There's no shortage of reasons why people are taking up cycling. Some folks are having a hard time keeping up with the rising cost of gasoline and maintenance bills, so they choose to ride a bike. 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 then there are those who choose to cycle because they simply love it. No matter your reason for choosing to take up cycling, you need to know some important things before you decide on your first bicycle. There is more to choosing the right cycling bicycle than the colors used to paint it! Here are some helpful tips that you can use to help you decide which bicycle you should buy.
It is important to know how your bike comes to a stop. Be sure you know how your brakes work and which type you will likely need. If you are choosing a bicycle for sporadic hobby riding, you can get by with the brakes that are little more than pads that squeeze your tires to keep them from moving. If you are going to be using your bicycle more often or in heavy terrain, you will want brakes that are a little more hard core and complicated. These disk brakes are perfect for serious bike use, they sit inside the wheel and will be able to handle heavy use without malfunction.
What kind of add-ons must you have? A basket will help if you are planning to carry items on your bike. Will a child ever be transported on your bike? Attaching a child seat is not possible for every bike, so choose wisely. How about towing something behind the bike? Then you’ll need a bike that can support a trailer’s weight.
Just exactly how many gears do you think you’ll use? If you are going to be travelling in relatively flat places, you will not need as many gears as you would need in rockier terrain or a terrain with lots of hills. The number of gears doesn’t make one bike better than another. Sometimes bike riders don’t ever use all the gears on their bike. Don't waste your money on something you won't use. Ensure you have enough gears to handle the situations in which you will be riding, especially if you bike will be your main mode official statement of transport.
Your main priority is the physical fit of your bike. If you intend to use your bike a lot, perhaps as your main method of transport, it is important you keep this in mind. Safety is important when on a bike but do not overlook comfort, otherwise those long rides will soon grow tiresome.