RETUL bike fit

[KnottedYet]

Dartfish does the same thing. Again, just a tool. Precise angle measurements don't mean much, because people aren't numbers. I always worry when folks get hung up on angles...

The best fitter I've ever met doesn't use any video system at all.

The best biomechanics researcher I've ever met doesn't use Dartfish or Retul. He uses a 60 fps camera with plain ol' video playback for most things, and something crazy fast like a 2,000 fps camera with plain ol' playback for real high-speed stuff. He doesn't measure angles from a 2D system (anything on a screen is 2D, it can't be avoided). He measures people instead.

I once drank the Dartfish/Retul Kool-Aid. Sexy computer tricks are impressive, but nothing substitutes for a good brain and a thorough exam of the rider's body OFF the bike.

Don't choose your fitter by what expensive toys they have. Ask other riders, ask sports med clinics, ask physical therapists; find out who they recommend.

If you can get a hold of Andy Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists, that's a good book to have handy. (take all the numbers with a grain of salt, of course)

[MartianDestiny]

I once drank the Dartfish/Retul Kool-Aid. Sexy computer tricks are impressive, but nothing substitutes for a good brain and a thorough exam of the rider's body OFF the bike.

Don't choose your fitter by what expensive toys they have. Ask other riders, ask sports med clinics, ask physical therapists; find out who they recommend.

If you can get a hold of Andy Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists, that's a good book to have handy. (take all the numbers with a grain of salt, of course)

Said much better than I could have.

[KnottedYet]

My most important fitting tool is a mirror. I can show the rider what I'm looking at, point out the things I think are problems, have them watch to see what changes as we change their posture or their fit.

My goal when doing a bike fit is an educated rider.

I could totally mess up a fit, but if the rider has learned enough from me to KNOW that, and to come back and say, "Whoa, Knot, you f'ed up big time! This bit isn't right, and that bit isn't right. Do it over!" then I would consider that a success.

Bodies change and riding styles change all the time. An educated rider will be aware of their fit, will be able to assess their own fit, will know how to tweak it on their own, and will know when they need to come back for a re-fit or just a second pair of eyes to check their position.

Video systems are groovy educational pieces. I like being able to make a DVD of "before" and "after" with all the added reference lines, etc. to give the rider to cherish always and watch a zillion times. I like being able to slo-mo and say "look at this!" Dartfish is really just a nifty electronic mirror.

If you go to a fit, and come away feeling like you haven't learned anything, then I'd hesistate to go back to that fitter. One question to ask people about their fitters might be "did you learn a lot during the process?" If you'd rather just be passive and be done, then what really matters is did people come away from their fitter with a good fit.