Should I trust Retul Bike Fit?

Quizmate

I was traditionally fitted to my winter trainer some time ago and following a recent carbon summer upgrade took advantage of the retailers half price Retul fit. The outcome is a saddle height over 2 cm higher than the previous fit that feels somewhat precarious and not helped by a change from 2 bolt SPD pedals to Time RXS's. Should I trust this new fit and go with it or put the saddle down / fore / aft relative to my current fit? I'm a little worried I might injure myself if I go with this new position. I know its not very scientific or even recommended, but I certainly can't pedal backwards with my heels on the pedals without my hips rocking so surely it must be too high? I'm not a competitive rider more weekend club runs and leisure.

Also The "young" fitter complained off the record about being overworked and not getting breaks. I was supposed to get two hours, but after starting 15 minutes late and finishing half an hour early and no promised assessment of flexibility etc as in their promotional video I felt a little short changed. He was also reluctant to look at upgrading the saddle as part of the fit and I'm wondering if I was rushed so he could get his lunch (fit was 11 - 1pm). any thoughts as ever greatly appreciated.

corvus13

I've just been fitted and everything I predicted he would change, he did the opposite. Strange to begin with but it has worked for me. He did lower the saddle for me and now I feel like I'm sat 'in' the bike and not perched on top. As I understand it Retul suggest a relatively flexed 35 degree knee angle rather than a stretched 25 degrees. I've no instinct at all about this but I'm longer and lower and more comfortable.

ozzzyosborn206

I know the Physio for Team Sky and he says he goes by the theory if it ain't broke don't fix it for bike fit, so if you haven't had any problems before he wouldn't change anything, he said Froome looks all 'wrong' on the bike but it clearly works for him so whats the point in trying to change it.


Regarding your seat height though if you want to give the recommendations from the retul a go move it up in smaller increments rather than the full 20mm in one hit

kajjal

A very rough guide is are you stretching or having to rock your hips when pedaling ?

If you are it is likely your saddle is too high. The above post is very true.

wandsworth

I had a Retul bike fit and it was excellent. The bike now fits me like a glove and I am very comfortable on it. The saddle did feel a little high at first but I persevered with it and now find it very comfortable.

However, the Retul system is only a good as the fitter using it, and it sounds like this guy wasn't doing his job properly. He definitely should have assessed your flexibility as that will impact various elements of the set-up (stem height etc).

DKay

Quizmate wrote:

Also The "young" fitter complained off the record about being overworked and not getting breaks. I was supposed to get two hours, but after starting 15 minutes late and finishing half an hour early and no promised assessment of flexibility etc as in their promotional video I felt a little short changed. He was also reluctant to look at upgrading the saddle as part of the fit and I'm wondering if I was rushed so he could get his lunch (fit was 11 - 1pm). any thoughts as ever greatly appreciated.

I would call the place and ask to speak to the owner to vent your concerns. You should get what you paid for. The Retul system is just a tool and only as good as the operator using it. You know what they say about bad workmen...

alihisgreat

Sounds like you may have been short changed? So you could possibly complain.. but I'd give the fit a chance first - any change is going to feel odd for a while.

A fit for a racer is going to be different than a club rider, and maybe that's the significant factor? If I recall correctly, an angle closer to 25 degrees is meant to be better for injury prevention, but as you move towards 35 degrees you'll get slightly more power (although this is of course a generalization). Apparently most pros are in the 30-35 range... i had a 'normal' fit done a few years ago and was put at 28 degrees (I wasn't racing at the time and had knee pain complaints), but I changed my position myself when I got a new saddle, and I'm almost certainly in the 30-35 range now and it feels a lot better: 'in' rather than 'on' as Corvus13 described it!

ddraver

firstly 2cms is a massive change. Anything like that will feel bad immedatly. I had a similar fitting done and had a similar riase but I had to do it incrementally. i.e 1cm higher for a month, then move it the rest of the way. Now I'm used to it it's fine.

However it does sound like you got a half arsed fitter so it might be worth a mention, at least get the manger to have a look again with you to set your mind at ease

cougie

I'd trust the fit.

Most people ride around with the saddle way too low - so if you're used to that - then it will feel a bit odd.

I don't get the pedalling backward with heels on the pedals thing - that sounds like a rubbish guide to height to me.
You're discounting the extra length you get from your foot ?

I'd stick with it for a while and you will soon adapt I think. I had a retul fit this year and it feels good to me.

reg_

Quizmate wrote:

any thoughts as ever greatly appreciated.

Echo the above, it all comes down the time and effort put in by the fitter. I had mine done with the bikewhisperer and it took a good half day to do the bike and the cleats. I felt very high on the bike but everything that man told me about position and power has turned out to be pretty much spot on. Saddle height is an odd one. I recently started questioning this and followed this;

http://myworldfromabicycle.blogspot.co. ... chart.html

Seems to be about right for me.

HTH

Grill

I wouldn't trust it. I had a Retul fit by one of the more lauded fitters out there- terrible. Retul is notorious for putting the saddle too high (it's since been lowered by almost 30mm) and too far aft. I'm not the only one with this experience, especially on the TT fit side.
Fitting is about experience as tools such as Retul are only guides.

ddraver

Grill wrote:

I wouldn't trust it. I had a Retul fit by one of the more lauded fitters out there- terrible. Retul is notorious for putting the saddle too high (it's since been lowered by almost 30mm) and too far aft. I'm not the only one with this experience, especially on the TT fit side.
Fitting is about experience as tools such as Retul are only guides.

Agreed - I had mine done by a Physio that measured the angles with a fancy protractor thingum and an iphone believe it or not (using the same numbers as Retul uses). The trick with all of these sorts of things is knowing when to Follow the numbers and when to use better instincts