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. Some people decide to take up cycling because it is a healthier choice for the environment.
Still others simply ride bicycles for fun. No matter your reason for choosing to take up cycling, you need to know some important things before you decide on your first bicycle. If you really want to choose the perfect cycling bicycle, you need to think about more than just what it looks like. This article is intended to give you a head's up on what you should keep in mind when it's time to buy your bicycle.
How your bike brakes is incredibly important. You have to think about what you are most comfortable with along the lines of stopping your bicycle. If you only want a bike to use occasionally as a hobby, you can go with normal brakes which are just small pads designed to clasp the wheel when used. However if you use your bike regularly and on serious terrain you should go with more sturdy brakes. 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. The added space between you and the crossbar, afforded by raising the seat slightly, will make a positive impact on your level of comfort. The goal here is to create a height with your seat so that when your pedal is at its lowest position your leg should be almost (but not quite) fully extended.
How many gears will you use on a regular basis? Traveling through flat areas requires far less gears than riding in a mountainous area. Many beginning cyclists think that the try this more gears a bicycle has, the better it is. Sometimes bike riders don’t ever use all the gears on their bike. Why spend extra money paying for something that you don’t need? Find out where you’ll ride your bike, especially if this is your main vehicle, and make sure you have enough gears to handle the areas through which you will travel.
The idea behind buying cycling bicycles is to make sure that you and the bicycle fit well together—physically. This is the most important thing to consider when looking into using a bike to get around. You need to feel safe but also comfortable on your bike, otherwise you won't enjoy riding it!