It can seem very hard to find a new bike when you have so many choices. Choosing their next bicycle is difficult, even for professional riders. The truth is that there are a lot of things to think about when buying a bicycle. Planning ahead for things like bike use, safety and comfort, as well as where it will be ridden, and what it looks like, will help you make a better decision. How can you make a decision when there are so many different choices available, and new options being released every day? Simply apply this test as you go to get your new bike.
The first thing you need to do is try the bicycle on for size, meaning sit on it and make sure that your feet are still flat on the floor so you will be able to stop yourself. There are certain professionals, though, who disagree with this concept. 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. If your feet are on the ground and your knees are bent when you sit on the seat of the bike, it generally means that the seat is sitting too low for you and too close to the crossbar. Also, if you find that your knees are bent when sitting on the bike, your knees are going to come up too high when you are pedaling your bike.
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. Designed for cycling around the city road bike tires are thin. For a mountain bike take away 12 inches from your inseam. Again this is to account for the size of tires. You will find them to be much bigger and designed to handle rocky terrain. You can of course use a mountain bike for road cycling but this isn't supposed to be their primary use.
It is important that you allow adequate room between you and the have a peek at this site crossbar. When choosing a bike move the seat so it is a couple of inches above the crossbar. Make sure you can place both feet on the ground if need be. Each type of bike will require differing clearance amounts. A good example is a touring bike, with these bikes you will only need around 1" difference. With a mountain bike however you will need some more, 3 inches should suffice.
How well you fit physically with your bike is what is most important. If you intend to use your bike a lot, perhaps as your main method of transport, it is important you keep this in mind. You want to feel comfortable and safe as you travel from one point to another.