The preferred mode of transport has taken an unlikely turn in recent years. Cars have long been the most likely mode of transport in developed countries, however bikes are beginning to rise in popularity. It could be down to efforts to remain green, perhaps people want to save money on high gas prices, or maybe many people just want to get in shape! Either way there are now more bikes on the road then ever before. Perhaps you have been giving some thought to getting a bike yourself? 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.
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 experts who state that this isn't a good way to choose a bike, however. They state the best way to choose a bike is to leave a few inches between your feet and the ground so you can have a more comfortable ride. You will likely find that the seat will rest too near the crossbar, if, when you sit on the seat, your knees are bent with your feet flat on the ground, which is an indication that the seat needs to be raised. If this is happening, when you start to pedal the bike then your knees are going to come up too high.
If you want to ride a road bike, you will need to subtract about nine inches from your inseam measurement. This is because of the size of the tires on your road bike. Road bikes are meant for city cycling—the tires are thinner and work best on concrete paving. For a mountain bike take away 12 inches from your inseam. Again this is to account for the size of tires. These tires are designed to handle rocky and jagged terrain so are therefore thicker. You can of course use a mountain bike for road cycling but this isn't supposed to be their primary use.
The angle of your seat (also called the saddle) is also important. Bicycles can be tilted in a number of ways. Most people find a seat that is flat to be a straight from the source bit too uncomfortable, so they tilt it the way that feels the best. The seat allows you to make this adjustment to conform to your desired riding position. You can always leave the seat in the position it is in, but you will most likely find it to be very uncomfortable to ride.
There are lots of things to think about when you are trying to find the right cycling bicycle to fit your needs. It can become a frustrating process at times to try and figure out exactly what bike you need and which accessories you should get to go with it. As long as you go about the process slowly and research a little before you go, you should have no problem finding the perfect bike.