There is no shortage of reasons for choosing to cycle. 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 people decide to take up cycling because it is a healthier choice for the environment.
And there are some who like to cycle simply because it is fun. No matter your reason for choosing to take up cycling, you need to know some important things before you decide on your first bicycle. Choosing the right bicycle is more than just picking the one that's the best looking. This article gives you some tips and pointers to help you pick the bicycle that will be perfect for you.
How your cycling bicycle stops is very important. You need to make sure you understand how your brakes work and what kind of brakes you need your bike to have. 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. For more hardcore cycling on tough terrain you may want some better brakes. The best kind of braking system to choose for this style of riding is the disk brakes, because they are build to handle more and are less apt to fail under stress.
You should always make sure to give the bike a test run before committing to buying it, though. It is important that you not buy anything before you’ve had the opportunity to ride it at least for a few minutes. Do you know of anyone that would buy a used car without taking it out for a test drive?
So you should use this same frame of mind when buying your bike. This is especially important if you are going to be spending original site large sums of money for a bicycle that you are going to be riding a lot. Choose the bicycle that you know will fit you. This doesn't only mean physically fit you, this also means one that easily fits your riding styles. You don't want make an investment on a bike that isn't going to feel good to ride.
It is important that you allow adequate room between you and the crossbar. When selecting a bike make sure you move the seat up slightly, to around a few inches above the height of the crossbar. Sit on it and make sure you can rest your feet flat to the ground. Each type of bike requires different clearances. For example a touring bike will require around an inch. For mountain bikes you will require somewhere around 3 inches. Several different factors play into how you are going to choose the right bicycle. Are you going to be using your bike every day or will you only be riding every so often? What seat height gives you the most comfortable ride? Would you rather have room between your feet and the ground or would you rather be able to touch the ground with your feet when you come to a stop? All of these factors will come into play as you make your choice.