There are lots of reasons to take up cycling. Some folks are having a hard time keeping up with the rising cost of gasoline and maintenance bills, so they choose to ride a bike. Some decide to cycle because they want to have less of an impact on the environment when traveling.
And then there are those who choose to cycle because they simply love it. No matter your reason for choosing to take up cycling, you need to know some important things before you decide on your first bicycle. Bicycles should not just be chosen because of their looks or their brand name. This article gives you some tips and pointers to help you pick the bicycle that will be perfect for you.
Cost is almost always a factor when trying to choose the right bike. This doesn't mean other things aren't important, like where you are going to ride or how often you will, but it does mean that the cost of the bicycle should be one of your main concerns.
The price ranges of good bikes go anywhere from the hundreds to the thousands. The beauty of all this is you can save a ton of money when purchasing your bicycle, if you just know where to look for it. The local auctions are some of the best ways to find wonderful deals on things like bicycles and equipment so you won't find yourself spending too much money.
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. City riding is done with thin tires, designed to work perfectly with the smooth concrete roads and sidewalks you find in a city. For a mountain bike you will need to take 12" away from your total inseam. Again this is to account for the type of tires you will be using. They are thicker and meant for a rockier terrain. Mountain bikes can travel on city pavement but that is not what they are designed to do.
You should already have your safety gear bought and ready to go. Bicycle helmets have come a long way since they were first introduced. Now they offer better protection while being a little bit more stylish. You should never even think about riding the bike without first putting on your helmet. You never know when that little detail is going to save you from an early grave.
It wouldn't hurt to also get some elbow and knee pads, and some wrist and ankle guards if you are going to pop over here take your bike off-road. If you are going to be using your bicycle as your sole means of transportation, you should think of investing in some pants clips as well. These clips are designed to keep your pants from getting caught up in the gears and the chain.
You will see there are many things you should consider when you are finding the bike that's right for you. It can be a bit tedious and frustrating to try and figure out what all you need when you are buying a bicycle. Don't become discouraged; map out what you need for your bike and you'll be on your way in no time.