As you know, there are numerous reasons to start cycling. 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 are 'going green' and taking an active part in trying to help our environment by choosing to ride a bike over a car.
And others still are riding simply because they love to ride. 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. This article gives you some tips and pointers to help you pick the bicycle that will be perfect for you.
The basic key to choosing a bicycle is to buy a bicycle that you can sit on and rest your feet flat on the floor so that you can stop yourself. There are some people that say this isn't the best way to choose, though. They say that it is better to give yourself a few inches between your feet and the ground to create a more comfortable cycling experience. 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 the same concept as buying a used car, there's no way you would take it without testing it.
It's the same thing with a used 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. You need to make sure the bike is going to 'fit' you. This doesn't only mean physically fit you, this also means one that easily fits your riding styles. You don't want make an investment on a bike that isn't going to feel good to ride.
You should already have your safety gear bought and ready to go. Bicycle helmets are something completely different than they once were. Now they offer better protection while being a little bit more stylish. You should never go for a ride without putting on your helmet first. You never know when that little detail is going to save you from an early grave.
It wouldn't hurt to also grab some elbow and knee guards, as well as ankle and wrist guards, just in case you decide to take your bike off the road. If you plan to use your bike as a sole means of transportation, buy yourself some pants clips. They work by clipping your pants out of the way so they can't get tangled in the chain or gears. Several different factors play into how you are going to choose the right bicycle. Are you going to be riding try this out your bicycle every day or riding it only when you feel the urge to? What height makes you feel the most comfortable? Do you feel more at ease with your feet just above the ground as you sit on the seat, or would you rather that your feet sit flat when you are at rest? All of these factors will come into play as you make your choice.