There is no shortage of reasons for choosing to cycle. There are those who decide to take up cycling because the price of gas is too high and the cost of maintenance on a vehicle is too high. Some decide to cycle because they want to have less of an impact on the environment when traveling.
And others still are riding simply because they love to ride. No matter your reason for choosing to take up cycling, you need to know some important things before you decide on your first bicycle. Bicycles should not just be chosen because of their looks or their brand name. Outlined hereafter are some pointers you can take into consideration when going out to buy your bike.
One way to choose the bike that fits you is to sit on the bike and see if your feet will rest flat on the floor, in case you need to stop yourself. Some experts, however, say that this is not a good idea. These experts say in order to have the best cycling experience you can, you should allow for a few inches between the ground and your feet. The seat will usually sit a little low and too close to the crossbar if you are able to bend your knees while your feet are on the ground and your backside is on the bicycle’s seat. Also, if you find that your knees are bent when sitting on the bike, your knees are going to come up too high when you are pedaling your bike.
Are you going to need to accommodate extra accessories? If you are using your bicycle as your primary form of transportation you might want to consider whether you will need things like baskets to help you transport goods. Will you need to transport a child? If so, you will need to find a bicycle that can safely support a baby seat. Have you ever considered pulling anything behind your bike? Then you’ll need a bike that can support a trailer’s weight.
How many gears will you use on a regular basis? 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. You can’t evaluate the bike only by the number of gears it has. Sometimes bike riders don’t ever use all the gears on their bike. Don't waste your money on something you won't use. Know how you’ll useful content ride your bike; make sure you have the correct gears for traveling, especially when this is your main mode of transport.
You will see there are many things you should consider when you are finding the bike that's right for you. It can become a bit overwhelming when going shopping for a bike and accessories because there is just so much to choose from. If you will not jump into things and try and educate yourself on what you need, you will be pleased with the results.