There is a misconception that picking the right bike is easy. Many people think they simply find the bike that looks good and feels comfortable. However this is not the case, there are plenty of things you need to consider when looking for the right bike. There is more to it nowadays than there used to be. Now that more and more people are starting to cycle, the options have risen to an almost head-spinning variety. In recent times a trend has emerged of people riding bikes as their main method of transport. Some people have decided to take up cycling as a hobby. If you want to know those important things to look out for when selecting a bike, read the following.
It goes without saying that choosing the correctly sized bike is of utmost importance. To accomplish this you need know your inseam measurement. 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 means that you will be able to stop your bicycle with your feet if the brakes do not work—without having to tilt the bicycle and risk doing harm to it and to yourself.
For a road bike you should take away 9" from the inseam measurement you took earlier. This is 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. For a mountain bike take away 12 inches from your inseam. The tires on a mountain bike are not the same as 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.
You should already have your safety gear bought and ready to go. Bicycles of then and bicycles of now are two completely different things. They are now designed to offer better protection while looking a bit better, as well. You should never, ever ride your bicycle unless you are wearing your helmet. You'd be surprised at how many lives have been saved from that one simple thing.
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. Pants clips are another great investment, especially if you are using your bike as your sole means of transportation. Pants clips are designed to hold your pants in place so they don't get caught up in the chain or the gears of the bike.
Your main priority is the physical fit of your bike. Selecting a bike with a good fit for you is Your Domain Name of the utmost importance, when using a bike as the main way to get from A to B. You want to feel comfortable and safe as you travel from one point to another.