There are lots of reasons to take up cycling. There are those who decide to take up cycling because the price of gas is too high and the cost of maintenance on a vehicle is too high. 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. 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. You will be surprised at how much more there is to a bicycle than just the looks. Here are some helpful tips that you can use to help you decide which bicycle you should buy.
Fashion really does get involved when you make a choice. Our preferences are reflected in color and style choices. These are going to come into play when you are shopping for your bicycle. Using style and fashion preferences as your main criteria is silly, unless you are only getting a bike to look good. Safety and comfort should be considered first. After ensuring both safety and comfort, see which ones you like the actual design of best. Which handlebars to go with is also a serious decision. You may think all handlebars are the same, but they're not. It's easier to handle a bike over rough terrain with handlebars that extend straight out. They are also better for distributing your body weight over a larger area. For racing however you will want special handlebars, ones which are thinner and are positioned in such a way you can lean over them as you cycle. This is to lower wind resistance and will allow you to go faster. For those of us who only plan to use our bikes sporadically, you may wish to go with a handlebar style that is comfortable and yet easily stored away.
It is important that you allow adequate room between you and the crossbar. When selecting a bike make sure you move the seat up slightly, to around a few inches above the height of the crossbar. Make sure you can place both feet on the ground if need be. Each type of bike requires different clearances. As an example, with a touring bike you will only require around 1". If you are buying a mountain bike you’ll want more—three inches or so between you and the crossbar. Several different factors play into how you are going to choose the right bicycle. Do you want to ride your bicycle every day or do you see yourself only riding it once useful site in a while? What seat height gives you the most comfortable ride? Would you rather have room between your feet and the ground or would you rather be able to touch the ground with your feet when you come to a stop? All of these factors will come into play as you make your choice.