Four years and 10 months ago, the penultimate instalment of my student loan was used to buy my first ever mountain bike. It was a Trek 8000 WSD in white and silver.

I hadn't ever had a mountain bike before and therefore had never considered the importance and the effects of bike set-up. As far as I was concerned, provided I could reach the pedals and could touch the ground while sat on the saddle, what else mattered? However, the local shop (and, of course, the husband) did advise me. And, over the following year(s), I took their advice as essential: forgetting one thing, they were all men.

You see, there is a reason for a WSD. Us girlies generally have smaller hands, narrower shoulders, smaller frames and our main centre of gravity is generally sat on the saddle. It has taken me four years to realise this! And, it is owing to my confidence in other women mountain bikers that I realise this: my coach and watching 'competitors' at the Champery World Cup last year. We do sit differently; we do ride differently; and, I shouldn't be trying to mimic my husband's bike set-up for a more 'racier' experience!

This week, I received this season's racing bike: a sophisticated, gun-metal coloured, carbon-fibre machine. And, this week, I used a tape and a level to measure it up to my WSD. 

It fits perfectly!

I have three weeks now to get myself up to my bike's readiness. For once, bike set-up seems easy ;)