This is a selection of recent feedback on our bike fitting services.
278 Comments "Feedback"
Lexie Williamson
A real treat to have so much time, attention and T.L.C in a bike fit. Richard has both the high tech Retul motion capture technology and a fantastic eye for detail.
Simon
Richard was great. The studio is very well laid out and he made me feel at ease straight away. He took great care over the fit and I was very happy. I have had a retul bike fit before and this was so much better. The explanation of the various angles and their implications was so much easier to understand with real life examples of how changes would affect me. Excellent service
Steve
I recently went to see Richard at Freespeed as I couldn’t find a comfortable set up on my TT bike and was also concerned that the bike was too large for me. Fortunately the bike turned out to be a good fit. The session itself is really interesting and helps you understand so many things about the bike and a good riding position for the intended use. The fit goes into every detail and changes were made to my saddle, aero bars and cleat positions. I now have a pain free position that allows me to concentrate on getting the power down rather than trying to get comfortable.
Money well spent.
Jon Warren
I have just had a bike fit for my road bike completed at Freespeed. Richard’s attention to detail was superb. He clearly knows his stuff. I have been suffering with various forms of pain when cycling which was becoming unbearable, but could instantly feel the benefit of my new position. The new position has definitely given me my enthusiasm back and I now cant wait to take my bike out on the road. Thanks again.
Matt
Richard’s name was recommended to me by my coach as being the go-to man for bike fitting. He didn’t disappoint. It was a TT fitting and the before and after pictures show the changes made, but with good consideration to my goal distances.
Also good general advice on other areas of training and racing.
Enjoyed the session – highly recommended!
Phil Jose
I was recommended to Richard at Freespeed by a colleague in my Triathlon club saying that he was the best around, having been to a couple of other companies for bike fits in the last 12 months I was curious in how this one would differ. Straight away I was impressed with Richard’s knowledge, he explained everything in detail and in a way that a novice like myself could understand, also he gives tips/information on other aspects of cycling for example clothing etc.
Definitely would recommend Freespeed!
Thanks again Richard
Tim Murphy
I was looking for a fitter in London with specific triathlon/TT fitting experience to help tune my position. After doing some research I found freespeed. I needed the session on quite short notice and Richard was quite flexible to accommodate me. He has great and has a wealth of knowledge in triathlon. With my main distance been standard Olympic he helped work out how aggressive my position should be for aero advantage while being comfortable over the distance. I have an older TT frame that has a slightly different geometry to conventional Tri frames. Although limited by the frame geometry I was able to get quite a fast position which should see be being competitive. Fingers crossed for a Q this year. He was also able to select some frames and sizes that would work for me if I were to upgrade. On top of that he is a really nice guy and great to chat to.
Richard Folley
I contacted Freespeed for some advice about choosing and fitting a tri bike. From the initial contact I was reassured that in Richard I was speaking to someone passionate and extremely knowledgable. He spent time on the phone to discuss options and after listening to his advice I booked in for a two bike fit. To check my road/training bike set up and to get a pre-fit for a Tri bike set up and to make sure I didn’t make any mistakes when making the investment in the Tri bike.
The session was incredibly insightful, explained brilliantly and backed up with really good data which was understandable and useful.
On choosing a Cervelo P3 it was delivered to and set up by Richard and final tweaks were made in a follow up session.
Having been through the process I am delighted. First of all my road bike position is much better, it has ironed out a couple of niggles I had, specifically a grumbling upper hamstring and I’m pretty sure it’s made me more efficient and be able to produce more power.
And the TT setup I just can’t praise enough. I didn’t for one minute think I would roll out on a brand new bike and be as comfortable in an aero tuck as I am but as soon as I got on the bike on the road I felt fully dialled in to it.
Richard’s time and attention is excellent and he really went the extra mile and as well as the fit it was great to pick his brains and gain some bits of advice and knowledge from someone so clearly passionate about his art.
Huge thanks and here’s to a season of PB’s.
Rich
Adam Szpytman
Friendly and professional bike fit session. The time and effort spent was much appreciated.
Would recommend to anybody requiring a fit.
Sean Spurdle
I recently had a new TT bike built up for me, and thought there was no point spending all of that money on a machine that was not fit for me. Booking with Freespeed was easy and hassle free. Richard could not do enough to help me, even though at 140KG and 6’4, I am not your usual triathlete shape!
All the adjustments made were explained in detail as to why and how they were being done, with a few tweaks along the way.
It was great to chat with Richard and talk to somebody with a wealth of knowledge in the sport and also to see somebody so passionate about his profession.
I will keep you in the loop about how the season pans out!!
Sean
Louis Harding
Recently had a bike fit after investing in a new road bike, it was certainly money well spent.
Not only have I improved my position and efficiency as a result, it has also given me huge peace of mind that my positioning is good as it can be – was also great to just generally chat with someone for a couple of hours who obviously knows his stuff.
The follow up e-mail with all readings and data is also great to have for future purchases…of which there will be many.
Louis.
David S
I had a bike fit with Richard around 3 months ago (early December 2014) and wanted to get some time in the new bike position before writing this review.
During the fit, Richard was brilliant at explaining the changes he was making to my bike setup. I had purchased my new TT bike a few weeks before and the local bike shop had spent a bit of time adjusting the bike for me. Richard was quickly able to spot that the bike wasn’t well set up for me and was in more of a road time trial configuration rather than the long-distance triathlon configuration that I require. Richard was able to give me a more comfortable and lower position on the bike and was happy to explain the Retul measurements and the implication of each value recorded throughout our session as the bike was adjusted.
As well as the bike fit, we also had some really interesting discussions on races and equipment and Richard’s advice on equipment choices was additionally valuable.
I haven’t had too many chances for long rides with the new setup as yet, but it’s been very comfortable up to 2 hours or so. I’ve also had a couple of decent results in local duathlons with the fastest bike split in one and the second fastest bike split in the other. I very much look forward to racing my target triathlons in the summer!
Thomas Scott
I had a bike fit with Richard back in December. My situation was that I had been racing in triathlons for the last two seasons using a road bike and I was looking at taking it up a level by buying my first TT bike ready for an IM later this year.
I emailed him with two options, should I buy the TT bike and then get it fitted to me, or have a bike fit session and for him to then advise which bikes would fit me. He advised that I chose the second option which in hindsight made complete sense and Im very happy I did this.
I went to the session unsure what to expect but the process was very thorough and left nothing to chance. Every measurement was taken and it was clear to see Richard was very experienced and really cared about getting the best result for me. I left the session feeling very positive and was excited to see the results.
From this point the service continued at the same high standard that was set from the start of the bike fit. Within a day I was emailed the results and a comprehensive review of all available bikes that I had suggested I liked the look of and some others that would also be suited to me. Over a period of two months and a great deal of guidance and communication from Richard I gathered all the required components (using new parts, eBay and Richard’s contacts), the bike is now fully operational and Im incredibly pleased with the results.
I have a follow up session booked on Wednesday to check that I have built the bike correctly and to fine tune the bike based on the details from the last session and his experience. I don’t have anything but praise for Richard and would say anybody who books a bike fit with him will be very pleased that they did.
James W
Richard had been recommended to me a number of friends. I was looking to tidy up my TT bike position after a decent amount of time away from the bike and training for Ironman in October. Suffice to say it’s been one of the best investment decisions I’ve made over the years! In the four hours I spent with Richard, we made some adjustments to my position, allowing me to get more aero but at the same time significantly increasing ride comfort. I can’t recommend Richard enough, he has a genuine passion for the sport, a deep knowledge that really shows through, and he’s an allround decent chap. Go pay him a visit!
Bob Still
I visited Richard last week after buying a tt bike but it was so uncomfortable on the tri bars after a few tweeks here and there plus so much knowledge and information on ironman which I found as beneficial as the bike fit I am now so comfortable now on the tri bars it is unbelievable
would definitely recommend Richard to anyone who needs a bike fit and are contemplating ironman
Tom
I had a TT fit with Richard back in November last year as recommended by The Tri Store in Eastbourne. Having already bought bikes from there in the past I trusted their recommmendation for a fit with Richard. I was set on a P3 and luckily the geometry suited me fine so the bike was ordered. Having received the bike it then went back to Richard to get the final few tweaks and it was ready to ride. Having spent a month on it now it has only confirmed what I first thought when I had my original session back in November. Richard has done a fantastic job and it feels even more comfortable than when I was on the rig in the studio. After the best part of a day with Richard it is clear to see he has a real passion for what he does and his knowledge is exhaustive. I would recommend Freespeed to anybody it really makes a difference. I just can’t wait to get into the tri season and hopefully see the bike splits get quicker!!
Anthony Vince
I’m really glad I visited Richard, small adjustments to not only my bike fit but riding style were very visible through the process and have given a new impetus to my cycling.
In addition, golden nuggets of advice learnt through years of experience about Ironman in general make the session good value for money.
Highly recommended.
Anthony Jarrett
I visited Richard after having been to a few other bikefits in the past. I wanted to make minor changes to my position after having installed a new crankset with different crank length. Richard addressed an issue which had never directly been addressed previously (discrepancies between leg length) and saddle height. With some adjustment to the cleat and saddle height in combination with the wedge we were able to get a more balanced pedal stroke which I’m happy with, along with the other adjustments.
Darin Davis
I visited Richard at his studio with the aim of understand and finding out how my cycling was against what I thought to be corrected. I found Richard to be very welcoming and quickly realised he knew what he was talking about, which was reassuring.
At no point during our session did I feel hurried, indeed quite the opposite. We did have a ‘moment’ with spacers, but thats another story. In summary Richard has made the necessary adjustments which on review look necessary.
Proof is in the pudding, which I am sure will improve my cycling.
If like me you cycle a lot then its money well spent and I would recommend Richard 100%
Alasdair Campbell-Birkett
I came to Richard as a complete triathlon novice. Firstly, the experience he has in racing at the highest level but also in the specifics of judging a good and bad position on the bike is invaluable. After racing in a silly number of Ironman triathlons, the advice he was able to give me was incredibly helpful, very practical and really helped my understanding of the sport as a whole.
You won’t leave the studio until he is entirely comfortable with your position, and knows all the ideal measurements for an efficient position aided by the Retul system.
5 or 6 weeks down the line from being fitted, I don’t have the pains, aches and discomfort from the setup I had before anymore, and it makes riding so much more enjoyable!
Will 100% be recommending Richard to other riders. Flawless!
Linda Blakely
Just had a fabulous bike fit with Richard at Freespeed. The attention to detail is amazing and he really fine tunes everything until he is totally satisfied he has the optimum position for what you want. He uses the world’s only cycling-specific, 3D motion capture system featuring real-time kinematic data, the Retul camera to trace all your movements and as he says, ‘the figures just jump out at me with what’s wrong with your current set up’. He’s a master of his art.
Richard also fixed other things that were nothing to do with my bike position, like the position of my Garmin on the bike so I can see it properly now and also pointed me in the right direction for a travel box where I don’t need to take my P5 apart for the plane. This had been causing me serious issues and I didn’t even know this specialised box existed. Richard showed me a video of how it worked and emailed me the link later on.
This is a superb overall service and Richard really wants to enable the client to get the best out of their cycling, whatever the issue. Second to none and totally recommended.
Carl James
Having invested in a new bike for next season I wanted to insure I was in the optimum position for my race goals. I chose Freespeed for Richard’s experience and the commitment he shows to the sport.
With my aims being 70.3 and shorter we discussed getting lower at the front. Richard ran thru the options for this and we decided on new bars. These were ordered and fitted promptly.
Richard mailed me once it was completed and was kind enough to allow an out of hours collection. This really helped.
First ride today was really good proving Freespeed was a great move.
Recomended!
John Ross
Richard & Freespeed came recommended to me as well as knowing about the Freespeed triathlon team. Richard was very accommodating and new location is easy to find with parking. I took both my road and TT bikes for a fitting with a specific need to change from an Ironman fit to a more aggressive setup on my TT.
Richard was meticulous with the fitting and I cannot fault his knowledge and ability to translate the data into understandable language. Further to just using the Retul, Richard was careful to make sure I was always comfortable with both of my bikes.
Will recommend Richard to anyone looking for a professional, friendly bike fit. Finally, completely worth the cost and you truly get your money’s worth!
Dave Hilder
Richard came highly recommended by The Tri Store (Eastbourne). I had my road bike fit to ascertain which bike(s) I would best fit prior to purchase. My son did the same for a TT bike so we actually spent a whole day at the studio for a ‘dual’ session.
Richard worked tirelessly to ensure we both had the optimum set up and even adjusted the rig prior for each of us, to mimic the exact geometry of the bikes we hoped would fit (S3 & P3). Richards expertise, attention to detail and unending product knowledge was a joy to experience and I cannot recommend it enough.
we left knowing exactly what our set up will be, and with a couple of bike options although we were very fortunate to be able to fit on our original choice.
Just chatting to Richard for the day was worth the money for the immense knowledge you cannot fail to gain.
Limitless fine tuning to achieve the result and a totally professional service.
Sarah Percival
Richard came highly recommended and now I can see why. I’ve been dithering about buying a TT bike for a while now but was really worried about making a mistake and buying an ill fitting bike; the glory of being vertically challenged!! Richard made the whole process comfortable from the word go and took time explaining the measurements and readings in layman’s terms. By providing me with a list of suitable bikes to buy he has taken the pain away from the process and I’m now looking forward to purchasing a TT bike that I know will work for me.
Alexander Cavill
Having been recommended Richard by a member of the Team Freespeed race team and just having bought a new race bike I thought I should get myself fitted properly. Richard was an absolute gent and was able to get me into a fantastic position on both my race and training bike, with out aggravating an old prolapsed disc injury I suffer with. I would throughly recommend Richard and will be back when I can afford a TT bike!!
Riccardo Composto
I had a great session with Richard. I was feeling pain in my left shoulder and I decided to purchase a new bike. I went to get a Retul measurement to understand what bike geometry would have fit my body.
Richard made meticulous adjustment to ensure my position was correct. He also adjusted my current road bike which I now use for commuting. Once we had the position he sent me a long list of bike that I could buy within my budget.
Since then Richard has been very helpful and responded to all the (many!) questions I had.
Definitely recommend visiting Richard if you want a proper Bike Fit and a great customer service!
Roz McGinty
I had a few niggles, numb toes and just couldn’t get comfortable on my aerobars on my TT bike so had a session with Richard just prior to my ironman race of the season. It was a superb experience with real attention to detail. He managed to find ways to adapt the front end of the bike that I never thought possible and as a result I have had two very comfortable races with great results. Thanks Richard!
Simon Newman
I had a session with Richard to ensure I would be a good fit for a road bike I intended to purchase from an online manufacturer. In a short space of time Richard set his rig up to mimic the exact geomety of the bike and we then spent time tweaking saddle height and position to get it just right. I am now confident of making my purchase and will be able to make adjustments correctly. Richard also checked my commuter bike and we quickly adjusted that. It was a great experience and I would not hesitate to recommend a bike fitting with Richard – thanks!
James Hill
Richard fitted me with a new TT bike. End result was a much more comfortable, aero position that felt like I could stay in all day. Improvement in position also included the feeling that I could put more power down. These have all combined resulting in significant time gains on the road. Clearly knows what he is doing, very informative, enjoyable and relaxed experience with a really nice guy. Could not recommend enough for all levels.
Chris Barrett
had a fitting with Richard earlier this week and it was a very enjoyable experience. Not only did Richard help adjust my road bike for a tri race, but then he fitted me for a new tri bike. His knowledge of the science behind it all was fantastic and the tips and advice he gave me were really valuable. Great guy as well!
Jim Jeffery
This is a fantastic experience and thorough. You get to see your body and bike through lengths & angles in hard numbers to the millmeter and Richards fantastic experience at interpreting them within the context of your fitness/flexibiitiy, cycling aspirations and bike is a real joy. Went to Richard with a long list of minor problems – numb hands, feet, nether regions. Every touch point on the bike has been tweaked and early rides since have definitely been more comfortable. Thoroughly recommended for anyone that gets on their bike more than once a year!
Dono
I went to Richard after completing a two-day, 190 mile sportive. I finished with a numb right hip, a sore left knee and pains from my wrists to my neck. I was couple of months from my first middle distance tri and wanted to make sure I sorted those problems before my race. The session with Richard was really enjoyable and interesting. More importantly, the changes he made to my bike and my position have made riding much, much more comfortable and I have not had any more problems. He also gave me advice on the right choice of bike when i upgrade. Overall, it was money and time well spent and I wish I had been to see him sooner.
Ian Chidgey
A very enjoyable afternoon spent with Richard who was not only professional in his knowledge and approach to my bike fit, but was also a nice fella. Took his time and made me feel comfortable during the process. Highly recommended.
Now to get my TT bike sorted……
Malcolm Calder
I can only repeat the other positive feedback. I had a bike fit in June with goal being to sort out some injury niggles and to just start enjoying longer rides a bit more. Whilst my setup surprisingly wasn’t too far off the few small adjustments that Richard made have seen my niggles all but disappear. As a novice Richard was very understanding with my questions and the advice he gave was spot on.
Alister Jenkins
I had a great bike fit last night from Richard. Whilst my setup wasn’t too far off we managed to make some great adjustments to make my position more aggressive without becoming too uncomfortable. I also had a cracking 3 hour conversation about triathlon which made the experience thoroughly enjoyable. I am at best an average triathlete but for 3 hours I felt like a pro, I would highly recommend Richard and Freespeed to all triathletes.
Kerrie McEvoy
As a complete novice, Richard made me feel very relaxed during the session. I got so much out of it, he gave me lots of information and tips as well as fixing up my position on the bike.
Will White
Had a bike fit in February in the hope I could get over some recurring knee problems for some upcoming long distance sportives. From the one afternoon with Richard I learnt a whole lot more too – seeing the position I was in, some (what appeared to be at the time) small changes, some advice on general posture, and I’ve had no complaints from knees, calves, back, since.
Really recommend it – the information gained, tips on all forms of cycling as well, no up-selling, and from what I wrongly feared would be a bit daunting, it was a comfortable and highly enjoyable experience.. plus it worked!
Michiel Hoefsmit
Great enjoyable afternoon. Some things I knew have been fixed. Some things I didn’t know I will now do. Can’t say I’m better, as I’ve so far only rode it back home. But already in the studio it felt less stretching in back, arms, shoulders.
Very informative and Richard knows what he talks about.
Would recommend it to everybody, not only for racing but if you do long distance riding, being comfortable at any speed will help.
Go and check it out.
Michiel
David Lindley
‘normal’ road bike setup + 2nd option of more aero riding position for triathlons.
A fun and informative session that has not only left me with a more comfortable set-up but one that has noticeable made my riding more efficient/ faster from the first time I went post the session. Richard was knowledgeable, a great source of advice and genuinely interested in why and what I would be using the bike for.
Worth the money, not pushy on amending the bike and he also chucked in a few cycling tips as well! Will definitely use again.
Thanks Richard!
Nic Wilkinson
For a novice wanting to upgrade, the bike fit confirmed my thoughts that you need a little more science before buying off the peg to get it right ie save money. I felt at home throughout and now have a bike which is a wrong size but that is now set up for me, and importantly my next purchase will also be right for me.
A good fun session and Richard was totaly engaged throughout; not at all daunting and highly recommended.
Donovan R
I struggled for a number of months with various lower leg injuries which were seemingly irritated by riding, following a recommendation I went to see Richard, I’d honestly say this was one of my best spends and I am thoroughly grateful to Richard as I have seen a massive difference and most importantly I am back on the bike and back running only weeks after my bike fit. Richard made some drastic changes most notably to my seat height which I had lowered in the hope of alleviating the lower leg irritation, this seemed counter-intuitive at the time as all of the research I’d done suggested calf issues are best addressed by lowering the bike seat, however mine was way too low. Long story short, I would highly recommend this service and what the fit doesn’t mention is the fact that you get to spend 3 hours with a seasoned ironman and endurance athlete who was more than willing to share his experiences.
Many thanks Richard.
Nick B
Eye opening to how badly I’m cycling!
With Richard’s expertise I have no doubt my knee pain will go away, and I will actually be using the full force in my pedal action.
Thanks Richard.
alan dion
Richard was recommended by one of the Freespeed team, Sam Baxter, and fully lived up to the recommendation. Great fit and lots of advice as well and no hard sell, which some other bike fits seem to do. Highly recommended. Alan
Jason M
Wow!
Richard could not have been more helpful, informative, or professional. He asked lots of questions and paid attention to my answers. This was no mere ‘by the numbers’ bike fit, it was so much more than that. Richard used the retul data, my goals, and cross referenced his own vast experience to deliver a confidence building great bike setup.
I couldn’t recommend him more highly.
Austin Swain
The quality of Richard’s service is exceptional. Right from the very first phone call with him it was clear that he was someone who was determined to arrive at the best possible solution for me. His ability to ask great questions and friendly approach makes for a very enjoyable experience. The skilful interplay between the biomechanical data and the video play back is as good as it gets and the real time demonstration of the adjustments being made builds confidence quickly. The depth of his summary and follow-up is testimony to his professionalism. If you want to go faster, go see him!
Alex Mackenzie
The freespeed experience was oustanding. Extremely professional service and advice.
There are so many improvements and add ons you can buy for your bike but in the end none of them are worth much without a good fit. The freespeed service was worth every penny – it transformed my riding experience.
John Hutchinson
I’ve been a cyclist for years but a couple of years ago I bought a “proper” road bike to go that bit further and faster. I love the bike but after about an hour I’d find myself shifting about trying to get comfortable. You only touch a bike at three points (bars, saddle and pedals) so I thought that it wouldn’t be hard to change things one at a time to get the fit right. After much fiddling and more discomfort I got a recommendation for Freespeed from a coaching friend. I spent a very interesting morning with Richard and it has really made a difference! I can ride for hours now without that feeling that I need to get off and stretch. My only limit now would appear to be how long I can go without cake 🙂
Mark Thorne
I had been recommended Richard by my Physio as I was getting some back pain on (and off) the bike. I was a little unsure whether it would be right for me as I am a starter in road cycling and have a good starter bike but wandered whether this was something for the more serious cyclist……but my concerns were completely unwarranted. What a brilliant experience!!
I cannot recommend doing this enough. What I was really impressed by was Richard’s time and patience and the way in which he really considered what the right set up was for me (new to cleats so bike saddle at the low end of the range; bad back so a conservative bike position).
Richard had time for all my questions no matter how silly or basic, and explained in a clear and simple way what the many measurements and stats on the screen meant.
A great session and thoroughly enjoyable – Thank you Richard!
Clayton Shaw
I had been contemplating a proper bike fit for some time and had heard various reports about different offerings in the market. I did some research however, and Richard came highly recommended. It initially seemed like a fair bit to spend, but it was definitely worth the investment to find the right service to get the set up correct.
The service was very professional, but also quite insightful and good fun. Richard is very knowledgeable due to his active background in the sport, whether it is for a road bike or a more aggressive TT bike. Having fiddled with my current bike position for some time and still not found the optimal position, Richard was surprisingly quick to pin-point a more relaxed and efficient position for ironman.
This is certainly something that I would recommend now that I have experienced it myself.
A real treat to have so much time, attention and T.L.C in a bike fit. Richard has both the high tech Retul motion capture technology and a fantastic eye for detail.
Richard was great. The studio is very well laid out and he made me feel at ease straight away. He took great care over the fit and I was very happy. I have had a retul bike fit before and this was so much better. The explanation of the various angles and their implications was so much easier to understand with real life examples of how changes would affect me. Excellent service
I recently went to see Richard at Freespeed as I couldn’t find a comfortable set up on my TT bike and was also concerned that the bike was too large for me. Fortunately the bike turned out to be a good fit. The session itself is really interesting and helps you understand so many things about the bike and a good riding position for the intended use. The fit goes into every detail and changes were made to my saddle, aero bars and cleat positions. I now have a pain free position that allows me to concentrate on getting the power down rather than trying to get comfortable.
Money well spent.
I have just had a bike fit for my road bike completed at Freespeed. Richard’s attention to detail was superb. He clearly knows his stuff. I have been suffering with various forms of pain when cycling which was becoming unbearable, but could instantly feel the benefit of my new position. The new position has definitely given me my enthusiasm back and I now cant wait to take my bike out on the road. Thanks again.
Richard’s name was recommended to me by my coach as being the go-to man for bike fitting. He didn’t disappoint. It was a TT fitting and the before and after pictures show the changes made, but with good consideration to my goal distances.
Also good general advice on other areas of training and racing.
Enjoyed the session – highly recommended!
I was recommended to Richard at Freespeed by a colleague in my Triathlon club saying that he was the best around, having been to a couple of other companies for bike fits in the last 12 months I was curious in how this one would differ. Straight away I was impressed with Richard’s knowledge, he explained everything in detail and in a way that a novice like myself could understand, also he gives tips/information on other aspects of cycling for example clothing etc.
Definitely would recommend Freespeed!
Thanks again Richard
I was looking for a fitter in London with specific triathlon/TT fitting experience to help tune my position. After doing some research I found freespeed. I needed the session on quite short notice and Richard was quite flexible to accommodate me. He has great and has a wealth of knowledge in triathlon. With my main distance been standard Olympic he helped work out how aggressive my position should be for aero advantage while being comfortable over the distance. I have an older TT frame that has a slightly different geometry to conventional Tri frames. Although limited by the frame geometry I was able to get quite a fast position which should see be being competitive. Fingers crossed for a Q this year. He was also able to select some frames and sizes that would work for me if I were to upgrade. On top of that he is a really nice guy and great to chat to.
I contacted Freespeed for some advice about choosing and fitting a tri bike. From the initial contact I was reassured that in Richard I was speaking to someone passionate and extremely knowledgable. He spent time on the phone to discuss options and after listening to his advice I booked in for a two bike fit. To check my road/training bike set up and to get a pre-fit for a Tri bike set up and to make sure I didn’t make any mistakes when making the investment in the Tri bike.
The session was incredibly insightful, explained brilliantly and backed up with really good data which was understandable and useful.
On choosing a Cervelo P3 it was delivered to and set up by Richard and final tweaks were made in a follow up session.
Having been through the process I am delighted. First of all my road bike position is much better, it has ironed out a couple of niggles I had, specifically a grumbling upper hamstring and I’m pretty sure it’s made me more efficient and be able to produce more power.
And the TT setup I just can’t praise enough. I didn’t for one minute think I would roll out on a brand new bike and be as comfortable in an aero tuck as I am but as soon as I got on the bike on the road I felt fully dialled in to it.
Richard’s time and attention is excellent and he really went the extra mile and as well as the fit it was great to pick his brains and gain some bits of advice and knowledge from someone so clearly passionate about his art.
Huge thanks and here’s to a season of PB’s.
Rich
Friendly and professional bike fit session. The time and effort spent was much appreciated.
Would recommend to anybody requiring a fit.
I recently had a new TT bike built up for me, and thought there was no point spending all of that money on a machine that was not fit for me. Booking with Freespeed was easy and hassle free. Richard could not do enough to help me, even though at 140KG and 6’4, I am not your usual triathlete shape!
All the adjustments made were explained in detail as to why and how they were being done, with a few tweaks along the way.
It was great to chat with Richard and talk to somebody with a wealth of knowledge in the sport and also to see somebody so passionate about his profession.
I will keep you in the loop about how the season pans out!!
Sean
Recently had a bike fit after investing in a new road bike, it was certainly money well spent.
Not only have I improved my position and efficiency as a result, it has also given me huge peace of mind that my positioning is good as it can be – was also great to just generally chat with someone for a couple of hours who obviously knows his stuff.
The follow up e-mail with all readings and data is also great to have for future purchases…of which there will be many.
Louis.
I had a bike fit with Richard around 3 months ago (early December 2014) and wanted to get some time in the new bike position before writing this review.
During the fit, Richard was brilliant at explaining the changes he was making to my bike setup. I had purchased my new TT bike a few weeks before and the local bike shop had spent a bit of time adjusting the bike for me. Richard was quickly able to spot that the bike wasn’t well set up for me and was in more of a road time trial configuration rather than the long-distance triathlon configuration that I require. Richard was able to give me a more comfortable and lower position on the bike and was happy to explain the Retul measurements and the implication of each value recorded throughout our session as the bike was adjusted.
As well as the bike fit, we also had some really interesting discussions on races and equipment and Richard’s advice on equipment choices was additionally valuable.
I haven’t had too many chances for long rides with the new setup as yet, but it’s been very comfortable up to 2 hours or so. I’ve also had a couple of decent results in local duathlons with the fastest bike split in one and the second fastest bike split in the other. I very much look forward to racing my target triathlons in the summer!
I had a bike fit with Richard back in December. My situation was that I had been racing in triathlons for the last two seasons using a road bike and I was looking at taking it up a level by buying my first TT bike ready for an IM later this year.
I emailed him with two options, should I buy the TT bike and then get it fitted to me, or have a bike fit session and for him to then advise which bikes would fit me. He advised that I chose the second option which in hindsight made complete sense and Im very happy I did this.
I went to the session unsure what to expect but the process was very thorough and left nothing to chance. Every measurement was taken and it was clear to see Richard was very experienced and really cared about getting the best result for me. I left the session feeling very positive and was excited to see the results.
From this point the service continued at the same high standard that was set from the start of the bike fit. Within a day I was emailed the results and a comprehensive review of all available bikes that I had suggested I liked the look of and some others that would also be suited to me. Over a period of two months and a great deal of guidance and communication from Richard I gathered all the required components (using new parts, eBay and Richard’s contacts), the bike is now fully operational and Im incredibly pleased with the results.
I have a follow up session booked on Wednesday to check that I have built the bike correctly and to fine tune the bike based on the details from the last session and his experience. I don’t have anything but praise for Richard and would say anybody who books a bike fit with him will be very pleased that they did.
Richard had been recommended to me a number of friends. I was looking to tidy up my TT bike position after a decent amount of time away from the bike and training for Ironman in October. Suffice to say it’s been one of the best investment decisions I’ve made over the years! In the four hours I spent with Richard, we made some adjustments to my position, allowing me to get more aero but at the same time significantly increasing ride comfort. I can’t recommend Richard enough, he has a genuine passion for the sport, a deep knowledge that really shows through, and he’s an allround decent chap. Go pay him a visit!
I visited Richard last week after buying a tt bike but it was so uncomfortable on the tri bars after a few tweeks here and there plus so much knowledge and information on ironman which I found as beneficial as the bike fit I am now so comfortable now on the tri bars it is unbelievable
would definitely recommend Richard to anyone who needs a bike fit and are contemplating ironman
I had a TT fit with Richard back in November last year as recommended by The Tri Store in Eastbourne. Having already bought bikes from there in the past I trusted their recommmendation for a fit with Richard. I was set on a P3 and luckily the geometry suited me fine so the bike was ordered. Having received the bike it then went back to Richard to get the final few tweaks and it was ready to ride. Having spent a month on it now it has only confirmed what I first thought when I had my original session back in November. Richard has done a fantastic job and it feels even more comfortable than when I was on the rig in the studio. After the best part of a day with Richard it is clear to see he has a real passion for what he does and his knowledge is exhaustive. I would recommend Freespeed to anybody it really makes a difference. I just can’t wait to get into the tri season and hopefully see the bike splits get quicker!!
I’m really glad I visited Richard, small adjustments to not only my bike fit but riding style were very visible through the process and have given a new impetus to my cycling.
In addition, golden nuggets of advice learnt through years of experience about Ironman in general make the session good value for money.
Highly recommended.
I visited Richard after having been to a few other bikefits in the past. I wanted to make minor changes to my position after having installed a new crankset with different crank length. Richard addressed an issue which had never directly been addressed previously (discrepancies between leg length) and saddle height. With some adjustment to the cleat and saddle height in combination with the wedge we were able to get a more balanced pedal stroke which I’m happy with, along with the other adjustments.
I visited Richard at his studio with the aim of understand and finding out how my cycling was against what I thought to be corrected. I found Richard to be very welcoming and quickly realised he knew what he was talking about, which was reassuring.
At no point during our session did I feel hurried, indeed quite the opposite. We did have a ‘moment’ with spacers, but thats another story. In summary Richard has made the necessary adjustments which on review look necessary.
Proof is in the pudding, which I am sure will improve my cycling.
If like me you cycle a lot then its money well spent and I would recommend Richard 100%
I came to Richard as a complete triathlon novice. Firstly, the experience he has in racing at the highest level but also in the specifics of judging a good and bad position on the bike is invaluable. After racing in a silly number of Ironman triathlons, the advice he was able to give me was incredibly helpful, very practical and really helped my understanding of the sport as a whole.
You won’t leave the studio until he is entirely comfortable with your position, and knows all the ideal measurements for an efficient position aided by the Retul system.
5 or 6 weeks down the line from being fitted, I don’t have the pains, aches and discomfort from the setup I had before anymore, and it makes riding so much more enjoyable!
Will 100% be recommending Richard to other riders. Flawless!
Just had a fabulous bike fit with Richard at Freespeed. The attention to detail is amazing and he really fine tunes everything until he is totally satisfied he has the optimum position for what you want. He uses the world’s only cycling-specific, 3D motion capture system featuring real-time kinematic data, the Retul camera to trace all your movements and as he says, ‘the figures just jump out at me with what’s wrong with your current set up’. He’s a master of his art.
Richard also fixed other things that were nothing to do with my bike position, like the position of my Garmin on the bike so I can see it properly now and also pointed me in the right direction for a travel box where I don’t need to take my P5 apart for the plane. This had been causing me serious issues and I didn’t even know this specialised box existed. Richard showed me a video of how it worked and emailed me the link later on.
This is a superb overall service and Richard really wants to enable the client to get the best out of their cycling, whatever the issue. Second to none and totally recommended.
Having invested in a new bike for next season I wanted to insure I was in the optimum position for my race goals. I chose Freespeed for Richard’s experience and the commitment he shows to the sport.
With my aims being 70.3 and shorter we discussed getting lower at the front. Richard ran thru the options for this and we decided on new bars. These were ordered and fitted promptly.
Richard mailed me once it was completed and was kind enough to allow an out of hours collection. This really helped.
First ride today was really good proving Freespeed was a great move.
Recomended!
Richard & Freespeed came recommended to me as well as knowing about the Freespeed triathlon team. Richard was very accommodating and new location is easy to find with parking. I took both my road and TT bikes for a fitting with a specific need to change from an Ironman fit to a more aggressive setup on my TT.
Richard was meticulous with the fitting and I cannot fault his knowledge and ability to translate the data into understandable language. Further to just using the Retul, Richard was careful to make sure I was always comfortable with both of my bikes.
Will recommend Richard to anyone looking for a professional, friendly bike fit. Finally, completely worth the cost and you truly get your money’s worth!
Richard came highly recommended by The Tri Store (Eastbourne). I had my road bike fit to ascertain which bike(s) I would best fit prior to purchase. My son did the same for a TT bike so we actually spent a whole day at the studio for a ‘dual’ session.
Richard worked tirelessly to ensure we both had the optimum set up and even adjusted the rig prior for each of us, to mimic the exact geometry of the bikes we hoped would fit (S3 & P3). Richards expertise, attention to detail and unending product knowledge was a joy to experience and I cannot recommend it enough.
we left knowing exactly what our set up will be, and with a couple of bike options although we were very fortunate to be able to fit on our original choice.
Just chatting to Richard for the day was worth the money for the immense knowledge you cannot fail to gain.
Limitless fine tuning to achieve the result and a totally professional service.
Richard came highly recommended and now I can see why. I’ve been dithering about buying a TT bike for a while now but was really worried about making a mistake and buying an ill fitting bike; the glory of being vertically challenged!! Richard made the whole process comfortable from the word go and took time explaining the measurements and readings in layman’s terms. By providing me with a list of suitable bikes to buy he has taken the pain away from the process and I’m now looking forward to purchasing a TT bike that I know will work for me.
Having been recommended Richard by a member of the Team Freespeed race team and just having bought a new race bike I thought I should get myself fitted properly. Richard was an absolute gent and was able to get me into a fantastic position on both my race and training bike, with out aggravating an old prolapsed disc injury I suffer with. I would throughly recommend Richard and will be back when I can afford a TT bike!!
I had a great session with Richard. I was feeling pain in my left shoulder and I decided to purchase a new bike. I went to get a Retul measurement to understand what bike geometry would have fit my body.
Richard made meticulous adjustment to ensure my position was correct. He also adjusted my current road bike which I now use for commuting. Once we had the position he sent me a long list of bike that I could buy within my budget.
Since then Richard has been very helpful and responded to all the (many!) questions I had.
Definitely recommend visiting Richard if you want a proper Bike Fit and a great customer service!
I had a few niggles, numb toes and just couldn’t get comfortable on my aerobars on my TT bike so had a session with Richard just prior to my ironman race of the season. It was a superb experience with real attention to detail. He managed to find ways to adapt the front end of the bike that I never thought possible and as a result I have had two very comfortable races with great results. Thanks Richard!
I had a session with Richard to ensure I would be a good fit for a road bike I intended to purchase from an online manufacturer. In a short space of time Richard set his rig up to mimic the exact geomety of the bike and we then spent time tweaking saddle height and position to get it just right. I am now confident of making my purchase and will be able to make adjustments correctly. Richard also checked my commuter bike and we quickly adjusted that. It was a great experience and I would not hesitate to recommend a bike fitting with Richard – thanks!
Richard fitted me with a new TT bike. End result was a much more comfortable, aero position that felt like I could stay in all day. Improvement in position also included the feeling that I could put more power down. These have all combined resulting in significant time gains on the road. Clearly knows what he is doing, very informative, enjoyable and relaxed experience with a really nice guy. Could not recommend enough for all levels.
had a fitting with Richard earlier this week and it was a very enjoyable experience. Not only did Richard help adjust my road bike for a tri race, but then he fitted me for a new tri bike. His knowledge of the science behind it all was fantastic and the tips and advice he gave me were really valuable. Great guy as well!
This is a fantastic experience and thorough. You get to see your body and bike through lengths & angles in hard numbers to the millmeter and Richards fantastic experience at interpreting them within the context of your fitness/flexibiitiy, cycling aspirations and bike is a real joy. Went to Richard with a long list of minor problems – numb hands, feet, nether regions. Every touch point on the bike has been tweaked and early rides since have definitely been more comfortable. Thoroughly recommended for anyone that gets on their bike more than once a year!
I went to Richard after completing a two-day, 190 mile sportive. I finished with a numb right hip, a sore left knee and pains from my wrists to my neck. I was couple of months from my first middle distance tri and wanted to make sure I sorted those problems before my race. The session with Richard was really enjoyable and interesting. More importantly, the changes he made to my bike and my position have made riding much, much more comfortable and I have not had any more problems. He also gave me advice on the right choice of bike when i upgrade. Overall, it was money and time well spent and I wish I had been to see him sooner.
A very enjoyable afternoon spent with Richard who was not only professional in his knowledge and approach to my bike fit, but was also a nice fella. Took his time and made me feel comfortable during the process. Highly recommended.
Now to get my TT bike sorted……
I can only repeat the other positive feedback. I had a bike fit in June with goal being to sort out some injury niggles and to just start enjoying longer rides a bit more. Whilst my setup surprisingly wasn’t too far off the few small adjustments that Richard made have seen my niggles all but disappear. As a novice Richard was very understanding with my questions and the advice he gave was spot on.
I had a great bike fit last night from Richard. Whilst my setup wasn’t too far off we managed to make some great adjustments to make my position more aggressive without becoming too uncomfortable. I also had a cracking 3 hour conversation about triathlon which made the experience thoroughly enjoyable. I am at best an average triathlete but for 3 hours I felt like a pro, I would highly recommend Richard and Freespeed to all triathletes.
As a complete novice, Richard made me feel very relaxed during the session. I got so much out of it, he gave me lots of information and tips as well as fixing up my position on the bike.
Had a bike fit in February in the hope I could get over some recurring knee problems for some upcoming long distance sportives. From the one afternoon with Richard I learnt a whole lot more too – seeing the position I was in, some (what appeared to be at the time) small changes, some advice on general posture, and I’ve had no complaints from knees, calves, back, since.
Really recommend it – the information gained, tips on all forms of cycling as well, no up-selling, and from what I wrongly feared would be a bit daunting, it was a comfortable and highly enjoyable experience.. plus it worked!
Great enjoyable afternoon. Some things I knew have been fixed. Some things I didn’t know I will now do. Can’t say I’m better, as I’ve so far only rode it back home. But already in the studio it felt less stretching in back, arms, shoulders.
Very informative and Richard knows what he talks about.
Would recommend it to everybody, not only for racing but if you do long distance riding, being comfortable at any speed will help.
Go and check it out.
Michiel
‘normal’ road bike setup + 2nd option of more aero riding position for triathlons.
A fun and informative session that has not only left me with a more comfortable set-up but one that has noticeable made my riding more efficient/ faster from the first time I went post the session. Richard was knowledgeable, a great source of advice and genuinely interested in why and what I would be using the bike for.
Worth the money, not pushy on amending the bike and he also chucked in a few cycling tips as well! Will definitely use again.
Thanks Richard!
For a novice wanting to upgrade, the bike fit confirmed my thoughts that you need a little more science before buying off the peg to get it right ie save money. I felt at home throughout and now have a bike which is a wrong size but that is now set up for me, and importantly my next purchase will also be right for me.
A good fun session and Richard was totaly engaged throughout; not at all daunting and highly recommended.
I struggled for a number of months with various lower leg injuries which were seemingly irritated by riding, following a recommendation I went to see Richard, I’d honestly say this was one of my best spends and I am thoroughly grateful to Richard as I have seen a massive difference and most importantly I am back on the bike and back running only weeks after my bike fit. Richard made some drastic changes most notably to my seat height which I had lowered in the hope of alleviating the lower leg irritation, this seemed counter-intuitive at the time as all of the research I’d done suggested calf issues are best addressed by lowering the bike seat, however mine was way too low. Long story short, I would highly recommend this service and what the fit doesn’t mention is the fact that you get to spend 3 hours with a seasoned ironman and endurance athlete who was more than willing to share his experiences.
Many thanks Richard.
Eye opening to how badly I’m cycling!
With Richard’s expertise I have no doubt my knee pain will go away, and I will actually be using the full force in my pedal action.
Thanks Richard.
Richard was recommended by one of the Freespeed team, Sam Baxter, and fully lived up to the recommendation. Great fit and lots of advice as well and no hard sell, which some other bike fits seem to do. Highly recommended. Alan
Wow!
Richard could not have been more helpful, informative, or professional. He asked lots of questions and paid attention to my answers. This was no mere ‘by the numbers’ bike fit, it was so much more than that. Richard used the retul data, my goals, and cross referenced his own vast experience to deliver a confidence building great bike setup.
I couldn’t recommend him more highly.
The quality of Richard’s service is exceptional. Right from the very first phone call with him it was clear that he was someone who was determined to arrive at the best possible solution for me. His ability to ask great questions and friendly approach makes for a very enjoyable experience. The skilful interplay between the biomechanical data and the video play back is as good as it gets and the real time demonstration of the adjustments being made builds confidence quickly. The depth of his summary and follow-up is testimony to his professionalism. If you want to go faster, go see him!
The freespeed experience was oustanding. Extremely professional service and advice.
There are so many improvements and add ons you can buy for your bike but in the end none of them are worth much without a good fit. The freespeed service was worth every penny – it transformed my riding experience.
I’ve been a cyclist for years but a couple of years ago I bought a “proper” road bike to go that bit further and faster. I love the bike but after about an hour I’d find myself shifting about trying to get comfortable. You only touch a bike at three points (bars, saddle and pedals) so I thought that it wouldn’t be hard to change things one at a time to get the fit right. After much fiddling and more discomfort I got a recommendation for Freespeed from a coaching friend. I spent a very interesting morning with Richard and it has really made a difference! I can ride for hours now without that feeling that I need to get off and stretch. My only limit now would appear to be how long I can go without cake 🙂
I had been recommended Richard by my Physio as I was getting some back pain on (and off) the bike. I was a little unsure whether it would be right for me as I am a starter in road cycling and have a good starter bike but wandered whether this was something for the more serious cyclist……but my concerns were completely unwarranted. What a brilliant experience!!
I cannot recommend doing this enough. What I was really impressed by was Richard’s time and patience and the way in which he really considered what the right set up was for me (new to cleats so bike saddle at the low end of the range; bad back so a conservative bike position).
Richard had time for all my questions no matter how silly or basic, and explained in a clear and simple way what the many measurements and stats on the screen meant.
A great session and thoroughly enjoyable – Thank you Richard!
I had been contemplating a proper bike fit for some time and had heard various reports about different offerings in the market. I did some research however, and Richard came highly recommended. It initially seemed like a fair bit to spend, but it was definitely worth the investment to find the right service to get the set up correct.
The service was very professional, but also quite insightful and good fun. Richard is very knowledgeable due to his active background in the sport, whether it is for a road bike or a more aggressive TT bike. Having fiddled with my current bike position for some time and still not found the optimal position, Richard was surprisingly quick to pin-point a more relaxed and efficient position for ironman.
This is certainly something that I would recommend now that I have experienced it myself.