As you know, there are numerous reasons to start cycling. Some folks are having a hard time keeping up with the rising cost of gasoline and maintenance bills, so they choose to ride a bike. There are those who choose to cycle because they want to do their part in helping the environment.
And then there are those who choose to cycle because they simply love it. 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 gives you some tips and pointers to help you pick the bicycle that will be perfect for you.
You want to first and foremost, ensure that you are able to come to a stop on your bicycle, and the key to that is selecting a bicycle that allows you to rest your feet flat on the ground, when you are sitting on the seat. There are certain professionals, though, who disagree with this concept. 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. Your knees blog will cause interference as you are pedaling, because they will come up higher than they should, which is a result of your knees being bent when you are at rest with your feet down.
For road bikes take away 9 inches from the total of your inseam. This is to account for the size of tires you will use on a road bike. Designed for cycling around the city road bike tires are thin. For a mountain bike you will need to take 12" away from your total inseam. This is because the tires of a mountain bike are different than those on a road bike. These tires are designed to handle rocky and jagged terrain so are therefore thicker. It is possible to use mountain bikes for city cycling although this is not what they are best suited for.
Be certain to leave adequate room between yourself and your bikes crossbar. When browsing for a bike try some out, make sure the seat is a few inches above the crossbar. Sit on it and make sure you can rest your feet flat to the ground. Different bikes will need differing clearance amounts. If you are buying a touring bike, for example, you only need an inch or so of clearance. With a mountain bike a clearance of 3" will be necessary.
When looking for a bike your main goal is to find one that suits you physically. 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.