What kind of components do I need? - Cycling

Most bikes have Shimano shifters & deraillers; SRAM is the other main vendor. Shimano makes a wide range; the following table attempts to describe these and presents my best guess of where the SRAM line fits in: Model Quality SRAM Equivalent?
SIS, Tourney (or just says Shimano) Mainly designed for riding around the neighborhood
Altus Sufficient for paved or very easy trails; avoid hills 3.0
Acera Slightly better, but won't shift well under stress; capable for easy casual riding 4.0
Alivio Minimal capable for recreational riding; will handle some hard riding 5.0
STX / Deore Entry-level components for hard riding; tough & reliable 7.0
LX The minimum standard for hard riding. Reliable & responsive 9.0
XT More responsive than LX, but still reasonable tough 9.0SL
XTR Light, responsive racing components; tend to be quite expensive; often sacrifices toughness for responsiveness X.0


Look for a component set that fits your expected riding style.

Note:The numbered SRAM components aren't compatible with Shimano components. SRAM does make grip-shifters that are Shimano-compatible.

There are many other manufacturers that specialize in various components (Avid, Cane Creek, Race Face, Hope) and make great ones. Ask the LBS personnel for a comparison if you see a brand you don't know. Also, you can use the same test as forks above: if its not sold separately, its probably more questionable. If you're getting a full-suspension bike, make sure you get a good rear shock as well (it'll probably be something other than SRAM or Shimano).