Selecting The Correct Bike Is Not Easy

We have seen a change in transportation recently. More and more people are leaving the car behind in favor of the bicycle, in the west the car reigned supreme but we are now seeing a growth in popularity of the bike. It could be down to efforts to remain green, perhaps people want to save money on high gas prices, or maybe many people just want to get in shape! Whatever the reason, there are more cyclists on the road than ever. Perhaps you have been giving some thought to getting a bike yourself? If you have been thinking about using a bike as your main mode of transportation, or just thinking about getting one for fun, there are a few things you need to think about.

We’d be lying if we tried to tell you that fashion shouldn’t play into your choice. Favorite colors and styles show in our choices. These are going to come into play when you are shopping for your bicycle. Using style and fashion preferences as your main criteria is silly, unless you are only getting a bike to look good. Evaluating your choices according to safety and comfort will be the best first step. But once you have found the safest and most comfortable bicycles, there is no reason you shouldn’t narrow down your choice further by how the bike appeals to directory you visually.

You should always make sure to give the bike a test run before committing to buying it, though. Take it around the block if you can to make sure that it's worth the money and it's right for you. Think about it: would you buy a car without taking it for a test drive?

It's the same thing with a used bicycle. This is especially important if you are going to be spending large sums of money for a bicycle that you are going to be riding a lot. You need to make sure the bike is going to 'fit' you. You should have no problem finding one that you can ride easily, but you also need to find a bike that fits your riding style. Why would you spend money on something that does not feel comfortable to ride?

Be sure to allow room between the crossbar and yourself. When you get a bike be sure to move the seat up a couple of inches from the crossbar. Sit on it and make sure you can rest your feet flat to the ground. Each type of bike requires different clearances. A good example is a touring bike, with these bikes you will only need around 1" difference. If you are buying a mountain bike you’ll want more—three inches or so between you and the crossbar.

How well you fit physically with your bike is what is most important. When deciding upon using a bike for transportation you need to keep this in mind. Safety is important when on a bike but do not overlook comfort, otherwise those long rides will soon grow tiresome.

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