For weekend bicycle enthusiasts and Tour racers alike, the risk of a bicycle-related injury may increase with an ill-fitting bicycle, says the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). "Good bike fit promotes good posture with muscles and joints working in harmony. If this doesn't exist, riders will likely experience pain and be predisposed to injury." APTA says the most common bike fit errors include excessive saddle height, excessive handlebar reach, and misalignments of the pedal and shoe.

If you suffer from some of the common bicycling pains, you may be able to fix your problem, says APTA:

· Anterior (Front) Knee Pain. Possible causes are having a saddle that is too low, too low of a cadence, using your quadriceps muscles too much in pedaling, misaligned bicycle cleat for those who use clipless pedals, and muscle imbalance in your legs (strong quadriceps and weak hamstrings).

· Neck Pain. Possible causes include poor handlebar or saddle position. A poorly placed handlebar might be too low, at too great a reach, or at too short a reach. A saddle with excessive downward tilt can be a source of neck pain.

· Lower Back Pain. Possible causes include inflexible hamstrings, low cadence, using your quadriceps muscles too much in pedaling, poor back strength, and too-long or too-low handlebars.

· Hand Numbness or Pain. Possible causes are short-reach handlebars, poorly placed brake levers, and a downward tilt of the saddle.