BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Retül is updating its bike fit service with a digital, markerless body measurement system that the company said is more accurate and repeatable than other measurement methods. It also results in a cloud-based rider assessment and measurement database that is easily reviewed by the rider in the future.
Unlike Retül's previous system, which was Windows-based, the new Retül Premium Fit uses Apple iPad Pros.
Retül fits still begin with an assessment of preferences, and riding history. But now the anatomical dimensions and mobility and flexibility assessments are done by placing the rider in front of lidar scanners. As the rider stands, does a squat, a toe touch and other movements, the iPad = shows and records the rider's angles and lengths and produces a flexibility score. Once on the bike, a new Sacral Angle Sensor attached to the lower back provides detailed measurements of the rider's back angle. Foot shape and insole height also are captured digitally, as is sit-bone width in the riding position.
The system produces a new digitized range of parameters customized for each rider. All this plus flexibility assessments of the hips, back, hamstrings, and feet are taken into account before the rider gets on the bike.
Retül still uses physical markers on the rider during the on-bike part of the fit. The Retül camera captures pedaling mechanics and body angles under pedaling load from the front and side.
Co-founder Todd Carver said the new measurement system standardizes measurements and establishes some guardrails for the resulting bike position for different applications. This helps keep Retül fits performed around the world within a certain repeatable range, while still allowing expert fitters the ability to fine-tune the fit in a way only a human can do.
The system makes increased use of the cloud. As data is compiled it is analyzed quickly and stored on a website (ride.specialized.com) for future reference by the rider or other fitters. Anonymized rider data powers the Premium Fit system, which already has access to more than a decade's worth of fits.
In the near future, Retül plans to add an on-bike center of mass measurement, which will allow the fit system to take into account a position's effect on the bike handling and performance.
To perform the new Premium Fit, fitters must have gone through the Retül Level 2 training courses and have the new hardware and software.
The regular Retül Fit uses the Retül Fit V7 software, which is Windows-based. Riders' measurements and mobility are measured physically. The V7 Fit data is not cloud-powered and can only be stored and accessed through a fitter's computer. Digital seat bone and footbed measurements are also not integrated into Retül V7.
Retül fit sessions last two-and-a-half to three hours. Fitters set the price, which generally starts around $400 but can be tailored to the market and services offered.
More information: retul.com/retul-premium-fit.
