The preferred mode of transport has taken an unlikely turn in recent years. More and more people are leaving the car behind in favor of the bicycle, in the west the car reigned supreme but we are now seeing a growth in popularity of the bike. It could be down to efforts to remain green, perhaps people want to save money on high gas prices, or maybe many people just want to get in shape! Either way there are now more bikes on the road then ever before. Have you been thinking about getting a bicycle? If you have then there are several things you should look at when you do.
How your bike brakes is incredibly important. You have to think about what you are most comfortable with along the lines of stopping your bicycle. 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. For such cycling you should look to disc brakes, these are located within the wheel itself and are less likely to be weakened over time or worse, fail.
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 you ever carry a child on your bike? If this is the case, you must choose a bike that can support a child's seat. How about towing something behind the bike? Your new bike needs to support the weight of the trailer if this is your plan.
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 do they look a lot better than they used to, they are also built better to provide greater protection. You should never, ever ride your bicycle unless you are wearing your helmet. You'd be surprised at how many lives have been saved from that one simple thing.
If you are going to be taking your bike off road, then you need to also invest in some knee and elbow pads, as well as ankle and wrist guards. Pants clips check over here are another great investment, especially if you are using your bike as your sole means of transportation. These clips are designed to keep your pants from getting caught up in the gears and the chain. You need to consider several things when choosing your bicycle for the first time. Is this a bike you are going to be riding every single day or is it a bike you are only going to ride every now and them? At what height do you feel the most comfortable? Do you prefer your feet to rest flat on the ground or do you like to have some room between them and the ground when you are sitting on the bicycle’s seat? These are some of the things you need to consider when choosing your bike.