Many reasons will push you to choose a bicycle as a new mode of transportation. You may not even choose to ride a bicycle as a means of transportation at all. Some people take up cycling in order to exercise. Some choose to cycle because they are in competitions with cycling. And there are others who decide to take up cycling as a hobby to share with their family or friends. Regardless of why you are taking up cycling, you are going to have to consider a variety of things when choosing the bicycle that is a perfect fit for you. These tips are intended to help you along your way.
Consider how the bicycle brakes, for one. Brakes are very important on a bike, you need to understand how they work and what type you will most likely need for your bike. Those who do not use their bikes very regularly will be happy with normal brakes, those which simply squeeze the tire with two small pads to slow the bike down. For those who use their bike for serious riding and over heavy terrain better brakes may be needed. These brakes are called 'disc brakes' and are located within the wheel, they are far more reliable than normal brakes and are less likely to fail over time. You shouldn't ever sit the seat at the lowest setting, which means sitting on the crossbar. Be sure to consider these few necessary inches between the seat and the crossbar, when you are out bicycle shopping. You want to have the comfort of the seat being higher up than the crossbar on the bike, because if the seat is sitting on the crossbar, you will not be comfortable. The ideal seat height can be achieved, by ensuring that your leg is very close to completely extended, when your foot is at it's lowest position while on the pedal.
Be sure to allow room between the crossbar and yourself. When browsing my website for a bike try some out, make sure the seat is a few inches above the crossbar. Make certain you can still place both feet flatly on the ground. You will want to leave different clearance lengths depending on the type of bicycle you are buying. As an example, with a touring bike you will only require around 1". With a mountain bike however you will need some more, 3 inches should suffice. There are a lot of criteria to use when deciding which cycling bicycle is right for you. Will this be an activity that you enjoy daily, or will you only be taking your bicycle out on special occasions? What height makes you feel the most comfortable? Do you prefer your feet to rest flat on the ground or do you like to have some room between them and the ground when you are sitting on the bicycle’s seat? All of these factors will come into play as you make your choice.