There's no shortage of reasons why people are taking up cycling. Some decide they want to cycle more now because the price of gas has risen so high, and because it costs so much to keep a car maintained. Some decide to cycle because they want to have less of an impact on the environment when traveling.
And there are other riders who love to do it because it's fun. No matter the reason you want to find the perfect cycle for you, you should keep certain things in mind when you are ready to go shopping. Choosing the right bicycle is more than just picking the one that's the best looking. This article is intended to give you a head's up on what you should keep in mind when it's time to buy your bicycle.
You need to make sure you pick a bike that is the right size. For this you must calculate your inseam. Your inseam is the amount of inches from the bottom of your foot, up the inside of your leg to your groin. You should ideally be able to place both feet on the ground when sitting in on your bike. This is for safety more than anything else, if your brakes should fail you will not be able to easily stop the bike otherwise.
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 for cycling around the city road bike tires are thin. For a mountain bike you will need to take 12" away from your total inseam. 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. It is possible to use mountain bikes for city cycling although this is not what they are best suited for.
Don’t forget to buy your safety gear. Bicycles of then and bicycles of now are two completely different things. Not only are they made to better protect you, but they are also made to appeal a bit more aesthetically. It is important that you never ride your bicycle without also wearing your helmet. Sometimes that fraction of padding really can save your life!
It wouldn't hurt to also grab some elbow and knee guards, as well as ankle and wrist guards, just in case you decide to take your bike off the road. If you plan to use your bike as a sole means of transportation, buy yourself some pants clips. you could try this out They work by clipping your pants out of the way so they can't get tangled in the chain or gears.
How well you fit physically with your bike is what is most important. 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.