There is no shortage of reasons for choosing to cycle. There are many that decide to ride bicycles because they are able to save a ton of money on both the price of gas and maintenance costs. Some are 'going green' and taking an active part in trying to help our environment by choosing to ride a bike over a car.
Still others simply ride bicycles for fun. Whatever your reason for going cycle shopping there are some definite criteria that you need to think about before you make your choice. You will be surprised at how much more there is to a bicycle than just the looks. Here are some helpful tips that you can use to help you decide which bicycle you should buy.
One of the major parts of choosing the right cycling bicycle for you is making sure that the bicycle is the right size. Begin by measuring your inseam. Simply measure the distance from your groin to the bottom of your foot, down the inside of your leg. The goal is to be able to sit on the seat of like this the bike and still rest your feet flat on the ground. This means that you will be able to stop your bicycle with your feet if the brakes do not work—without having to tilt the bicycle and risk doing harm to it and to yourself.
Do you require more features on the new bike? If you will need to transport things with your bike, you’ll need a basket. Will you be travelling with a child? If this is the case, you must choose a bike that can support a child's seat. Do you think you'll ever tow anything behind the bike? Choose a bike that can support the weight of a trailer, if this is something you’ll do.
How many gears do you need? If you are going to be travelling in relatively flat places, you will not need as many gears as you would need in rockier terrain or a terrain with lots of hills. You can’t evaluate the bike only by the number of gears it has. The truth is that you might not need all of those different gears. Don’t spend money on something you won’t use. Ensure you have enough gears to handle the situations in which you will be riding, especially if you bike will be your main mode of transport.
How well you fit physically with your bike is what is most important. If you intend to use your bike a lot, perhaps as your main method of transport, it is important you keep this in mind. Comfort and safety are both very important.