If we lived in a perfect world and were all rich, we’d go into the bike store, get measured and have a custom bike welded for us.  That way the bike will fit you perfectly brand new.  Since most of us do not have that luxury, we are left with buying “off the shelf” bikes with pre-selected sizes.  The bike manufacturers do the best they can, but every riding style and body is different.  This means the parts on your bike are what the bike company think you want, not necessarily what you need.

When I bought my Se Racing Stout, it was love at first ride.  I love the huge tires, the steel frame, the pure simplicity and aggressiveness of the bike.  But after a few rides, a few things became apparent to me as weaknesses in my setup.  So I went to my local trusted bike shop Knapps in search of some solutions.  I talked with Steve over there who REALLY knows his stuff when it comes to bike gear and he made some priceless suggestions.

First was the issue of fit.  I’m a hard guy to fit on a bike due to my legs being longer proportionate to my torso.  This basically means if I got a size 17 bike frame, the reach would be good, but i’d have to raise my seat up really high.  The alternative (which I choose) is to get a 19, fitting my legs perfectly, but making me lean too far forward on the bike.  Not only is it uncomfortable, in mountain biking its dangerous since having your weight back can safe you from a lot of wipe outs.  Luckily, this is a pretty easy fix.  I had a short stem put on, bringing the bars further back closer to me.

Second was my very annoying tire issue.  The tires that came on the bike were your typical stock tires that are “all terrain”.  Unfortunately, they didn’t include wet and muddy in those terrains.  Once these tires got wet, they would slip when hitting roots, or worse, loose traction on climbs killing momentum.  If that wasn’t bad enough, I had constant flat issues due to the sticker bushes where I ride.  I originally went in just looking for the thickest, most puncture resistant tires they had, but Steve had another idea.  He suggested switching the bike over to tubeless and putting on one of his favorite tires, the Specialized Purgatory.  I didn’t quite understand how going tubeless was going to help me, but trusting Steve, I agreed.  I left the bike in the hands of Knapps and less than a week later I got a call that she was ready.

Seeing how I couldn’t wait to try the new setup, I planned a ride with a friend up in Lewis Morris Park.  It had rained hard for 2 solid days before we rode, so we knew a muddy ride was ahead of us.  The second I mounted the bike, the short stem was already worth the money.  I was 100% more comfortable and sitting back on the bike where I belonged.  Minutes later came a long steep climb covered in not only mud, but snow and ice as well.  I took a deep breath and gunned it.  Half way up the hill it got really steep, loose and slick.  I was prepared for the rear tire to start slipping and having to walk the rest of the hill.  Instead the tires bite into the trail and refused to let go no matter how hard I hit the pedal or how wet the trail was.  When I got to the top of the hill I had to look down at my bike just to make sure Knapps didn’t switch it out for a different one!

The moral of this story is to make upgrades that matter.  I had 2 pretty minor and inexpensive parts swapped out on my bike and it improved ride quality by leaps and bounds.  If you want to find out what upgrades will change your experience the most, follow these simple steps.

1. Get Fit – You’ll need a clean slate to start from, so make sure you’re fit as well as you can be on the bike.  There are many online guides to help you, and most bike shops will offer a professional fitting.

2. Ride and Remember – The only way to find out what is off on your bike is to ride it.  Plan some moderately easy routes that will give you some time to really pay attention to how you feel on your bike.  When something happens, like a tire slipping or a sore back, make a mental note.  After a few rides, you’ll have your top 3 list of things that annoy you.

3. Swap it Out – This is where its really important to know a bike mechanic or a bike shop you can trust.  You can communicate what is bothering you, and they can make suggestions on what to swap out on it.  Don’t be afraid to tell the mechanic your budget on this.  If you only have $100 to spend, that’s fine, they’ll make sure to put it where it will do the most good.

4. Have Fun – This is the most important step!  Don’t forget why you’re out there in the first place.  Don’t be worried that you don’t have a Fox Racing shock, or clip in shoes, or the best brakes.  If you ride and love your bike, then you always win!