Buying the Right Mountain Bike

Let's talk about what you need to spend on a good mountain bike. Bikes can run anywhere from a couple of hundred bucks into the high thousands. Why? The components.

Bikes are in many ways like stereo systems. If you've ever gone into a high-end stereo shop, you may have noticed that the best, highest priced systems have what are called "separates:" separate amp, tuner, pre-amp, equalizer, CD player, etc. As you come down in price, you also go up in convenience: More of these functions are combined into one chassis, all the way down to the ultimate convenience machine, the boom box. Same with bikes.

The bike you drive actually consists of a frame, a chain, rear and front deraileurs (the device that moves the chain from the big rings to the small rings when you shift gears), the shifters and the wheels. You can buy each of these separately and spend a fortune, or you can get a basic model in which everything is already put together.

According to top cycling coach and personal trainer Terry Kerrigan of the Equinox Fitness Clubs in New York, beginners spend far too much on basic equipment. "Great bikers have won races with basic stuff," says Terry. "Aerodynamics win races; aerodynamics plus the motor, which is you." Terry's advice: Get the best frame you can, and the most basic components. You can upgrade the components as your interest and skill level improve, but you may even find that the basics serve you just fine.

Use your height as a guide in choosing your bike. Straddle the middle: You should be able to lift the bike up about two inches before the bar hits your crotch. Sit on the seat and place your heel on the pedal. In this position, your knee should be completely extended so that when your forefoot is in the proper position on the pedal, there will be about a 15 degree bend in the knee. A knowledgeable salesperson can help you with this.

In my city, New York, I've found that the salespeople in specialty bike stores are passionate about and devoted to the sport, and want you to walk away happy so you'll be a lifelong customer. Find a with a salesperson you trust, and work with her to get a good "fit" between you and the machine.

The parts of the bike that should concern you are frame and suspension: frame because it holds everything together and suspension because, the better it is, the less strain on your legs and lumbar region. Front suspension is important because the bike bounces like crazy while descending a trail; the better the suspension, the better the bike can absorb the shock.