Here’s a lighthearted take on why getting a professional bike fit is essential:
The Tale of Wobbly Will and the Bike of Doom
Will had a new year’s resolution: “I’m going to get fit and cycle to work every day!” He dusted off an old road bike from his parents’ garage. Sure, it was a little rusty, and the seat looked like it had been upholstered with leftover sandpaper, but it was free. What could go wrong?
The next morning, Will mounted the bike. Or, at least, he tried. He hadn’t adjusted the seat height, so he felt like a child attempting to climb onto a horse. After an awkward series of hops and grunts, he managed to clamber on and began pedaling.
Within moments, his knees were flaring out at angles that defied human anatomy. His back resembled a question mark, and his hands were gripping the handlebars so tightly that his knuckles turned ghostly white. Pedestrians gave him wide-eyed looks, unsure if he was cycling or auditioning for a circus.
But Will was determined. He made it a whole mile before the discomfort set in. His knees started screaming, “Stop this madness!” His lower back whispered, “You’ll regret this later,” and his wrists chimed in with a sharp, “You didn’t think this through, did you?”
By mile two, the seat was doing things that no human being should endure. Every bump in the road felt like a personal insult. He considered walking the rest of the way but worried someone might see him and ask why he was holding his bike like a hostage.
Finally, he arrived at work, drenched in sweat and limping like he’d just escaped from a medieval dungeon. His coworkers, noticing his awkward gait, asked if he had “taken up bull riding.”
After work, Will dragged himself to the local bike shop. The mechanic, a kind soul named Julie, took one look at him and said, “Let me guess: DIY bike fit?”
Will nodded sheepishly. Julie set him up on a proper bike fit session, adjusting the saddle height, handlebar position, and even recommending padded shorts (a true revelation). She explained that a good fit wasn’t just about comfort but also about efficiency and preventing injury.
The next morning, Will mounted his newly adjusted bike. It was like night and day. His knees pedaled in smooth circles, his back stayed straight, and, most importantly, the seat no longer felt like a medieval torture device.
Will became the office cycling evangelist, telling everyone who would listen, “Get a professional bike fit, or prepare for pain.”
And so, Wobbly Will became Steady Will, all thanks to a little help from a pro and a lesson learned the hard way.
Moral of the story: Don’t let your bike turn you into a meme—get a professional fit!
