There are a lot of different criteria to consider when you are buying a cycling bicycle. Take heart! Even professional cyclists struggle when choosing their next bicycle. Because there are so many choices, it is hard to buy a new bike. If you know how and when you want to ride, where you are going to ride, how comfortable and safe you must be, and what you’d like to look like as you ride, you’ll have an easier time choosing your bike. Choosing between all of the options available can be overwhelming, especially since new developments in cycling happen all the time. Take the easy road, and use the tests we suggest to choose your new ride.
One of the major parts of choosing the right cycling bicycle for you is making sure that the bicycle is the right size. To do this, you will need to measure your inseam. Your inseam is the amount of inches from the bottom of your foot, up the inside of your leg to your groin. You should ideally be able to place both feet on the ground when sitting in on your bike. This is for safety more than anything else, if your brakes should fail you will not be able to easily stop the bike otherwise.
If you want to ride a road bike, you will need to subtract about nine inches from your inseam measurement. This is due to the type of tires you will be using for a road bike. Designed to work best on concrete pavements, road bikes are best suited to cycling around the city. If you are looking for a mountain bike, you will want to subtract about a foot (twelve inches) from your inseam measurement. This is because the tires of a mountain bike are different than those on a road bike. They are thicker and meant for a rockier terrain. You can of course use a mountain bike for road cycling but this isn't supposed to be their primary use.
When getting a bike for kids you need to consider some altogether different criteria. You want to choose a bike that has brakes that are easy to apply (like moving the pedals backward) as well as something that is nice and sturdy. When getting a bike for a kid the way it looks is also incredibly important, children like to look flashy, you will also want to find a well priced bike because your child will quickly outgrow it.
Lots and lots of different features and options are out there as you look for a new bicycle. From how safe the bicycle is to what it looks like, there are lots of choices to make. It’s perfectly normal for you to feel a little overwhelmed and perhaps a little perplexed wikipedia reference when starting out. The good news is that, with a little research, you can make a very informed decision about which bicycle is best for you.
Take your time to learn about your options before you shop. You’ll reap the benefits.