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. Others choose it because riding a bike is better for the environment than travelling in a car or using public transportation.
And others still are riding simply because they love to ride. If you fall into these categories or are in one of your own and you are shopping for a new bike, take the time to read up on some of the things you should know before buying. If you really want to choose the perfect cycling bicycle, you need to think about more than just what it looks like. Outlined hereafter are some pointers you can take into consideration when going out to buy your bike.
It goes without saying that choosing the correctly sized bike is of utmost importance. To do this, you will need to measure your inseam. To do this, simply run a measuring tape up the inside of your leg from the bottom of your foot to your groin. When you get a bike you should be able to lay both feet flat to the ground if need be. This is for saftey reasons and will allow you to stop the bike if your brakes fail, avoiding any injury.
Will you need more bells and whistles for your bike to function optimally? If you are using your bicycle as your primary form of transportation you might want to consider whether you will need things like baskets to help you transport goods. Will you be travelling with a child? Then you have to choose a bike that will allow for a child seat attachment. Have you ever considered pulling anything behind your bike? Your new bike needs to support the weight of the trailer if this is your plan.
Another thing to keep in mind is purchasing safety gear. The new bicycle helmets look and feel nothing like the old bicycle helmets. Not only do they look a little better now, they are also safer for you. It is important that you never ride your bicycle without also wearing your helmet. Sometimes that fraction of padding really can save your life!
If you are going to be taking your bike off road, then you need to also invest in some knee and elbow pads, as well as ankle and wrist guards. If you are going to be using your bicycle as your sole means of transportation, you should think of investing in some pants clips as well. These clips are designed to keep your pants from getting caught up in the gears that site and the chain.
When you get a bike your main goal should be to find one that physically suits you. This is the most important thing to consider when looking into using a bike to get around. Safety is important when on a bike but do not overlook comfort, otherwise those long rides will soon grow tiresome.