There are lots of reasons to take 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. 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. 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. 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.
You need to make sure you pick a bike that is the right size. For this you must calculate 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. The goal is to be able to sit on the seat of the bike and still rest your feet flat on the ground. This is mainly for safety and will allow you to use your feet to stop the bike without the brakes if needed. Your bicycle seat should not be at the lowest setting, which is sitting atop the crossbar. Always consider that you are going to have to raise the seat up off the crossbar when you are shopping for your bike. The added space between you and the crossbar, afforded by raising the seat slightly, will make a positive impact on your level of comfort. You want to be able to sit on the bike and place your foot on the pedal at the lowest position, and almost be able to fully extend your leg.
How many gears will you use on a regular basis? Make your choice by knowing that if you ride in mountainous areas you’ll need more gears than when riding in a flat area. Just because a bike has more gears doesn't make it better. The truth is that you might not need all of those different gears. Why spend extra money paying for something that you don’t need? Of course, if your cycling bicycle is going to be your primary mode of transportation you might need to make sure you have enough gears to handle rough situations. You have many things to consider when getting a bicycle. There are people who view the durability of a bike to be most important, this Related Site is especially true if you plan to use your bike a lot over rough terrain. These folks are looking to find a bike that allows them to get where they are going without having to worry about a breakdown. Price can also be a point to consider. As long as you take your time to find out all you need to know about buying a bike, you should be good to go. If you just get the first one you find it may not be the best suited for you and could even be a bad bike.