Confession: There was once a time in my life when I was Office Bike Guy. I was the chatty guy in the office who could not stop talking about bikes. I'd be at someone's desk or in the hallway or in a meeting and I had a mortifying habit of turning any conversation to my new and thrilling passion. I'd talk about the long bike rides I'd gone on, the fancy-pants new equipment I'd bought, the amazing fitness I'd achieved. How my poor co-workers humored this! They would politely compliment my riding endeavors, ask questions and sometimes even solicit advice about what bike they should buy. Wow, would I give them the most long-winded answers. I was utterly the worst. When I walked away, I am sure they rolled their eyes.

Over time, I began to ride my bike less, I got jaded about the Tour de France, and Office Bike Guy began to slowly vanish from the office. I'm sure my co-workers appreciated the break. It was probably best for everyone. I still cringe when I think about talking everyone's ear off about the Giro d'Italia. They just wanted to get back to their email.

But you know what? Sometimes I miss Office Bike Guy.

Lately in the Journal there's been some provocative and very entertaining discussion about personal fitness and the idea that it should be experienced and not shared, that marathoners and triathletes and cyclists should feel free to do their races and workouts, but all of the broadcasting of accomplishments has gotten to be a bit much. Last week the writer Chad Stafko wrote an amusing essay in the Journal called "OK, You're a Runner. Get Over It," and the title really said it all, that fitness narcissism was reaching record heights, with the endless parade of bumper stickers and T-shirts and self-promotion. Didn't anyone just run for the sake of running anymore?

And as a former Office Bike Guy, I hear this complaint, I really do. As Stafko noted, this oversharing is not limited to athletics; it also extends to every banality of modern life, from taking selfies at a piano recital to the Instagrammer who really, really wants you to look at the organic artichoke he or she just bought. Artichokes! That is what life is coming to. Praise my artichoke. Please.