Mtn. Bike Sizing

Saturday, I bought a mountain bike. After the purchase, the salesperson spent about 20 mins. with me "sizing" the bike to me and pumping air into the manitou swinger3. I rode a bit on Saturday, and then much more on Sunday. I wasn't that comfy, and my knee hurt. Today, I brought the bike to the "sister" shop which is located in my hometown. The manager, Tim, spent two (2) hours with me, properly fitting me to the bike. Before all was said and done, Tim replaced the seatpost with a longer one, as well as the handlebar bracket. He adjusted the shifters and brakes. Additionally, after talking to me, he changed the compression on the rear shock from 150 to 170 and the rebound from 50 to 60.

I never knew that fitting one to a bike could be such a detailed and technical process.

Things have changed dramatically, and pretty much all for the better. Now it is up to you to make sure your air settings are correct, generally before every other ride. Check BOTH shock pressures, and tire pressures, every time you can! It will make a world of difference in the overall quality of your riding experience. Air is your 'spring' suspension, in four seperate mediums on your new bike. Play with them to find what you like, but dont vary drastically. I would recommend bringing a shock pump on every ride, until you figure out what works for you.
Good luck, have fun, and do not hesitate to ask questions. The new bike technology is actually quite simple, but must be well maintained for optimum performance. I hope this all helps!