There is no shortage of reasons for choosing to cycle. Some folks are having a hard time keeping up with the rising cost of gasoline and maintenance bills, so they choose to ride a bike. Some decide to cycle because they want to have less of an impact on the environment when traveling.
And then there are those who choose to cycle because they simply love it. No matter what the reason is for choosing a bicycle, there are some things you should keep in mind before you decide. There is more to choosing the right cycling bicycle than the colors used to paint it! Outlined hereafter are some pointers you can take into consideration when going out to buy your bike.
Consider how the bicycle brakes, for one. It is vital you understand how your brakes work and what brakes will be best suited for your style of cycling. 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. For more hardcore cycling on tough terrain you may want some better 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.
For a road bike you should take away 9" from the inseam measurement you took earlier. This is because of the size of the tires on your road bike. City riding is done with thin tires, designed to work perfectly with the smooth concrete roads and sidewalks you find in a city. For a mountain bike take away 12 inches from your inseam. Again this is to account for the size of tires. Mountain bike tires will be thick and designed for mountainous terrain. You can of course use a mountain bike for road cycling but this isn't supposed to be their primary use.
The angle of your seat (also called the saddle) is also important. The seat is designed to be tilted any way you want it to. Some cyclists are more comfortable in a slightly forward position, and therefore, find a completely flat seat inappropriate for them. Adjust your seat so that this is possible. 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.
So many options are available to you as you shop for a new bike. From fashion to safety, you have a multitude of choices to make. It’s perfectly normal for you to feel a little overwhelmed and perhaps a little perplexed when visit the site starting out. The good news is that, with a little research, you can make a very informed decision about which bicycle is best for you.
Take your time to learn about your options before you shop. You’ll reap the benefits.