There are several different reasons people choose to cycle as a mode of transportation. Just because you are riding a bicycle from one point to another doesn't mean it's your preferred way to travel. Some people have decided to take up cycling as a way to exercise. Others go cycling because they compete in it as a sport. Still others ride bicycles as a hobby because they enjoy the feeling of riding a bicycle around their neighborhood. Regardless of why you are taking up cycling, you are going to have to consider a variety of things when choosing the bicycle that is a perfect fit for you. In order to assist you in your decision, we have put together a few tips.
Consider how the bicycle brakes, for one. You need to make sure you understand how your brakes work and what kind of brakes you need your bike to have. There are some bicycles that have breaks that are designed to grab onto the wheels and squeeze then in order to stop the motion, and this is great for a hobby rider. However if you use your bike regularly and on serious terrain you should go with more sturdy brakes. 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.
If you want to ride a road bike, you will need to subtract about nine inches from your inseam measurement. The size of the tires a road bike uses are the reason for this. City riding is done with thin tires, designed to work perfectly with the smooth concrete roads and sidewalks you find in a city. If you are looking for a mountain bike, you will want to subtract about a foot (twelve inches) from your inseam measurement. This is because the tires of a mountain bike are different than those on a road bike. They are thicker and meant for a rockier terrain. You can of course use a mountain bike for road cycling but this isn't supposed to be their primary use.
Be sure to allow room between the crossbar and yourself. When you choose your bike, adjust the seat up a few inches from the crossbar and then sit on the bike. Sit on it and make sure you can rest your feet flat to the ground. Which bike you get will greatly alter the clearance you will require. For example a touring bike will require around an inch. For mountain bikes you will require somewhere around 3 inches.
So many options are available to you as you shop for a new bike. From how safe the bicycle is to what it looks like, there are lots of choices to make. If you feel like you are being deluged by choices, you are perfectly normal. By investing a bit of your time to look at your preferences you will make the this article best decision.
Take your time to learn about your options before you shop. The peace it will offer during shopping makes it very worthwhile.