Many people have found reason in taking up cycling. There are those who decide to take up cycling because the price of gas is too high and the cost of maintenance on a vehicle is too high. 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 there are some who like to cycle simply because it is fun. No matter what the reason is for choosing a bicycle, there are some things you should keep in mind before you decide. Bicycles should not just be chosen because of their looks or their brand name. Outlined hereafter are some pointers you can take into consideration when going out to buy your bike.
One way to choose the bike that fits you is to sit on the bike and see if your feet will rest flat on the floor, in case you need to stop yourself. There are certain professionals, though, who disagree with this concept. These experts say in order to have the best cycling experience you can, you should allow for a few inches between the ground and your feet. When buying a new bike, you will see the seat is placed extremely low to the crossbar, so when you sit on the bike with your feet on the ground and are able to bend your knees, you should pick a different bike. If you can bend your knees, your knees will come up too high when you are pedaling.
Before you buy any bicycle, you are going to want to take it for a test ride. You should never buy a bike until you have ridden it first, if only for a couple of minutes. It's exactly the same as buying a used car; you would never find yourself buying a used car without taking it out for a ride.
So why wouldn't this apply to buying a bicycle? It's even more important for you to do if you plan on spending a significant amount of money on it and will be using it a lot. Choose the bicycle that you know will fit you. Not only should it be the correct size for you, but it should be easily adaptable to your lifestyle, meaning your riding style. You wouldn't want to spend your hard earned money on something that isn't comfortable, would you?
Where you set the angle of your seat is also something to consider. Bicycles can be tilted in a number of ways. Most people find a seat that is flat to be a bit too uncomfortable, so they tilt it the way that feels the best. Continue to adjust your seat until it feels the best for you. You may not want to adjust the seat at all in the beginning, then after a ride realize that the way it was positioned is not the way you want it at all. As you can see, there are many things to take into consideration when deciding on the perfect bicycle for you. You may want an incredibly durable bike that can handle being thrown around a bit. You may simply be looking for the bike least likely to malfunction because read you rely on it to get around. Some people have to think very seriously about the price they are paying for a bike. It is important to do your research and to shop around before you buy a bicycle. Do some research and steer clear of buying the first bike you come across.