There are lots of reasons to take up cycling. There are many that decide to ride bicycles because they are able to save a ton of money on both the price of gas and maintenance costs. 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 your reason for choosing to take up cycling, you need to know some important things before you decide on your first bicycle. There is more to choosing the right cycling bicycle than the colors used to paint it! Contained hereafter are some hints and tips you can use to pick the bicycle that is perfect for you.
We’d be lying if we tried to tell you that fashion shouldn’t play into your choice. The color we like best, or the style we like least, all influence our choices. These preferences must be listened to when getting your next bike. Looking good will be a great benefit of getting your new bike, but don’t let fashion choices be the guiding decisions factors. Safety and comfort should be considered first. After finding bikes that are both safe and comfy, then you can see which ones look the best to you.
For a road bike you should take away 9" from the inseam measurement you took earlier. This is wikipedia reference to account for the size of tires you will use on a road bike. City riding is done with thin tires, designed to work perfectly with the smooth concrete roads and sidewalks you find in a city. With a mountain bike you will need to take away around one foot from the inseam. Mountain bikes have different tires than a road bike. You will find them to be much bigger and designed to handle rocky terrain. It is possible to use mountain bikes for city cycling although this is not what they are best suited for.
Another aspect you need to think about is the angle of the seat. There are several angles you can tilt your seat at. Most find that a flat seat can prove to be extremely uncomfortable, so they adjust it to their preference. Adjust your seat so that this is possible. You could leave it as it is, but the narrow part of the seat might not allow you to rest comfortably in a forward leaning position.
The idea behind buying cycling bicycles is to make sure that you and the bicycle fit well together—physically. If you intend to use your bike a lot, perhaps as your main method of transport, it is important you keep this in mind. You need to feel safe but also comfortable on your bike, otherwise you won't enjoy riding it!