There are several different reasons people choose to cycle as a 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. No matter your reason for needing to choose a bicycle, you need to consider a number of different things in order to choose the one that is right for you. Try these tips out to see if they can be of help.
How your bike brakes is incredibly important. It is vital you understand how your brakes work and what brakes will be best suited for your style of cycling. 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.
For road bikes take away 9 inches from the total of your inseam. This is to account for the size of tires you will use on a road bike. City riding is done with thin tires, designed to work perfectly with the smooth concrete roads and sidewalks you find in a city. You will want to subtract 12" for a mountain bike. This is because the tires of a mountain bike are different than those on a road bike. These tires are designed to handle rocky and jagged terrain so are therefore thicker. Mountain bikes can travel on city pavement but that is not what they are designed to do.
Never leave out the safety gear, either. Bicycle helmets are something completely different than they once were. Not only are they made to better protect you, but they are also made to appeal a bit more aesthetically. You should never even think about riding the bike without first putting on your helmet. Sometimes that fraction of padding really can save your life!
It wouldn't hurt to invest in some knee pads and elbow pads, as well as wrist and ankle guards if you plan to do some off-roading. If you plan to use your bike as a sole means of transportation, buy yourself visit this page some pants clips. These are clips that keep your pants legs up and out of the way of your gears and chain. As you can see, there are many things to take into consideration when deciding on the perfect bicycle for you. The durability of a bike may be the most important thing depending on how you intend to use it. You may simply be looking for the bike least likely to malfunction because you rely on it to get around. Some people have to think very seriously about the price they are paying for a bike. As long as you take your time to find out all you need to know about buying a bike, you should be good to go. Never jump on the first thing that is pretty, because you never know if you are making a mistake.