This article is about solving cycling aches and pains caused by problems with the way your bicycle fits. For a complete step-by-step guide to fitting your bicycle see my bike fit article.

Philosopher Ivan Illich, in his essay Energy and Equity, wrote:

Man on a bicycle can go three or four times faster than the pedestrian, but uses five times less energy in the process. He carries one gram of his weight over a kilometer of flat road at an expense of only 0.15 calories. The bicycle is the perfect transducer to match man’s metabolic energy to the impedance of locomotion. Equipped with this tool, man outstrips the efficiency of not only all machines but all other animals as well.

That’s pretty remarkable. Yet, what Ivan doesn’t mention is that if this most-efficient machine isn’t properly adjusted, you could suffer serious discomfort such as a numb bum, burning feet, stabbing knee or back pain, sore hands, achy shoulders and a stiff neck. Yikes!

And with these afflictions, instead of zipping down roads and trails effortlessly (like the great Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli in the photo), you may well wobble along like a top-heavy wheelbarrow.

Don’t panic, though. Just check my handy-dandy troubleshooting chart for solutions to your bike-fit problems, dial in your ride and you’ll be spinning along the way Ivan intended in no time.