1. Contact Points - These are the areas where your body is in direct contact with the bike.

2. Gears - Indexed gears are definitely the way to go because they automatically click to the next level for you.

3. Brakes - Mid-range mountain bikes come equipped with cantilever brakes. These are very powerful and are even better when M-system pads are added.

4. Rims - Alloy rims are crucial because they are easy to restraighten and are lighter than others.

5. Frame - The most commonly used material to construct a frame out of is chromoly. It is inexpensive, but still very good for frame construction.

6. Derailleurs - Shimano has created the highest quality shifters on the market.

7. Crankset - All mountain bikes should come with a triple crankset which will allow you to ride efficiently on flats and fairly easily up hills.

8. Tires - Make sure that the tires are suitable for off-road use. If they are not knobby and don't have a lot of traction, you should look into a new set.