The Fit

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Day 2

Retül. Meet the nuclear Godzilla of bicycle technology. 

Retül is an uber-fancy computerized 3D motion-capture technology platform. The Retül system accurately measures every degree of movement and every millimeter of distance, providing John Drake with the data to support the choices he and I have discussed for my cycling equipment and the personal riding experience that I’m looking for. 

John starts off with a pre-fit physical assessment, considering my body’s limitations, previous injuries, and pains, and we talk about what my goals are on the bike. At my age, I like that. 

Next, John and I talk about my specific needs, a list of components, the wheel set—all being selected to meet my performance requirements and complement my strengths. We revisit this conversation a couple of times. 

Enter a live cockpit.

From there, John gets me on the bike (this can be either your existing bike or, as in my case, the Retül Müve machine). This is the centerpiece for getting all the proportions and all the spatial things right—my very own chill room. Next, John places LED markers on eight anatomical points of my body, and the Retül Vantage Motion Capture system tracks them and, in real time, collects full three-dimensional data from each pedal and my own dynamic experience. Retül is definitely in a different league than its forebears. 

Everything else is lame and legacy.

The real-time, dynamic data is compiled into the Retül bike-fit software so that John can look at the numbers, which show degrees of movement that cannot be seen with the naked eye. He then adjusts my future bike based on the fit data, the pre-fit physical assessment, his 40 years of experience, and the goals he and I have discussed for the bike. This also includes (in my case) equipment changes: shoes, footbeds, saddle. Man, it’s nice. 

Once I’m in my final bike position, John creates a digital map of my setup using the Retül Zin tool. The bike data and Zin-tool measurements are generated into a complete report that I can reference at any time after my bike-fit appointment, making me future-proofed for any purchase I make going forward. 

The nature of bike-ness.

No matter your level of riding, comfort is crucial to sustaining time spent on the bike. The correct position keeps your body aligned on the bike, helping to prevent injuries. The optimal position not only increases comfort—it maximizes both power and endurance. Retül Bike Fit makes riding more enjoyable, more efficient, while reducing the chance of injury and increasing comfort on the bike. John works with triathletes and other riders of all experience and ability levels to match great bikes to their riding positions, and he’ll do bike fittings on your existing bike to help make it fit you better.