As you know, there are numerous reasons to start 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. Some are 'going green' and taking an active part in trying to help our environment by choosing to ride a bike over a car.
Still others simply ride bicycles for 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.
We’d be misleading you if we didn’t admit that fashion does impact your decision. We all like one color or style more than another. When choosing your bike you shouldn't ignore them. Using style and fashion preferences as your main criteria is silly, unless you are only getting a bike to look good. Check to see how your bicycle choices rate for both safety and comfort at the very beginning of your search. After ensuring both safety and comfort, see which ones you like the actual design of best.
If you want to ride a road bike, you will need to subtract about nine inches from your inseam measurement. This is because of the size of the tires on your road bike. Road bikes are meant for city cycling—the tires are thinner and work best on concrete paving. For a mountain bike you will need to take 12" away from your total inseam. Again this is to account for the type of tires you will be using. They are thicker and meant for a rockier terrain. Mountain bikes can travel on city pavement but that is not what they are designed to do.
Another thing to keep in mind is purchasing safety gear. There have been many advancements on bicycle helmets since they first were introduced. Not only do they look a little better now, they resource are also safer for you. It is important that you never ride your bicycle without also wearing your helmet. This little thing can mean the difference between life and death.
It wouldn't hurt to invest in some knee pads and elbow pads, as well as wrist and ankle guards if you plan to do some off-roading. If you plan to use your bike as a sole means of transportation, buy yourself some pants clips. Pants clips are designed to hold your pants in place so they don't get caught up in the chain or the gears of the bike. There are plenty of things to consider when choosing a bike. You may want an incredibly durable bike that can handle being thrown around a bit. While other people just want a bike that is comfortable and will get them from one place to another without risk of breaking down. For others, price is a major factor. 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.