There is no shortage of reasons for choosing to cycle. Some people choose to ride bicycles because they cannot afford the cost of gas and automobile maintenance. Some are 'going green' and taking an active part in trying to help our environment by choosing to ride a bike over a car.
And there are other riders who love to do it because it's fun. No matter your reason for choosing to take up cycling, you need to know some important things before you decide on your first bicycle. Bicycles should not just be chosen because of their looks or their brand name. This article is intended to give you a head's up on what you should keep in mind when it's time to buy your bicycle.
One way to choose the bike that fits you is to sit on the bike and see if your feet will rest flat on the floor, in case you need to stop yourself. There are those who say that this isn't the best way, though. It is their belief, that your time on your bicycle will be much more comfortable, if you allow your feet to remain several inches off the ground. The seat will usually sit a little low and too close to the crossbar if you are able to bend your knees while your feet are on the ground and your backside is on the bicycle’s seat. If you can bend your knees, your knees will come up too high when you are pedaling.
Take 9" away from the total of your inseam if you plan to get a road bike. This is because of the size of the tires on your road bike. City riding is done with thin tires, designed to work perfectly with the smooth concrete roads and sidewalks you find in a city. You will want to subtract 12" for a mountain bike. This is because the tires of a mountain bike are different than those on a road bike. These tires are designed to handle click reference rocky and jagged terrain so are therefore thicker. You can of course use a mountain bike for road cycling but this isn't supposed to be their primary use.
Just exactly how many gears do you think you’ll use? Choose according to how you’ll ride; mountainous areas require more gears than flat land areas do. The number of gears doesn’t make one bike better than another. You may never even get around to using all the available gears. Why spend extra money paying for something that you don’t need? Ensure you have enough gears to handle the situations in which you will be riding, especially if you bike will be your main mode of transport.
When you get a bike your main goal should be to find one that physically suits you. That is the primary goal of anyone who chooses cycling as their primary form of transportation. You want to feel comfortable and safe as you travel from one point to another.