There are lots of reasons to take up cycling. Some decide they want to cycle more now because the price of gas has risen so high, and because it costs so much to keep a car maintained. Others choose it because riding a bike is better for the environment than travelling in a car or using public transportation.
And then there are those who choose to cycle because they simply love it. No matter what the reason is for choosing a bicycle, there are some things you should keep in mind before you decide. Bicycles should not just be chosen because of their looks or their brand name. This article is intended to give you a head's up on what you should keep in mind when it's time to buy your bicycle.
It goes without saying that choosing the correctly sized bike is of utmost importance. For this you must calculate your inseam. This is accomplished by measuring from your groin to your foot down the inside of your leg. You should be able to sit on your bike while keeping both feet flat on the ground. This is for saftey reasons and will allow you to stop the bike if your brakes fail, avoiding any injury. You shouldn't ever sit the seat at the lowest setting, which means sitting on 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 in mind when picking your bike. Adjusting your seat up a few inches will give you more clearance between you and the crossbar of your bicycle, which can add quite a bit of comfort to your ride. 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.
It is important you allow for room between you and the crossbar. When you choose your bike, adjust the visit this website seat up a few inches from the crossbar and then sit on the bike. You should be able to still rest your feet flat on the floor. You will want to leave different clearance lengths depending on the type of bicycle you are buying. A touring bike for example will require around 1", perhaps slightly more. With a mountain bike however you will need some more, 3 inches should suffice.
Your main priority is the physical fit of your bike. This is the most important thing to consider when looking into using a bike to get around. Comfort and safety are both very important.