There's no shortage of reasons why people are taking up cycling. Some people choose to ride bicycles because they cannot afford the cost of gas and automobile maintenance. There are those who choose to cycle because they want to do their part in helping the environment.
And there are other riders who love to do it because it's 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. You will be surprised at how much more there is to a bicycle than just the looks. This article gives you some tips and pointers to help you pick the bicycle that will be perfect for you.
We’d be lying if we tried to tell you that fashion shouldn’t play into your choice. The fact is that we all have color and style preferences. Your new bike should reflect your favorites. Unless you are just buying a bike for the sheer look of it, style and fashion options shouldn't be the ultimate priorities. Evaluating your choices according to safety and comfort will be the best first step. When you’ve assembled some bikes that are both comfortable and safe, then look to see which you like the looks of better. You shouldn't keep the bicycle seat at the lowest setting, either. You want to adjust it up a few inches and take those inches into account when you are choosing your bike. 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 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.
You should already have your safety gear bought and ready to go. Bicycle helmets have come a long way since they were first introduced. Now they offer better protection while being a little bit more stylish. You should never, ever ride your bicycle unless you are wearing your helmet. Sometimes that fraction of padding really can save your life!
You might also consider investing in elbow, knee, wrist and ankle guards—especially if you are going to be going “off road†on your bicycle. Another piece of safety equipment that you should think about getting are pants clips, especially if you are going to be using your bike as a primary mode of transportation. These clips are designed to keep your pants from getting caught up in the gears and the chain. There are a lot of criteria to use when deciding which cycling bicycle is right for you. Do you want to ride your bicycle every day or do you see yourself only riding it once in a while? What height makes you feel the most comfortable? Are you a person who would rather your feet be flat on the ground use this link when you are sitting or would you rather have a little room between your feet and the ground? These are some of the things you need to consider when choosing your bike.