RETÜL

Ever since reigniting her competitive edge through triathlon, Heidi Werner has spent the last three years racing in the sport and has been loving every minute of it. Finding an optimal position on the bike that is both aerodynamic and comfortable (yes, that does exist!) was something Heidi realized she needed to do in order to maximize performance on the bike and still have enough energy to crush it on the run section.

After visiting Retül Certified Fitter Brian Gootee of Gray Goat Sports, Heidi finally found that perfect position on the bike. Brian’s fitter expertise, combined with the data collected through her Premium Fit session, helped both Brian and Heidi make informed decisions to create a riding position designed specifically for her needs as a rider.

Heidi tells us how she got into the sport of Triathlon in the first place, and how a Retül Premium Fit has helped her be one step closer to her athletic goals.

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

I have been around cycling for most of my life, but I really got into the sport when I suffered a running injury in college. My parents bought me a new road bike that summer and I fell in love with the sport. In 2016 I joined a local cycling team and spent the summer racing around the Midwest and participated in RASDak with my husband and parents. After that summer I decided to back away from the racing scene and just enjoy riding my bike. During my final year of residency in 2018 I joined the local Master's swimming program because I had lost a bit of fitness during my medical training. That's where my competitive spirit was reignited and the other swimmers convinced me to join them for a triathlon. I was hooked at that point and have spent the last three years racing Sprint and Olympic distance triathlon.

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

The bike leg of triathlon is my strength, but it's also where I need to be comfortable, refuel, and conserve a little energy for a fast run. My goals for the Retul Premium fit were to improve comfort on the Shiv and optimize the power output and aerodynamics.

Was there anything specific that you wanted the fitter to focus on before coming into the session? Any past injuries or issues you have been experiencing while riding?

I struggled with lower back pain last season when I was in the aero position and actually chose to ride my road bike for a few races due to the discomfort. I wanted the fitter to find a comfortable position that decreased the strain on my lower back.

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

I felt like we made pretty significant changes to my bike fit which really surprised me. The fitter raised my saddle at least 5 cm and moved it about 2 cm forward! A few millimeters of change can be significant so these changes dramatically affected my position. I have a lot more knee extension and more movement in the ankle with the changes. It took a few weeks to get used to the changes once I returned home, but I quickly saw increases in my power output.

What did you find most interesting about your Retül Premium fit session? Did you learn anything new about yourself?

I thought the most interesting part was that we were able to individualize my fit based on my flexibility in different joints to optimize performance.

Do you think a bike fit is important as part of an overall training strategy?

I think a bike fit is an extremely important aspect of overall training. If you aren't comfortable on the bike you won't ride it. But beyond comfort, an optimal bike fit can help activate certain muscle groups to conserve other muscles for the run and place the rider in a position to produce more power. Balancing energy output, energy conservation, aerodynamics, and comfort is challenge and that's where a bike fit with an experienced fitter can really make a difference in performance on race day.

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

My Retul Premium fit experience was excellent and I would absolutely recommend other athletes consider a fit if you are looking for improved comfort, performance, or injury prevention. I have already seen significant improvement in power on the trainer and I can't wait to see the difference on the road this spring.

Anything else you would like us to know about your Premium Fit experience?

I would absolutely do a Premium fit again and if I get a new bike, a fit will be one of the first things on my list to do.

You can book a Premium Fit session directly with Brian at Gray Goat Sports HERE

Real Rider Stories: Premium Fit Edition - Heidi Increases Performance