If you’re looking for some of the most dependable, high performance components on the market, then you’re looking for Shimano mountain bike gear. Since the advent of mountain biking, there has been a delicate balance between dependability and performance. Making the components too light, and they’ll be prone to breaking during a ride. Make them too durable, and the weight will be prohibitive.

The last few years have seen another, equally game-changing development in drivetrain technology: electronic road drivetrains. Electronic drivetrains forgo the traditional cable-pull method of operation in favor of computerized servo motors to move the chain across the gears.

The last few years have given rise to a frankly bewildering amount of bottom bracket “standards”—such that to call them standards is almost any oxymoron. With so many different types of bottom brackets and cranksets out there, it can be difficult to tell which crank and bottom bracket systems are compatible.

Few things are more important on a bicycle than the brakes. However, with new evolutions in braking systems coming around every few years, sometimes it can be difficult to figure out what’s what, and which system is best for your needs.

Finding the perfect saddle is often a matter of trial and error. Indeed, the saddle is arguably the most individual bicycle component, and once you know what you like brand and model loyalty often last for years. Here are some keys to consider when searching for the perfect saddle.