We have seen a change in transportation recently. While the majority of people in the western world seemed most interested in travelling via automobile, in the last couple of decades many people have been choosing the bicycle as their primary mode of transportation. It could be down to efforts to remain green, perhaps people want to save money on high gas prices, or maybe many people just want to get in shape! No matter what has caused it, the fact is there are now more cyclists on the road than in a long while. Have you been tempted to use a bike for your everyday transport needs? 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.
How your cycling bicycle stops is very important. It is vital you understand how your brakes work and what brakes will be best suited for your style of cycling. There are some bicycles that have breaks that are designed to grab onto the wheels and squeeze then in order to stop the motion, and this is great for a hobby rider. If you are going to be using your bicycle more often or in heavy terrain, you will want brakes that are a little more hard core and complicated. Disc brakes sit within the wheels themselves and work are less likely to give out under stress.
For road bikes take away 9 inches from the total of your inseam. This is down to the tires a road home bike equips. City riding is done with thin tires, designed to work perfectly with the smooth concrete roads and sidewalks you find in a city. If you are looking for a mountain bike, you will want to subtract about a foot (twelve inches) from your inseam measurement. Again this is to account for the type of tires you will be using. Mountain bike tires will be thick and designed for mountainous terrain. It is possible to use mountain bikes for city cycling although this is not what they are best suited for.
Another aspect you need to think about is the angle of the seat. Bicycles can be tilted in a number of ways. You might find that a perfectly flat seat is a little uncomfortable and that you prefer to lean forward a little bit. Find the position that will be most comfortable to you, and stick with it. You can always leave the seat in the position it is in, but you will most likely find it to be very uncomfortable to ride.
The options and technologies available for biking are overwhelming as you search for a new bicycle. From fashion to safety, you have a multitude of choices to make. If you don’t have a lot of experience with cycling bicycles, you will probably feel overwhelmed and insecure as you start your shopping. You can rest assured that by doing minimal research into your options, you’ll make the perfect decision for you.
Look up some of your choices before you hit the store. You’ll be glad you did!