Real Rider Stories: Sebastian's Ironman Journey

Meet Sebastian. He’s a mountain biker at heart who decided to shift gears (pun intended) and start training for triathlons with big goals to complete a full distance Ironman. Being comfortable on the bike is a key factor to increasing performance, and preventing injuries both on and off the bike during a race.

Sebastian knew he needed to be totally dialed on the bike in order to achieve his goals. He sought the help of Retül Fitter Tommy Johnson and the rest is history… Read on to see what Sebastian has to say about his experience.

When did you get into the sport of cycling, and how did that lead you to where you are today?

Back home in Guatemala, every summer through my middle school and high school years I was part of a mountain biking club, it was a great time and great way to get some exercise in. All my life I have wanted to complete a full Ironman distance triathlon. In 2018 I decided to start training for triathlons, I have never ridden a road bike before, but I hoped some of my mountain biking fitness would still be there. Fast forward to May 2021, I completed my first (official) Ironman Triathlon (IM Tulsa) and I qualified to the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii. Currently training for Ironman Cozumel that will take place on November 21st, 2021.

What made you decide to get a Retül bike fit with Tommy at Sport Speed Lab?

In the Spring of 2020, I was starting to train for Ironman Arizona which was supposed to happen in Nov 2020. I knew if I wanted to have a good race, I would have to be able to be comfortable, fast and powerful on the bike leg. One way to achieve this would be to get a professional bike fit. I started looking for bike fitters all over the DFW metroplex and I found Tommy. I did some research and all the reviews I saw had nothing but phenomenal comments on the work Tommy does. So, I gave it a shot, and I am so glad I did. Even though my race in November got canceled one week before the event I still did my first Ironman, completely solo and self-supported and felt extremely comfortable on the bike.

What are your overall goals on the bike and how do you think a Retül fit would help you reach those goals?

Since I do Ironman triathlons, my goals are to be fast, aero and powerful all while being comfortable. As you can imagine, there are a lot of factors at play. The Retul bike fit helped me ensure I had an ergonomic position where I could achieve all my goals and still have the running legs needed to run a good marathon off the bike.

What were the changes made to your bike and how did those changes affect your position?

Tommy started with my shoes and cleats. Made changes there. Then worked on raising my saddle and moving it backward a bit. In the cockpit he lengthened the extension and angled them up slightly. Beyond actual changes to the bike, he spent time coaching me on bike posture and how to position myself on the bike. He made recommendations for changing some of the bike components. He recommended changing the stem to a Profile Design Aeria stem which would clean up the cabling and wiring in the cockpit. He also recommended changing the crank length to a 165 mm crank.

How does the fit feel now that you have had a chance to try it out?

The fit feels good, I feel extremely fast when I get down on my aerobars and I can push high power numbers. I have tried the fit during training rides both indoor and outdoor. Both indoor and outdoor I can hold this position for up to 5hrs. I am looking forward to trying this position out on Ironman Cozumel at the end of the month.

How was your Retül fit experience overall and would you recommend a Retül fit to other athletes/ riders?

My experience was phenomenal, as an engineer something I really trust is science. So instead of eyeballing the fit and hoping I would not get injured or feel any discomfort I decided to go with Tommy to get a professional Retul fit, and I will always go back. If any discomfort comes up or if I get a new bike I know where to go.

Highly recommend it and I always tell my friends about it.