Since Optima bike was founded in 2012 and is an affiliate of RJC Group, a long-time bicycle manufacturer that has been in Thailand for over 30 years. Optima bike has always been crafting bicycles that serves the needs of cyclists at all level, and this time is a big step forward that the company has partnered with a group of bicycle researchers from Germany for making Bike Fitting with “Radlabor” and Dynamic Fitting called “Smartfit” as well as other developments under the name of “Optima-Smartfit Bike System”
Technology and Cooperation
Radlabor is from German language that has a meaning of “Bicycle lab” in Thai which founded at Freiburg University in Germany that cooperates with Freiburg-Schwarzwald Olympics center since 1997 to present. Radlabor has been researching specifically for Bike Fitting and the aim of the research is mainly about introducing national athletes and cyclists to leverage the tools designed by the lab and find best solutions to gain the maximum potential from athletes.
Radlabor initially conducted a scientific study on cycling along with the university with Dr.Bjorn Stapelfeldt as a founder. And after conducting tests and researches for nearly 15 years, Radlabor has now introduced three products to the market including:
Smartfit Q1 is ideal for a small to medium size bicycle shop, this tool helps the shop measures and determine the size in order to provide the right bicycle with proper adjustments for customers such as the distance and the height of the seat. Q1 is available in Thailand and also across Asia by Birota company along with some versions that co-branded with Optima from Thailand. Moreover, The Q1 is widely accepted and used internationally for Bike Selection or picking the right size for bicycles by a renowned brand like Scott.
Smartfit Q4 is similar to Q1 which is ideal for a small to medium bicycle shop except this tool is equipped with the Laser Scan system which allows the shop to scan both bicycle and a person for better accuracy and better fitting.
Dr.Bjorn Stapelfeldt Founder of RadLabor (http://www.radlabor.de)
Smartfit Q5 is a combination of Q1 and Q4 but added with full fitting system with VDO Analysis that allows you to fully analyses positions of the cyclist through 60 fps Hi-Speed camera.
The importance of Smartfit Q5 is that Optima uses this particular tool for storing physical structure data of athletes, cyclists and also customers for Dynamic Fitting and other information on the dimension of the bike can later be used in designing process in the future to serve the needs of athletes. Now, the one and only Smartfit Q5 in Thailand is up and running at the Optima Head Office which offers Bike Fitting service regardless of the brands.
Amazing tool comes with amazing “Fitter”
In addition to good systems, what is dispensable in doing Bike Fitting is a well-trained fitter. As a partner with Smartfit, we dig deep into the study of Bike Fitting with a world class instructor from Canada, Mr. Winston Tam who trained us here at Optima Head Office in Thailand and has officially received a certificate of training.
Mr.Winston Tam, Bike Fit Instructor (www.bikefit.com)
Mr.Winston Tam, Bike Fitting expert from Canada. In this Bike Fit training course, we now have qualified “fitters” to operate Smartfit Q5 that meet specified standards from Radlabor and in the field of Bike Fitting services for customers or athletes will be responsible by a team of fitters from Optima including: Jirawat Suwanwisawa and Tawil Phakadaeng, both fitters will be giving service at Optima Head Office.
Jirawat Suwanwisawa, Certified Bike Fit training and also an athlete of Optima-Thule Cycling Team
Tawil Phakadaeng, also a head of mechanic team. #OptimaMechanicService
For those who are interested in Bike Fitting service with Smartfit Q5 system from Germany and with fitters who are qualified from Bike Fit Institute will have to make a booking in advance. The process takes about 3-5 hours. For further information, please contact us via Optima Facebook Page and a map of Optima Head Office. (Google Map: http://goo.gl/maps/YKwHL)
