In the last couple of decades a major shift has been happening in transportation. 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. This trend can be attributed to the idea of keeping things 'green' in a bid to take care of our planet. It doesn't hurt that gas is increasing in price either! The fact is there are plenty more cyclists on the road now than there were just a few years ago. Have you been thinking about getting a bicycle? If you have been thinking about using a bike as your main mode of transportation, or just thinking about getting one for fun, there are a few things you need to think about.
Cost is almost always a factor when trying to choose the right bike. Of course there are going to be other things to think about, like where you plan to ride or how long you will be using this bicycle, but the price is still most important.
Good bicycles can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Don’t worry if you do not have this much money available, there are lots of ways to cut down on the amount of money you will spend on your bicycle. Used bicycles and bicycles being sold at auction are great ways to save money while still getting the cycling bicycle that you need and want.
Take 9" away from the total of your inseam if you plan to get a road bike. This is to account for the size of tires you will use on a road bike. Designed to work best on concrete pavements, road bikes are best suited to cycling around the city. For a mountain bike take away 12 inches from your inseam. Again this is to account for the type of tires you will be using. You will find them to be much bigger and designed to handle rocky terrain. You can always use a mountain bike for city cycling, although this is not how they are best used.
You also want to make sure you leave some room between you and the crossbar of your bike. When choosing a bike move the seat so it is a couple of inches above the crossbar. Make sure you can place both feet on the ground if need be. Different bikes will need differing clearance amounts. For example a touring bike will require around an inch. With a mountain bike a clearance of 3" will be necessary. You will need to think about many different things when choosing a bike for them. There visit the site are people who view the durability of a bike to be most important, this is especially true if you plan to use your bike a lot over rough terrain. While other people just want a bike that is comfortable and will get them from one place to another without risk of breaking down. Price may be the biggest thing you want to consider. Be sure to shop around before taking the final decision and parting with your cash. Buying the first bike you find is not advised, in doing this you could end up with a terrible bike and miss out on one that is perfect for you.