Things You'll Need:
- Mountain bike
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Step 1
Decide what type of riding you will be doing. Tight, technical trail riding demands agility and ease of motion so buy a smaller, more aggressive frame if you do this type of riding. Buy a more slack, downhill frame that is built for speed if you will be doing free ride or downhill mountain biking. Ask a bike shop attendant to give you suggestions on frame types if you are unsure.
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Step 2
Decide on an actual frame size based on your height. Ask a bike shop attendant to help you determine how the bike is sized as bike manufacturers label their frames in terms of inches. There are some manufacturers that label their bikes as small, medium or large. Buy a 16-inch frame if you are between five feet three inches and five feet, six inches, a 17-inch frame if you are five feet, six inches to five feet, nine inches, and an 18-inch frame if you are five feet, nine inches to six feet.
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Step 3
Adjust a few things on the bike to make your ride more comfortable. The seat should be adjusted high enough that when your pedal is at the bottom of the pedal stroke, your heel just touches the pedal itself, ensuring that you will be fully extending your legs to maximize efficiency.
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Step 4
Adjust your handle bar position so that you are leaning forward slightly, but not enough to make your lower back hurt. Finally, adjust the brake levers and shifters so that you can easily reach them from both seated and standing positions. Always wear safety gear and use lights on your bike when you ride.
