Many reasons will push you to choose a bicycle as a new mode 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. Some choose to cycle because they are in competitions with cycling. And there are others that simply want a way to bond with their family, so they take up cycling. 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.
Consider how the bicycle brakes, for one. It is vital you understand how your brakes work and what brakes will be best suited for your style of cycling. For light use you can get a bike with traditional brakes, ones which simply squeeze the tires with small pads. However if you use your bike regularly and on serious terrain you should go with more sturdy brakes. These disk brakes are perfect for serious bike use, they sit inside the wheel and will be able to handle heavy use without malfunction.
Take 9" away from the total of your inseam if you plan to get a road bike. This is down to the tires a road bike equips. These tires will be thinner and designed for efficiency on concrete roads or pavements. For a mountain bike take away 12 inches from your inseam. This is because the tires of a mountain bike are different than those on a road bike. Mountain bike tires are thicker than road bike tires, designed for rocky terrain. You can always use a mountain bike find here for city cycling, although this is not how they are best used.
Another thing to keep in mind is purchasing safety gear. The new bicycle helmets look and feel nothing like the old bicycle helmets. They are now designed to offer better protection while looking a bit better, as well. You should never go for a ride without putting on your helmet first. You never know when that little detail is going to save you from an early grave.
It wouldn't hurt to invest in some knee pads and elbow pads, as well as wrist and ankle guards if you plan to do some off-roading. Pants clips are another great investment, especially if you are using your bike as your sole means of transportation. These things are little clips that clip the pants leg up so they don't get tangled in the chain or the gears.
When looking for a bike your main goal is to find one that suits you physically. When deciding upon using a bike for transportation you need to keep this in mind. You need to feel safe but also comfortable on your bike, otherwise you won't enjoy riding it!