KGS Bikes Fitting vs. Retul – The Difference Between a Fitting Tool and a Fitting System
I recently received a call from a client in Dallas who noticed that one of the local stores is installing the Retul 3D Motion Capture System and wondered if it was better than the fitting she received from KGS Bikes. The explanation is a little more involved than a Q&A question so I decided to bump my scheduled ezine article for this one.
The KGS Fitting System, those by Serotta, WobbleNaught, Carmichael, Specialized, Cyfac, Body Scan, Fit Kit and others, use a procedural system that gets a specific outcome and these may or may not even use the data generated by a motion capture system.
Retul has become the gold standard in fitting tools in the past 18 months. The reason I say it is a fitting tool is that Retul can be used with any fitting system. It is 3D Motion Capture System that can accurately measure sensor points which are attached to rider or are indexed to a bicycle.
Retul has a competitor in Dartfish, which is a 2D motion capture system that I own. I am planning on purchasing Retul to augment my fitting services so here is an explanation of how I deal with fitting systems and motion capture systems. The crosshair laser that I use to measure bicycles is another reference tool that is independent of the fitting system. It helps to separate the two as there is overlap and thus room for confusion.
Fitting Systems – KGS vs others. Many of the fitting systems on the market today feature equations or benchmarks that a rider should use to calculate the best way to fit a bicycle. Fit Kit is one of the earlier systems that use a plumb line to determine Knee Over Pedal Spindle, WobbleNaught uses 33 different measurement points of the rider and the bike to get a computer generated setup for that individual rider and that individual bike. Carmichael uses angles and geometry to assure that an individual is set up within an acceptable range of angles on the bike. Serotta and others use a combination of measurements and riding on either the owner’s bike or a setup bike.
What separates the KGS Fitting System from the others are two specific processes:
1) I have developed a system of finding the best, most efficient and balanced position for an individual using my custom setup bike, through scientific analysis using a step by step approach to find that perfect setup whether the rider is young or old, fit or unfit.
2) The use of a setup bike with a power meter, that is 100% infinitely adjustable and capable of producing the workload that you as the rider really produce on the road, is critical. My system determines a proper bike setup, rather than a setup based on the limitations of a specific bike.
Fitting Tools – Setup bike. The setup bike was just described and is the core of my fitting system. It has road, mountain and time trial handlebars, different saddles, adjustable cranks from 150-230 mm and almost all modern pedal systems. Since the bottom bracket is the datum point, every other conceivable position is determined by the location of the saddle and handlebars. Since all riders interface with the bike in exactly the same place, (pedals, handlebars and saddle), if the setup bike is able to be positioned to find the rider’s best position it can be found, documented and repeated.
The setup bike is not the system any more than one’s bike on a trainer would be. In fact, my system is good enough to find the perfect setup even if it would be difficult to build a real bicycle with those specifications. This is because I don’t assume that the bicycle industry has created a stock frame for you, I assume nothing. When we get through the fitting process we know exactly how to build a frame that is perfect for you, or to specify a stock frame that works with your body.
Cross hair laser – This fitting tool is what I use to accurately measure the handlebars and saddle relative to the bottom bracket. These lasers do nothing but project two lines into space, but the accuracy attainable from this device is fantastic.
Dartfish Advanced Video Analysis – I bought the Dartfish software and used it with my fittings for a few years but found that the only thing that really worked well was the ability to show ankle placement and the time it took to show the client problems was better spent in showing a solution rather than highlighting the problem. Dartfish is a great tool and some clients can benefit from it but most are better off letting me show them how to get better form rather than see how bad their form is in the first place.
Retul – The Retul system is a 3D motion capture system. The reason I am getting one is the ability to capture the fitting session and not only save that data but analyze it with other setup data. I have the ability now to get people setup properly on the bike. That is not the point. Having a system that gives me better resolution of all the aspects of a rider’s position and being able to save it is important. Another part of the Retul system is a sensor that can be triggered when it touches parts of the bike so the critical dimensions of the setup bike can be captured more quickly and with the same accuracy that I use now. I can save a few minutes doing documentation which usually means I get more time to spend helping the client with specific problems.
In summary, a bad fitter will not do a significantly better job with Retul. All the fitting procedures and knowledge that the fitter used prior to the acquisition of Retul are used after the device is purchased so many bike shops are still stuck with the age old discovery: Bike fitting is not easy.
It has taken me years of study to get really good at bike fitting and I still learn things every day. I feel lucky to have a studio that I can use to really do a client some good. I can’t speak for other shops and studios, but I work not only hard but as smartly as I can to put the client first and get an awesome outcome. I can’t wait to get my own Retul system but the fact that I just have my knowledge, skills and setup bike means that current fit clients will get what they want and need, which is a custom setup that works for them.
At the end of the day, I still find a lot of stock bikes don’t fit grownups well. It is irritating as I have a lot of educating to do when people find out that it is not they that are abnormal, but the bike they want to buy that may not be the one for them.
Watch the video related to fitness
Saggio di danza Fitness Energy Club 2009 … Madagascar
Help answer the question about fitness
What sport acquires the most physical fitness?I like my sports.
And they all have they're toughness and they're complete out ignorance [like track, MY OPINION!!]
Name as many sports you know [realllllly know] and list them 1 through how many you decide.
1 being the sport that doesnt acquire much phsyical fitness.
11 Comments on “KGS Bikes Fitting vs. Retul – The Difference Between a Fitting Tool and a Fitting System”
read more this is expanding now is the time http://www.shaklee.net/thehealthyway/distWorkhome
start by doing some running or some other form of cardio but other things you may want to include are burpees or other forms of plyometric exercises http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/plyometricexercises.html for both upper and lower body. if you are aiming for GS or GA positions practice your shooting. if your on the wing or centre add in some sprints, GD or GK focus on jumping.
In most cases your local community college will be able to answer that question. The reason for this is that every state has it's own guidelines to be certified.
To know more about
Fitness
please feel free to visit http://learnmoreon.com/fitness
Well it is incredibly important, I mean if you are out of breath 5 minutes in….not so good. Plus for over weight men the shaft of the penis can be covered up by excess belly fat. A man gains 1/2 inch in "size" for every 35 lbs he loses!
Another plus to being fit is that stronger core muscles equal bigger orgasms for both men and women. An orgasm is just a muscle spasm, stronger muscles mean bigger spasms!
Diet is very important is well. A major cause of low libido is a zinc deficiency!
Okay, here goes, a Road bike is a race inspired design. It has you in an "attack" position the whole time regardless of how you place your hands on the bars. The frames are MUCH lighter than MTBs and the tires are much thinner as well (obvious). What is NOT completely obvious is the change in the riding position. The seatpost is higher and the stems/hb is positioned so that you are more erect but arched forward as well.
The hybrids, aka fitness bikes/urban bikes are basically a mixture of MTB and road bikes. They are using the geometry of MTB but the concepts/ideals of a road bike. The wheels on a hybrid are 700 cc which is similar to a road bike but the tire size is actually a little bit wider and thicker. (instead of 18-25, it is 32-38). The riding position is similar to that of a MTB with a little more relaxed feeling and not an attack position. The components actually go both ways. Some models have MTB components while some have Road bike components. That depends, however, on how high of a model you get. Some, also have carbon fiber distributed throughout the frame/fork while others are fully rigid. Sometimes you'll find a suspension seatpost but on "fitness" bikes it is usually a rigid fork. Weight wise, the hybrids range from 20-25lbs but are actually surprisingly fast. Trek, Giant, Specialized, Cannondale and a couple others all offer hybrids now.
Pros: hybrids are cheaper and have the same basic concept of getting from point A to point B quickly but comfortably but still a nice ride to work out with. The geometry is very similar to a MTB. Faster than MTB. Not much maintenance required if you take care of it.
Cons: Not as light as a road bike. Components can be cheapy if not purchasing a good model. Can be as expensive as road bikes if purchasing a good model.
I have both MTB's and Road bikes and I love both. I just love to ride regardless of what bike it is. However, there is a HUGE difference between the two. If you just want to get from point A to point B, I say get a hybrid. If you want a cardio work out and get HUGE legs, get a road bike. It took me a while to break down and buy a road bike. I owned only MTBs for years but decided to finally give it a shot after starting to work at a bike shop. I like both but nothing beats MTBs. Go to a dealer and try them both out, hybrids and road bikes. Ride it for a while and see if you can see yourself getting comfortable on a road bike. If not, your choice is pretty much made up. If so… well…. questions… questions… questions… and price… price…price. Good luck mate.
You've got a wide range of ages and types, not to mention whether you want both sexes in your group. What type of program do you want? Since you are the one leading it, where do you want this to go? How physical do you want it to be? What level of intensity do you see this program being? You may need to have two or three programs at different days. Do you want weights or resistance machines, cardio only or a mix of both? What's your budget? What can you do? How big is your facility?
Check out local exercise programs already in the area, like the local Curves or Jazzercise places. Locate and talk to some independent gym owners. Get ideas and then do an impromptu survey to see what your clientele would like and how much time they have to do it per day. Then, get your results together and do that. You may not be successful right away but you will catch on and go from there.
Also, you may want to check out the U.S. Army and other military branches. Bases have very transient groups but have workout programs for enlisted personnel and their dependents. I understand that over the last few years they have become very user friendly and very duplicatable.
I hope this helps. Good Luck.
there are lots to chose from. I chose a certification which would allow me to train a high caliber of athlete…
Note: It's spelt Tae Kwon Do. (The guy who reposted first claiming to be a black belt should have noticed that).
You don't have to be of any particular standard to start TKD. The training will make you fit. The more you train, the fitter you get. It's all about going at your own pace and reaching your own goals, not someone elses.
Go to the frequentlly asked questions part at http://www.tagb.biz if you have any questions. If in doubt, speak to your local TKD instructor.
Whey protein can help you in many ways including immune function and recovery. So it will be beneficial to you right now.