You Don’t Need Another Bike Fit to Fix Your Pain: 3 Signs It’s Not Your Bike

By Luc Mahler, Chiropractor

Let’s get this out of the way first:
I love a good bike fit. I’m a bike fitter myself — I’ve seen firsthand how the right adjustments can make a huge difference in comfort, power, and performance.

But if you’ve already had one (or three) fits, and you're still dealing with pain, it might be time to stop blaming the bike.

Here are 3 clear signs that your pain isn’t a bike fit issue anymore:

1. The Pain Is Asymmetrical

If it’s only on one side — right knee, left hip, one-sided back pain — that tells me we’re looking at something deeper than saddle setback or crank length.

Your bike is symmetrical. Your body? Not so much.
When pain shows up unevenly, it’s usually a sign that your body is compensating for a movement issue, not reacting to the bike setup itself.

2. You Have Pain With Other Activities Too

If you feel it when you run, when you hike, when you're standing at work — or even just getting out of the car — that's not about cycling mechanics. That's about how your body is functioning, period.

A fit might reduce symptoms temporarily, but if you're carrying an underlying dysfunction, the pain will follow you — on or off the bike.

3. You’ve Tried Multiple Fits and Nothing Has Changed

If you’ve gone through several different positions, setups, and philosophies — and you’re still chasing the same pain — that’s your signal. The bike’s not the problem.

At this point, the issue is likely you’re asking the bike to do something your body isn’t ready to do. Could be a mobility issue. Could be stability. Could be strength or past injury. But it's not your stack height.

The Bottom Line:

If the pain is asymmetrical, shows up off the bike, and has outlasted multiple fit sessions — it’s time to stop tweaking and start treating.

The good news? That puts you back in control.

Want help getting to the root cause? Let’s find what’s really going on and get you back to riding pain-free.