There are lots of reasons to choose a bicycle as your primary means of transportation. There are a lot of reasons to ride a bicycle that have nothing to do with your preferred method of getting places. Some people take up cycling in order to exercise. Others go cycling because they compete in it as a sport. And some people decide that they want to take up cycling as a hobby with their family and friends. Regardless of your reason for needing to find a bicycle, you need to take some things into consideration when the time comes to choose the perfect bicycle for you. This article provides some advice to help you along your way.
It’s okay for fashion to affect the decision you make about your new bicycle. Our preferences are reflected in color and style choices. You’d be silly not to pay attention to these factors when getting your new bike. Looking good will be a great benefit of getting your new bike, but don’t let fashion choices be the guiding decisions factors. You really need to look at safety and comfort issues before any others. Then, when safety and comfort have been secured, choose your favorites according to their visual appearance.
For a road bike you should take away 9" from the inseam measurement you took earlier. This is down to the tires a road bike equips. Designed for cycling around the city road bike tires are thin. You will want to subtract 12" for a mountain bike. The tires on a mountain bike are not the same as a road bike. They are thicker and meant for a rockier terrain. You can use mountain bikes for city cycling, but the opposite is not true and they are nowhere near as good on city streets as road bikes.
You should already have your safety gear bought and ready to go. Bicycle helmets have come a long way since they were first introduced. Not only do they look a lot better than they used to, they are also built better to provide greater protection. You should never go for a ride without putting on your helmet first. Sometimes that fraction of padding really can save your life!
It wouldn't hurt to also get some elbow and knee pads, and some wrist and ankle guards if you are going to take your bike off-road. If why not try this out you plan to use your bike as a sole means of transportation, buy yourself some pants clips. These clips are designed to keep your pants from getting caught up in the gears and the chain.
When you get a bike your main goal should be to find one that physically suits you. Selecting a bike with a good fit for you is of the utmost importance, when using a bike as the main way to get from A to B. Comfort and safety are both very important.