We have seen a change in transportation recently. More and more people are leaving the car behind in favor of the bicycle, in the west the car reigned supreme but we are now seeing a growth in popularity of the bike. Perhaps the trend can be put down to 'green' thinking, or maybe just the prices of gas are starting to get to people. Either way you will now find the roads filled with more cyclists than ever before. Perhaps you have been giving some thought to getting a bike yourself? If you have been thinking about using a bike as your main mode of transportation, or just thinking about getting one for fun, there are a few things you need to think about.
Cost is almost always a factor when trying to choose the right bike. Of course you are going to need to think about how much you will ride your bike as well as where you are going to be riding it, but cost is one of the most important things.
Some of the best bicycles you can find will cost thousands of dollars. Don’t worry if you do not have this much money available, there are lots of ways to cut down on the amount of money you will spend on your bicycle. The local auctions are some of the best ways to find wonderful deals on things like bicycles and equipment so you won't find yourself spending too much money.
For a road bike you should take away 9" from the inseam measurement you took earlier. This is because of the size of the tires on your road bike. Designed for cycling around the city road bike tires are thin. You will want to subtract 12" for a mountain bike. Again this is to account for the size of tires. They are thicker and meant for a rockier terrain. You can of course use a mountain bike for road cycling but this isn't supposed to be their primary use.
You should already have your safety gear bought and ready to go. The new bicycle helmets look and feel nothing like the old bicycle helmets. Now they offer better protection while being a little bit more stylish. 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. official source They work by clipping your pants out of the way so they can't get tangled in the chain or gears. You have many things to consider when getting a bicycle. There are people who view the durability of a bike to be most important, this is especially true if you plan to use your bike a lot over rough terrain. These folks are looking to find a bike that allows them to get where they are going without having to worry about a breakdown. Price can also really affect your decisions. Research bikes before you decide which you want, then shop around before purchasing. Don’t just buy the first bicycle that looks good—you could get stuck with a lemon!