I sold my gorgeous, nearly new Bianchi road bike shortly after completing Ride The Rockies '98, a multi-day cycling road race in Colorado. Why? That bike was literally a pain in my neck. I had developed such chronic neck pain, I figured my days in the saddle were over. Maybe I'd still be gliding along on that sleek Italian cycle if I'd only tried a professional bike fitting instead.

According to this article in the NYT, professional bike fittings are going mainstream. The trick is combining existing high-tech tools such as Retul's 3D motion-capture technology, lasers and cameras with a talented technician. The human factor is critical here. One expert estimates there are only 12 to 15 elite bike fitters in the U.S., 50-100 more capable of upper grade fittings, and thousands more who have completed basic bike fit classes offered by bike makers.

A sore neck? Slightly raising the handlebars or removing a helmet visor may do the trick. Minute adjustments at the millimeter-level can increase comfort, improve pedaling efficiency and magically heal your repetitive-use injury. Tiny tweaks, big results. Get ready to pay, though, because a two-hour professional bike fitting can cost $150-$400. Anyone had one?

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