There is no shortage of reasons for choosing to cycle. Some people choose to ride bicycles because they cannot afford the cost of gas and automobile maintenance. 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. You will be surprised at how much more there is to a bicycle than just the looks. Here are some helpful tips that you can use to help you decide which bicycle you should buy.
It goes without saying that choosing the correctly sized bike is of utmost importance. The measurement of your inseam is needed for this. Your inseam is the amount of inches from the bottom of your foot, up the inside of your leg to your groin. Ideally you should be able to place both feet on the ground while on your bike. This is for safety more than anything else, if your brakes should fail you will not be able to easily stop the bike otherwise. Believe it or not, your bicycle seat should not sit at its lowest setting, resting against the crossbar. You always want to change the position of the seat so that it is a few inches higher than normal, so keep this internet in mind when picking your bike. You want to have the comfort of the seat being higher up than the crossbar on the bike, because if the seat is sitting on the crossbar, you will not be comfortable. The best way to adjust your seat to the correct height is to place your foot on the pedal at the lowest setting and bring the seat up as high as it can go so that your leg is almost fully extended.
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. Make certain you can still place both feet flatly on the ground. Each type of bike requires different clearances. For example a touring bike will require around an inch. With a mountain bike however you will need some more, 3 inches should suffice. You will need to think about many different things when choosing a bike for them. You may want an incredibly durable bike that can handle being thrown around a bit. You may simply what the most reliable bike for getting you around the city. Price can also be a point to consider. Be sure to shop around before taking the final decision and parting with your cash. Do some research and steer clear of buying the first bike you come across.