We are constantly amazed by the cycling maladies that customers share during their bike fitting. They are happy, enthusiastic, dedicated cyclists BUT they are dealing with numb sensitive regions, groin chafing, knee grinding, hip mashing, back pain bewilderment, tingling hands and burning feet. “That’s normal right?” is a common sheepish question in relation to the various forms of masochistic torture that they willingly inflict on themselves.
What does this have to do with “satisfaction”? Well if sat·is·fied is defined as; to fulfill the desires, expectations, needs, or demands of a person, then it follows that an “enlightened, satisfied” cyclist would know what a great cycling experience should feel like and be only satisfied when they were in cycling’s perfect confluence of comfort and performance.
There are millions of satisfied cyclists that potentially don’t know what they are missing due to the fact that they put up with many compromises in comfort and performance that they are not aware of. The driving force behind FASTER was to assemble the tools, services and equipment to help cyclists and triathletes get to the point of being the “enlightened, satisfied cyclist”. There are multiple elements to that “enlightened satisfied state” but there are two particular elements that consistently make the largest contribution to this elevated experiential state of cycling or triathlon Nirvana.
The most influential elements on your cycling experience are firstly what type of bike fitting you have (and who performs it) and secondly what choices you make as a result of that bike fitting. A better cycling experience is inextricably linked to those critical elements.
A great professional bike fitting is an amazing transformational experience for cyclists of all levels from beginners to professional athletes. However, the fitting process is a small part of the total experience. A fitting fundamentally involves choices. If you are being fitted on your bike, your fitter is identifying the best choice of stem, handlebar, saddle, pedal, shoe to enhance your performance and comfort. If you are experiencing a fitting for a new bike, those choices also involve size, model, geometry, material, equipment in addition to all the previously listed choices. A fitting for a new stock bike also involves the fitter balancing how well the fit clients dimensions can actually be applied to a particular bicycle and which compromises may be necessary.
How does all this relate to the “enlightened, satisfied cyclist”? Well, that is where the Über options and choices come into play.
When a cyclist and fitter suspend all the restrictions of a stock bike and stock components, the path to “enlightenment” is a whole lot smoother. The happiest most content cyclists that I know are the ones who decide “I want what’s perfect for me. I want a bike where the fitter, engineer and designer had me in mind from the very beginning.” Modern bicycles are often inspired by skeletal Tour the France riders or sub 8hr Ironman champions.
The process to design a perfect bike for ”you” is a radically different  process and a radically different outcome! A custom bicycle delivers the geometry, aesthetics, materials and performance that you desire, exactly, uniquely engineered for you.
Now, don’t get me wrong you can be very satisfied and enlightened with a stock bike. A professional fitting is the superhighway to get you there BUT there is an almighty difference when the bike, the materials, the geometry, handling characteristics, center of gravity and every nut, bolt and component is designed for…..You!.
A multi dimensional Size Cycle fitting at FASTER is your path to a better more “enlightened” experience on your existing bike or a new stock bike. The Size Cycle is a completely configurable bike fitting tool that allows the fitter to focus on the perfect position without the limitations of an existing bike. Perhaps that Über option of a one of a kind perfectly you bicycle is an appealing option? Your “satisfied, enlightened” smile and smugness is a bike fitting and a few important choices away!
Check out these fine examples of custom and stock bicycles available at FASTER
For more information on a professional fitting at FASTER click here
Thanks for reading,
Paraic.
