We have seen a change in transportation recently. Cars were the king of the road, however we can now see a growing trend in the popularity of cycling as a main method of transport. Perhaps this because the last couple of decades have seen a major shift in the popularity of “living green.†Maybe it is because the cost of gas is just too high. No matter what has caused it, the fact is there are now more cyclists on the road than in a long while. Maybe you have considered buying a bike? If you have then there are several things you should look at when you do.
You need to make sure you pick a bike that is the right size. Begin by measuring your inseam. This is accomplished by measuring from your groin to your foot down the inside of your leg. 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 for safety more than anything else, if your brakes should fail you will not be able to easily stop the bike otherwise.
Do you need extra gadgets for your bike? 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? If so, you will need to find a bicycle that can support the weight of a small trailer or whatever else you will be towing behind you.
It is important you allow for room between you and the link crossbar. When choosing a bike move the seat so it is a couple of inches above the crossbar. Make certain you can still place both feet flatly on the ground. You will want to leave different clearance lengths depending on the type of bicycle you are buying. For example a touring bike will require around an inch. For mountain bikes you will require somewhere around 3 inches.
So many options are available to you as you shop for a new bike. From how safe the bicycle is to what it looks like, there are lots of choices to make. Feeling a little defeated at the outset of choosing your new bike is normal. Do your research and then you’ll feel better prepared to choose your new bike.
Try to understand your choices before you go shopping. You’ll reap the benefits.