There are several different reasons people choose to cycle as a mode of transportation. There are a lot of reasons to ride a bicycle that have nothing to do with your preferred method of getting places. Lots of people go cycling as a form of exercise. Some choose to cycle because they are in competitions with cycling. And some people decide that they want to take up cycling as a hobby with their family and friends. When deciding to purchase a cycling bicycle, there will be a number of elements that need to be taken into account, and this is true for those wishing to enjoy cycling as a hobby, sport, or a means of getting from point A to point B. Try these tips out to see if they can be of help.
The first thing you need to do is try the bicycle on for size, meaning sit on it and make sure that your feet are still flat on the floor so you will be able to stop yourself. There are experts who state that this isn't a good way to choose a bike, however. They state the best way to choose a bike is to leave a few inches between your feet and the ground so you can have a more comfortable ride. If your feet are on the ground and your knees are bent when you sit on the seat of the bike, it generally means that the seat is sitting too low for you and too close to the crossbar. This is because when you are pedaling with this bike, your knees are going to come up too high.
Take 9" away from the total of your inseam if you plan to get a road bike. This is down to the tires a road bike equips. Road bikes are meant go now for city cycling—the tires are thinner and work best on concrete paving. If you are looking for a mountain bike, you will want to subtract about a foot (twelve inches) from your inseam measurement. Again this is to account for the size of tires. These tires are designed to handle rocky and jagged terrain so are therefore thicker. You can always use a mountain bike for city cycling, although this is not how they are best used.
If the bike you are buying is for your child, then you are going to have to think of something completely different than outlined here. You will want to choose a bicycle that is sturdy with wide tires and easy to use brakes (most children’s brakes operate by moving the pedals backwards). You will definitely have to consider how the bike looks when shopping for a child and you will want to find a well priced bike because children grow so fast. When you are searching for the appropriate cycling bicycle to suit you, there are a number of factors to consider. Do you want to ride your bicycle every day or do you see yourself only riding it once in a while? What seat height gives you the most comfortable ride? Would you rather be able to put your feet flat on the ground or would you rather have that few inches between your feet and the ground when you are sitting down? Think about all this when buying your bike, and you will make the right choice.