Many people have found reason in taking up cycling. Some decide they want to cycle more now because the price of gas has risen so high, and because it costs so much to keep a car maintained. 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 others still are riding simply because they love to ride. If you fall into these categories or are in one of your own and you are shopping for a new bike, take the time to read up on some of the things you should know before buying. If you really want to choose the perfect cycling bicycle, you need to think about more than just what it looks like. Outlined hereafter are some pointers you can take into consideration when going out to buy your bike.
The first thing you should think about, which is pretty obvious, needs to be the cost. This doesn't mean other things aren't important, like where you are going to ride or how often you will, but it does mean that the cost of the bicycle should be one of your main concerns.
Good bicycles can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. 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. You can go to auctions and find some of the best bikes available for a fraction of the price of new ones.
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 have a peek here on a road bike. Designed to work best on concrete pavements, road bikes are best suited to cycling around the city. With a mountain bike you will need to take away around one foot from the inseam. The tires on a mountain bike are not the same as a road bike. Mountain bike tires will be thick and designed for mountainous terrain. You can of course use a mountain bike for road cycling but this isn't supposed to be their primary use.
You should already have your safety gear bought and ready to go. There have been many advancements on bicycle helmets since they first were introduced. Not only are they made to better protect you, but they are also made to appeal a bit more aesthetically. You should never go for a ride without putting on your helmet first. This little thing can mean the difference between life and death.
It wouldn't hurt to also grab some elbow and knee guards, as well as ankle and wrist guards, just in case you decide to take your bike off the road. Another piece of safety equipment that you should think about getting are pants clips, especially if you are going to be using your bike as a primary mode of transportation. Pants clips are designed to hold your pants in place so they don't get caught up in the chain or the gears of the bike.
When purchasing a bicycle, you have tons to consider. You have innumerable decisions to make as you choose how safe a bike to buy, as well as one that is pleasing to the eye. If you feel like you are being deluged by choices, you are perfectly normal. A little time spent looking into the choices will allow you to relax and buy the best bike for you.
Before heading out to the store, learn a little bit about the available choices. You’ll be glad you did!