When you buy a bike, the most important thing to consider is how well the bike fits you....sounds very obvious but it's often overlooked. This is most importantly relative to the frame as other parts of the bike, such as stem and handlebars, can be tailored to your personal needs.

Myth 1 - Sizing the bike
Contrary to popular belief, a bike is not the correct size if both feet reach the ground comfortably while sitting on the saddle. This would cause your knees come far too high up when you were pedaling your bike.

So how do you find out the true size? The best way is to sit on the saddle and place your heel (not ball of the foot) on the pedal when it is at its lowest position. Your leg should be completely straight in this position. This will provide the most comfortable riding position and you will get the maximum power out of each pedal stroke as your leg straightens out.

Myth 2 - too large a frame
Another common mistake is to select a frame that is too big. Many people think that the best size of frame is the biggest one they can get on to. This is not the case as most bikes are set up to be used with the seat raised to a particular height (depending on the type of bike). For instance, a road bike should have the seat up about 2 - 3 inches, giving a level of clearance from the top tube. However, on a mountain bike, the saddle should be raised as much as possible, giving as much clearance from the top tube as you can get, enabling you to manoeuvre the bike around underneath you on technical sections of your routes. This will also mean that the frame will be stiffer, and therefore provide much better handling.

These rules are obviously reasonably flexible and at the end of the day, it is yourself who has to ride the bike, and therefore you should decide how comfortable you feel on the bike. However, never be afraid to ask the shop assistant for advice on riding position, as many smaller things can be altered to adjust your position. For example, handlebars and handlebar stems come in different lengths and degrees of rise and are a fairly cheap way of adjusting the riding position and handling of our bike.