Buying The Correct Bike For You

There are lots of reasons to take up cycling. Some people choose to ride bicycles because they cannot afford the cost of gas and automobile maintenance. There are those who choose to cycle because they want to do their part in helping the environment.

And then there are those who choose to cycle because they simply love it. If you fall into these categories or are in one of your own and you are shopping for a new bike, take the time to read up on some of the things you should know before buying. You will be surprised at how much more there is to a bicycle than just the looks. Contained hereafter are some hints and tips you can use to pick the bicycle that is perfect for you.

You must make sure you get a bike that is the appropriate size for you. The measurement of your inseam is needed for this. To do this, simply run a measuring tape up the inside of your leg from the bottom of your foot to your groin. You should ideally be able to place both feet on the ground when sitting in on your bike. This is for saftey reasons and will allow you to stop the bike if your brakes fail, avoiding any injury.

If you want to ride a road bike, you will need to subtract about nine inches from your inseam measurement. This is to account for the size of tires you will use on a road bike. Designed to work best on concrete pavements, road bikes are best suited to cycling around the city. You will want to subtract 12" for a mountain bike. This is because the tires of a mountain bike are different than those on a road bike. These tires are designed to handle rocky and jagged terrain so are therefore thicker. 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.

It is important you allow for room between you and the crossbar. When you choose your bike, adjust the seat up a few inches from the crossbar and then sit on the bike. You should be able to content still rest your feet flat on the floor. You will want to leave different clearance lengths depending on the type of bicycle you are buying. As an example, with a touring bike you will only require around 1". However for a mountain bike you will need 3" between the crossbar and yourself.

Your main priority is the physical fit of your bike. That is the primary goal of anyone who chooses cycling as their primary form of transportation. You want to feel comfortable and safe as you travel from one point to another.

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