In the last couple of decades a major shift has been happening in transportation. While the majority of people in the western world seemed most interested in travelling via automobile, in the last couple of decades many people have been choosing the bicycle as their primary mode of transportation. Perhaps this because the last couple of decades have seen a major shift in the popularity of “living green.†Maybe it is because the cost of gas is just too high. No matter what has caused it, the fact is there are now more cyclists on the road than in a long while. Have you been thinking about getting a bicycle? If you have then there are several things you should look at when you do.
The first thing you should think about, which is pretty obvious, needs to be the cost. Of course you are going to need to think about how much you will ride your bike as well as where you are going to be riding it, but cost is one of the most important things.
You can find bicycles that range in price from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars. This doesn't mean you are going to have to spend thousands of dollars on a good bike, because there are ways you can find a great bike for a great price. You can go to auctions and find some of the best bikes available for a fraction of the price of new ones.
Before you buy any bicycle, you are going to want to take it for a test ride. You should never buy a bike until you have ridden it first, if only for a couple of minutes. It's exactly the same as buying a used car; you would never find see yourself buying a used car without taking it out for a ride.
So you should use this same frame of mind when buying your bike. You really need to be sure to test it if you plan to spend a good bit on the bicycle or if you are going to be spending a lot of time riding it. Make sure the bike is perfect for you. Physical fit is easy to determine, but you also need to find a bike that “fits†your riding style. Why would you spend money on something that does not feel comfortable to ride?
It is important you allow for room between you and the crossbar. 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. You will want to leave different clearance lengths depending on the type of bicycle you are buying. A good example is a touring bike, with these bikes you will only need around 1" difference. With a mountain bike however you will need some more, 3 inches should suffice.
There are many different things you should consider when the time comes to buy the perfect bicycle for yourself. There are tons of varieties of bicycles, as well as innumerable amounts of accessories available to you, so sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. Take your time and do some research and you’ll find the right bike before you know it.