featured here is a short and simple guide on how to shop for a new bike

HOME MAIL

produced by Jen Heck PART 2 ** HOW TO SHOP FOR A BIKE ** [ What Kind of Riding are You Going to be Doing? ] If you only plan to take your bike off road on occasion, your needs are different from the person who's going to be hitting the trail a few times a week. If you're only riding occasionally (or on the--gasp--road), you might be able to get a bike without suspension or skimp on the components and save yourself a little money. Just be honest with yourself about your intentions, and don't let the slimy salesperson sell you a bike that may be more than you need. [ What to Look for in a Shop ] Compare different stores before making your decision. The sales staff should be knowledgeable and able to answer all of your questions confidently. Be wary if they offer you a bike before asking about the kind of riding you're going to be doing. Ask what sort of service plan they have available post-purchase, and if they also offer a discount on accessories (helmets, water bottles, etc.) at the time of your bicycle purchase--many shops do. Larger chain stores are not necessarily better than smaller mom and pop shops, but they have more buying power, and can pass on the savings to the customer. It's the smaller shops, though, that tend to care more about the individual customer. Steve Leman, a former bike mechanic at Cycle Craft in Cupertino, California, and a part-time road racer, comments, "Don't trust shops that hide the mechanics in the back where you can't see them; those are the guys that'll give you their real opinions--not all that sales bull." If you have bike mechanic friends, or don't care about service, you might want to go for the savings. Speaking of friends... Bring along a friend who is knowledgeable in the ways of the bicycle--it may save you a lot of agony. If you can, and if they're willing to talk, ask the mechanics at the shops for their opinions. "We've been in the trenches; we've seen all those broken parts coming back, we know our shit," said Leman, "but yeah, sometimes we're not all that hip on dealing with customers. That's why I was a mechanic, not a sales guy." [ Qyestions to Ask ] Bike shops almost always carry a few different brands of bicycles. When looking at a particular bicycle, ask what the differences are between it and the other bikes that they may offer at the same price point from a different manufacturer. You might also want to ask about comments other people who already have the bike could have. [ Judging the Fit of a Bike ] Just because you can ride a bicycle doesn't mean it fits you well. Not only will a bike that fits you properly be more comfortable to ride, it'll be safer as well. First of all, check the standover height of the bike. When standing over the bike (in shoes similar to the ones you'd ride in), be sure that there is at least two to four inches of clearance between your crotch and the top tube. When seated on the bike, you want your arms to be at a slight bend, not stretched out straight or bunched up uncomfortably. Ride the bike around for a few minutes to see if you can easily maneuver it and pedal comfortably. If something feels the slightest bit awry, imagine what it'll feel like three hours into an off-road ride. * END * Thanks to WWW.CHARGED.COM for the resources provided