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Easily the most important aspect of selecting a new bike is achieving the right fit. Forget the in's and out's of titanium vs. steel vs. aluminum, ignore the road tests and race wins. One thing matters more than anything else when you select your new bike-that it fits you!

When a cyclist fits her bike well, she rides more comfortably and efficiently. She rides with more power, and yet the effort comes easier to her. Her body is relaxed, her bike handling skills almost second nature.

True, setting up your ideal position on a bike takes some time, and can be difficult. Why? We cyclists hear conflicting advice, and conflicting formulas, on sizing and positioning. Variances in body sizes and proportions, in levels of fitness and flexibility, in technique and style, all affect a cyclist's best position on the bike.

Where do you learn how to fit yourself correctly on the bike? We've found useful sizing and positioning information in books by coaches and racers (Eddie Borysewicz's, Greg LeMond's, Davis Phinney and Connie Carpenter's). About once a year the major cycling magazines publish articles on sizing and bike fit, which are also often available at their websites. Commercial sizing systems such as the Fit Kit, BioRacer and Serotta's Size-Cycle can be very helpful.

Truthfully, though, the best resource you have is your own experience, especially when teamed with feedback from a coach or knowledgeable cycling friend, or video or mirror analysis. Drawing on your expertise, and ours, together we can set you up on a bike that feels like a natural extension of your body, and invites you out to ride for hours at a time!