September 4, 2010
Picking The Right Bike!
Many people have found reason in taking up 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 there are some who like to cycle simply because it is fun. No matter the reason you want to find the perfect cycle for you, you should keep certain things in mind when you are ready to go shopping. If you really want to choose the perfect cycling bicycle, you need to think about more than just what it looks like. 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.
It is important to know how your bike comes to a stop. You need to make sure you understand how your brakes work and what kind of brakes you need your bike to have. If you are choosing a bicycle for sporadic hobby riding, you can get by with the brakes that are little more than pads that squeeze your tires to keep them from moving. If you decide you want your bike for more off-roading adventures, you need a different kind of braking system that can keep up with that particular style. These disk brakes are perfect for serious bike use, they sit inside the wheel and will be able to handle heavy use without malfunction.
The price ranges of good bikes go anywhere from the hundreds to the thousands. It’s not going to matter if you don’t have thousands of dollars to put on a bike, because there is a way you can find a great bike for a runaway price. Auctions are one of the best places to find a great bike that will be fairly inexpensive and still have everything you need.
Are you going to need to accommodate extra accessories? If you will need to transport things with your bike, you’ll need a basket. Will a child ever be transported on your bike? If so, you will need to find a bicycle that can safely support a baby seat. Will you be towing anything behind you? If so, you will need to find a bicycle that can support the weight of a small trailer or whatever else you will be towing behind you.
Your bicycle seat should not be at the lowest setting, which is sitting atop the crossbar. You always want to change the position of the seat so that it is a few inches higher than normal, so keep this in mind when picking your bike. Adjusting your seat up a few inches will give you more clearance between you and the crossbar of your bicycle, which can add quite a bit of comfort to your ride. The best way to adjust is this way, place your foot on the pedal at the lowest setting, then extend your leg almost fully, and adjust your seat to accommodate.
Just exactly how many gears do you think you’ll use? Traveling through flat areas requires far less gears than riding in a mountainous area. Just because a bike has more gears doesn’t make it better. You may never even get around to using all the available gears. Save your money for a different feature you’ll really use. Of course, if your cycling bicycle is going to be your primary mode of transportation you might need to make sure you have enough gears to handle rough situations.
You also want to make sure you leave some room between you and the crossbar of your bike. When choosing a bike move the seat so it is a couple of 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. A good example is a touring bike, with these bikes you will only need around 1″ difference. For mountain bikes you will require somewhere around 3 inches. You have many things to consider when getting a bicycle. There are people who view the durability of a bike to be most important, this is especially true if you plan to use your bike a lot over rough terrain. Others need a bicycle that will help get them from point to point with very little chance of breaking down. For others, price is a major factor. Research bikes before you decide which you want, then shop around before purchasing. If you just get the first one you find it may not be the best suited for you and could even be a bad bike.
Several different factors play into how you are going to choose the right bicycle. Will this be an activity that you enjoy daily, or will you only be taking your bicycle out on special occasions? Which height of bike is the most comfortable fit for you? 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.
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Filed under Cycling by Robert Dickson

