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.
And there are other riders who love to do it because it's fun. No matter your reason for choosing to take up cycling, you need to know some important things before you decide on your first bicycle. Choosing the right bicycle is more than just picking the one that's the best looking. 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. Sure you should also consider things like where you will be riding and how often you will be riding, but your other major criteria will almost always be the price of the bicycle.
If you are new to the bike buying business, you will see that the price can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Don’t worry if you do not have this much money available, there are lots of ways to cut down on the amount of money you will spend on your bicycle. You could check out bicycles that are being auctioned off and could save tons of money while getting the best bike for you.
Be cautious, however, and always be sure to test the bike out before you buy it. You should never buy a bike until you have ridden it first, if only for a couple of minutes. Do you know of anyone that would buy a used car without taking it out for a test drive?
So you should use this same frame of mind when buying your bike. You need to do this especially if you are spending a lot of money on a bike that you know you will use for a long time. You need to make sure the bike is a perfect fit. This doesn't only mean physically fit you, this also means one that easily fits your riding styles. You wouldn't want to waste money on a bicycle you don't enjoy riding.
Be sure to allow room between the crossbar and yourself. When you choose your bike, adjust the seat up a few inches dig this from the crossbar and then sit on the bike. Make sure you can place both feet on the ground if need be. Different bikes will need differing clearance amounts. A touring bike for example will require around 1", perhaps slightly more. However for a mountain bike you will need 3" between the crossbar and yourself. There are a lot of criteria to use when deciding which cycling bicycle is right for you. Will this be an activity that you enjoy daily, or will you only be taking your bicycle out on special occasions? What height makes 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? Think about all this when buying your bike, and you will make the right choice.