild (Studio Velo) seems very knowledgable and skilled. I was very comfortable with the process. The bottom line is handlebars up 1.5cm (drop is now 5cm), saddle forward 1.5cm, stem 1cm longer, two shims under each cleat to correct for my severe pronation (I'm severely flat footed), and a slight saddle tilt adjustment. Seems like the adjustments were not all that much given the 3+ hours it took. But the process is slow, comprehensive and methodical. I feel very good on the bike now. Just need some decent weather here so I can get in some road miles. It won't happen this weekend since I'm out of town but, perhaps the following weekend. I slipped on ice today and fell hard on my shoulder so, I also nursing a sore shoulder and arm right now. It will need some time to recover. At least it isn't broken - I don't think. We are having some terrible weather here in the South East.
The fit went very well. Bruce Guild (Studio Velo) seems very knowledgable and skilled. I was very comfortable with the process. The bottom line is handlebars up 1.5cm (drop is now 5cm), saddle forward 1.5cm, stem 1cm longer, two shims under each cleat to correct for my severe pronation (I'm severely flat footed), and a slight saddle tilt adjustment. Seems like the adjustments were not all that much given the 3+ hours it took. But the process is slow, comprehensive and methodical. I feel very good on the bike now. Just need some decent weather here so I can get in some road miles. It won't happen this weekend since I'm out of town but, perhaps the following weekend. I slipped on ice today and fell hard on my shoulder so, I also nursing a sore shoulder and arm right now. It will need some time to recover. At least it isn't broken - I don't think. We are having some terrible weather here in the South East.
__________________
Ride your Ride!!
Ride your Ride!!