There are many people who decide to cycle as a way to get from one place to another. There are a lot of reasons to ride a bicycle that have nothing to do with your preferred method of getting places. Lots of people go cycling as a form of exercise. Some choose to cycle because they are in competitions with cycling. Still others ride bicycles as a hobby because they enjoy the feeling of riding a bicycle around their neighborhood. Regardless of why you are taking up cycling, you are going to have to consider a variety of things when choosing the bicycle that is a perfect fit for you. In order to assist you in your decision, we have put together a few tips.
The first thing you need to do is try the bicycle on for size, meaning sit on it and make sure that your feet are still flat on the floor so you will be able to stop yourself. There are some people that say this isn't the best way to choose, though. 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. If your feet are on the ground and your knees are bent when you sit on the seat of the bike, it generally means that the seat is sitting too low for you and too close to the crossbar. 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.
Take 9" away from the total of your inseam if you plan to get a road bike. The size of the tires a road bike uses are the reason for this. Designed to work best on concrete pavements, road bikes are best suited to cycling around the city. You will want to subtract 12" for a mountain bike. Again this is to account for the type of tires you will be using. Mountain bike tires are thicker than road bike tires, designed for rocky terrain. It is possible to use mountain bikes for city cycling although this is not what they are best suited for.
Children's bikes have altogether different things to consider. Durable bikes are best, with wide tires to add stability and brakes that are easy to use. You will definitely have to a fantastic read consider how the bike looks when shopping for a child and you will want to find a well priced bike because children grow so fast.
When looking for a bike your main goal is to find one that suits you physically. Selecting a bike with a good fit for you is of the utmost importance, when using a bike as the main way to get from A to B. You want to feel comfortable and safe as you travel from one point to another.