Reading about this and it's about as moderate as your opinions on abortion. Some people say it's snake oil, others say its the greatest investment ever.

A little back story, I'm in the process of buying my first full carbon road bike and a lot of shops have recommended being fitted or doing the Retul. Ive never used clip in/clipless pedals and while I will with this bike, I won't right at first. My thought is that I should ride the bike for a bit, get comfortable with it, then get the pedals/shoes and THEN if I feel like it may be necessary, get fitted. I ride an entry level bike right now and can do up to 50 miles without any aching or pains outside of just getting older, so I question the need for it. Seems like the going rate around here is $150-$250 to be fitted.

Any thoughts or input is greatly appreciated.

I put flat pedals on my road bike at first and then eventually got clipless. Ride it however you want to. Have fun. Can’t speak to the Retul.

I would consider getting clipless for whatever bike you have now (if you have one) to get adjusted to riding with them (you will like it) and then get fitted for the new bike with the clipless pedals installed. True custom bike fitting is worth it in my opinion since you have somebody able to make fine adjustments based on your positioning on the bike in proper riding posture and not your half-contorted posture while trying to view yourself, if that makes sense.

Otherwise you end up paying them to fit you twice since the pedals will likely change your position some.

If you are spending the money on a carbon fiber bike get fitted. Through out my life of biking I never had clipless. My Current bike I wanted a peddle that is clipless but also allows me to just hop on and ride with tennis shoes. There are peddles with a platform on one side and clipless in on the other. I have to tell you the clipless in has opened a whole new aspect of riding I wish I had done it many years ago. There is a slight learning curve getting in the habit of releasing your foot well in advance of stopping or risk looking like a laugh-in skit.

I haven't read good things about Retul. I bought a Cervelo R3 a couple years ago and had my fit done by a seasoned professional. I am very pleased with the results.

I use Look pedals and cleats if that is any help. I didn't test Shimano or any others before I made my choice, just went with Look, they work really well for me.

It depends on how you ride. A few blocks to get bread and milk, 2 miles here and there, you do not benefit much from clipless. Riding longer and longer rides with few stops there are huge efficiencies to be had with clipless. LOOK has much to offer for these types of rides.

If you have other bikes like a mountain bike you may wish to consider SPD type pedals. More walkable shoes, more selection ect. Then you can switch from bike to bike using one style of clip in.

Every experienced store can get you very close to fit w/o the whole fitting process, and many include a little of that time w/your purchase of bike. Do not pay for a fit, and then switch pedals afterwards. Some folks benefit from the science of measuring down to the mm. However... similar to stock fit on shotgun, and I like Sig and you like Glock, there are personal choices you may opt for anyways. Experience will better prepare you for what you need to ask about.

If you are riding modest distances and paces, and having no problems, don't worry about it.

If you are trying to get serious, and are a beginner or intermediate, and you are upping the distances and paces, and you feel something isn't right or have pains, it is probably a good investment. (IMO, you are not even up to "beginner" until you start using clipless pedals. They are just "mandatory" for the actual "sport" of cycling. )

Is it necessary ? No. With experience and study you can do it all yourself. Having said that, sometimes it is worth it to consult with someone who has the tools to make it convenient and an unbiased objective viewpoint.

Twenty years ago I was in a bike club. We did a bunch of centuries. I started off with flat petals. As things progressed I got a carbon framed Trek and had pedal clips. They worked fine. I seem to remember the shop setting them up and adjusting them that was included.

So the clipless/shoe research will probably be a wormhole for me. I don't want to put off the bike purchase while I figure out the pedal situation, but clipless is inevitable. Regardless, the fit won't take place until I have the pedals and shoes and I'm ready to dig in.

All these systems are basically just measurement devices. The actual fit that results is only as good as the ability of the person using the system to understand your body kinetics and adjust the bike to you for the maximum efficiency and comfort. So in other words, make your decision based on the knowledge and experience of the person doing the fit, not the system they use. You don't want somebody who specializes in racer fitment if you are a recreational rider or vice versa.

quote:

Originally posted by bigwagon:
All these systems are basically just measurement devices. The actual fit that results is only as good as the ability of the person using the system to understand your body kinetics and adjust the bike to you for the maximum efficiency and comfort. So in other words, make your decision based on the knowledge and experience of the person doing the fit, not the system they use. You don't want somebody who specializes in racer fitment if you are a recreational rider or vice versa.

I agree on finding someone who knows what to look for. I worked in a bike shop in my 20s and fit a lot of folks casually. You do discover things when you start spending 3+ hours on the bike and I could not figure out what was causing lower back pain. A bike shop guy/ bike coach with a really good eye had me hop on the bike and walked around me a few times and said your handlebars are too narrow for your wide shoulders. I swapped for 4 cm wider bars and it fixed my back issue.

My point would be fitting is a skill, and it may be independent of a "system." If you start sending a lot of time on a bike I think a fitting is worth it. I started riding Time pedals on my road bike in 1991 and have just stuck with them because I know they work for me. I ride flats on my mountain bike.

A good bike mechanic/ sales person should be able to fit you by eye balling it. I see limited benefit unless you are having a bike custom made

the clipless pedals/shoes are a gamechanger or at least they were for me. So much more power to the pedals through the revolution. Better control as you are part of the bike. It feels intimidating and scarey but after a few rides you will wonder why you didn't get them sooner.

It's been a few years, but I was fitted when I had my last race bike built. I also had a "RAD" fitment for the clipless pedals. It was pretty amazing the difference as you get dialed in.

Long story short, you get on your bike (mounted to a trainer) with the system attached to your pedals. It has rods that extend out from the pedal. You pedal for some time to make sure you fall into your rhythm (and not just concentrating on perfect motion for the test). Once you settle in, the fitter starts making adjustments to the cleats until a consistent movement with the rods is achieved. It made a huge difference in soreness or pain after long rides.

As mentioned by others, getting fitted is really just achieving an "average" based on results over many riders. As my bike and I were fitted, the stem/handle bar height ended up being too short for my comfort over the long hall, so I ended up raising it a little for it to be just right. Getting fitted however takes a huge step forward in figuring out those little changes and ensuring you don't get something with bad geometry from the get go.

Defintely use clipless pedals if doing anything more than around town. Years ago I broke my back partially because I was using toe clips and straps.

Get fitted at the shop if possible. They can eyeball it. Too much reach can injure your lumbar spine. If the pedals are not set right, you can damage your knees. Been there, still dealing with right knee injury due to one pedal not being adjusted correctly.

I have no idea what Retul is, but I definitely recommend getting fitted; it can make a huge difference, especially considering the investment you will be making a in carbon frame bicycle.

It has been a while since I was fitted for my bike, but I wasn't charged for the process. That may be a thing now because of the internet and local dealers being used for the fit/expertise and then left hanging because of a cheaper price on the web?

BTW, just a rant:
Local brick and mortar specialty shops that add value, like a good bike shop, should be respected. If one uses their expertise then pats themselves on the back because they walked out and "found a better deal" on the internet is guilty of theft, and is also insuring that expertise won't be around for long.


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A fitting with an experienced and good bike fitter is worth the price, your body will thank you when you start adding miles.
Clipless, while intimidating, and even knowing you'll probably topple over a time or two are the best way to put on miles. The good part is that you'll only topple over when you're just about stopped so it won't hurt anything more than your pride.
Just remember to fall away from traffic.

I build bikes for fun. Done about 20 in the last few years. I've fit all my bikes to myself and done fittings for others.

Bike fitting will tell you a few things:
1) Your position is too aggressive.
2) You are sitting too far forwards on the saddle or your saddle angle is off
3) Your handlebars are too wide or narrow, or the angle is wrong
4) Your seat is too high or low
5) Your cleats don't put your feet in the same position as when you walk

There are three levels of fitting. The first is an eyeball fit at a bike shop. The second is a basic fit on a trainer at the shop (takes about an hour) and the third is a full analysis of how you move on a bike. The last one uses cameras to track your motion and ensures you move as smoothly as possible.

There's also a lot of voodoo in bike fitting. There are systems and rules that approximate people. There are Asian or Italian sounding philosophies. And they all may be a good place to start but won't work for people outside of average dimensions.

If you ride under 100 miles a week then a basic fitting will serve you just fine. Where people damage knees and backs is when they either ride a lot or ride with their bike way off -- saddle too low is probably the most common problem.

When you start riding centuries as a weekly thing then get a full, camera-based motion analysis packaged in with that $3000+ ride.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeGLI:
.........lot of shops have recommended being fitted or doing the Retul.

Any thoughts or input is greatly appreciated.

It sounds like Retul is a brand name of bike fitting. I'd imagine, that unless you're an Olympian or professional rider, a decent bike fitting will be adequate.

Tell us about your budget and components. Assuming you're dealing with LBS (and not used bikes on craigslist), they should have someone in house or a contractor that visits them to perform bike fits. Don't skimp here. If your new shiny $3000 Trek doesn't fit well and it causes aches and pains, you're not going to ride it and then I'll buy it from you for $1200 in two years.

My orthopedic buddy wrote me a prescription for a bike fitting at the UCD Medical Center's Sports Medicine group.

And go clipless. Unless you're a complete klutz, you'll be fine. I've only had two or three mishaps trying to clip in.

I recommend a fitting if you are very new to cycling. I purchased a used Ridley Helium SL in XL size, and it fits "out of the box." Very lucky, given the complexity of carbon bikes. You will find that no high end bike comes with pedals, and you are required to choose yours to ride the first mile. Shimano has a pedal that looks like a Look, but is not. Look pedals work well. A good shoe, a good set of pedals, and you will enjoy riding.

Definitely get fitted. I started out riding just to ride. 2 things changed my riding:

1. Getting clipped in. Ended up riding further and faster.

2. Getting fitted. Allowed me to ride longer and therefore further.

It’s quite addicting. I’m going to get some riding on the Cross Seminole Trail at some point. Would like to ride from downtown Winter Garden to the end of that trail. When you go west, it’s a challenge with the hills in Clermont.