Real Rider Stories: Nicole Finds Her Fit
Being an athlete always has its challenges, especially in the sport of triathlon. There’s the time you need to dedicate in order to properly train for not one, but three different disciplines. Not to mention the resources required to even think about doing it full time. For this rider, those things were seemingly minor hurdles to overcome compared to what she has had to endure early on in her life. For example, relearning how to ride a bike, or even simply how to walk again. Things most of us take for granted every single day.
When Nicole ver Kuilen was just 10 years old she was diagnosed with cancer. In order to save her own life she had to have her left leg amputated. Nicole had to completely relearn everything- how to swim, walk and how to ride a bike. “It took a lot of courage and practice to get back on a bike. But once I did, I found it to be completely liberating and a crucial tool for rehabilitation. It was a way to level the playing field for me. I might not have been a fast runner (yet), but I could keep up with my peers on a bike.” Explains Nicole.
As she got older, her drive and determination gave her the ability to set the bar higher and higher both as an athlete and as a cyclist. She completed her very first long distance ride in college (60-miles), and a couple of years later finished a 300 mile, 4-day bike ride from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Chicago, IL. “It was this ride that gave me the confidence to take on one of the biggest athletic accomplishments of my life, a 1,500 mile triathlon - swimming, biking, and running - from Seattle to San Diego in 2017 over the course of two months.” Nicole aptly dubbed this journey “Forrest Stump” which became the launching point for her passion to advocate and educate others about the barriers amputees face in accessing the prosthetic technology they need to be active.
Nicole was awarded her first ever “running leg” after 16 years of being an amputee, which was followed a few months later with her first ever “cycling leg”. Access to this prosthetic technology allowed her to start competing at an elite level in the sport of paratriathlon.
“Specialized and the Challenged Athletes Foundation also came through, sponsoring me with my first triathlon bike, and linking me up with a paratriathlon coach.” Just one year into the sport, Nicole ended up winning gold at the Paratriathlon National Championships which secured her spot on the 2020 U.S. Paralympic Development Team.
With a new set up on a 2019 Specialized Shiv, Nicole and her team knew it would be extremely important to get a proper fit, as well as take into account her new cycling prosthesis. “I knew that if I was going to take my triathlon racing to the next level, and start competing on the international scale, I needed to work with and learn from the best.” This is where Nicole found herself at the Specialized Bicycles headquarters in Morgan Hill, CA where she received nothing but the best care and treatment from the the Retül staff.
“Very quickly, I realized this bike fitting would be about more than just a really fast bike; it was about my health, my well-being and longevity as an athlete, and having an appropriately designed prosthesis that wouldn’t cause pain.”
The team got to work dialing in Nicole’s position using the Retül Mïve SL fit bike so they could ensure she was on the correct size Specialized Shiv along with getting her into an optimal position that worked best for her abilities. Substantial changes were made both on the bike and on her prosthesis. “We made changes to just about everything, leaving no part untouched. It really put into perspective the importance of having a bike fit to your body to maximize comfort, form, and efficiency.” Informed Nicole.
As an amputee, the fitters paid special attention to Nicole’s joint angles (hip flexion angle and knee flexion angle) in order to match them between both her right and left side. “Her body is very adaptable and she had great ranges of motion. We did have to ensure her prosthetic was able to allow for full hip range of motion at the top and bottom of the pedal stroke, and made many on-the-spot changes to allow for this, without excessive hip rocking.” Explains Retül Global Fit instructor Julie Bates. This was done by making sure the prosthetic foot was plantar flexed and outsetted, which helped to maximize range of motion in the knee joint, and shortened the metal pylon to reduce limb length discrepancy.
On the fit bike, the decision was made to change out the saddle to a Specialized Power with Mimic technology and lower the saddle height. The handlebar angles were also shifted slightly higher which allowed Nicole to have more consistent and even power from both legs, along with repositioning the cleats on her Specialized Torch 3.0 WMN shoes.
These fit decisions were validated through the positive changes that were being seen in the Retül data that corresponded with the findings during Nicole’s pre-fit assessment. This combination allowed the team to create the most comfortable, efficient and safe position for her. “What I was most impressed seeing with the Retül program was its ability to adapt to my specific needs and lifelong "injury" as an amputee. Whether you’re an amputee or not, the fit program is designed to deliver a customized approach to your specific body. I’m not only a faster athlete as a result, but have maximized my well being as an athlete so I can spend even more years in the saddle.”
“I think she learned a lot about what a neutral, well-fitting bike should feel like, as well as what her cycling prosthetic should feel like. It was an amazing learning process for her and her prosthetist, who attended the fit and made the necessary changes on her prosthetic during the fit process.” Informed Bates.
Just one month following her Retül fit, Nicole raced at the Paratriathlon American Championships in Sarasota, FL, her ITU (International Triathlon Union) circuit debut and where she received second place. She then raced at the Toyota Paratriathlon National Championships in Long Beach, CA, where she took 1st place and was crowned 2019 Paratriathlon National Champion! As a result of these races, Nicole was able to earn a spot on the 2020 U.S. Paralympic Development Team in the sport of paratriathlon, with the goal of developing talent for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
“The end result was incredible! Not only did I have a bike that felt great, but I had a prosthesis that was comfortable, expertly aligned for cycling, and wouldn’t hurt me. I could really feel the difference. I have had no issues and have been able to take my training and competition to the next level. It has paid off for my health, and for my time on the podium!”
This coming year, Nicole will race again at the Paratriathlon American Championships and Paratriathlon National Championships, defending her title and racing some great competition while still working to set some new PR’s. She will also be cheering on many other incredible USA Paratriathlon athletes who are vying for a spot in Tokyo 2020.
“My goal is to always work to be the best athlete I can be. In paratriathlon, putting the right time and energy into cycling can pay a lot of dividends on the course. I want to be as fast as I can on the bike to give me the best lead when I transition to the run. A proper Retül fit will help me reach this goal as an athlete, ensuring that I’m maximizing form and efficiency, and getting the most power out of every stroke.”
When asked if she would recommend a Retül Fit to others, Nicole had this to say, “No matter if you are an elite athlete or casual cyclist, every rider should invest in a Retül fit. This isn’t just about being faster - it’s about maximizing your comfort, health, and happiness on the bike. Everyone needs that!”
Nicole is an amazing athlete and a true ambassador for all of us who want to be comfortable and fast on our bikes. It was a pleasure for our team to be able to offer her an uncompromised, comfortable fit that allowed Nicole to access power from both legs. Nicole’s great attitude toward the sport of triathlon and her journey as a paratriathlete, combined with a proper bike fit, will no doubt yield outstanding results for the years to come.