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 have decided to take up cycling as a way to exercise. The thrill of competition draws other people to the sport of cycling. Still others ride bicycles as a hobby because they enjoy the feeling of riding a bicycle around their neighborhood. 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. This article provides some advice to help you along your way.
You need to make sure you pick a bike that is the right size. The measurement of your inseam is needed for this. Simply measure the distance from your groin to the bottom of your foot, down the inside of your leg. You should ideally be able to place both feet on the ground when sitting in on your bike. This means that you will be able to stop your bicycle with your feet if the brakes do not work—without having to tilt the bicycle and risk doing harm to it and to yourself.
If you want to ride a road bike, you will need to subtract about nine inches from your inseam measurement. The size of the tires a road bike uses are the reason for this. Designed for cycling around the city road bike tires are thin. With a mountain bike you will need to take away around one foot from the inseam. Again this is to account for the size of tires. Mountain bike tires will be thick and designed for mountainous terrain. You can always use a mountain bike for city cycling, although this is not how they are best used.
Another thing to keep in mind is purchasing safety gear. Bicycle helmets have come more info here a long way since they were first introduced. They are now designed to offer better protection while looking a bit better, as well. You must always wear your helmet when you are riding your bike, no matter what. You never know when that little detail is going to save you from an early grave.
It wouldn't hurt to also grab some elbow and knee guards, as well as ankle and wrist guards, just in case you decide to take your bike off the road. Pants clips are another great investment, especially if you are using your bike as your sole means of transportation. They work by clipping your pants out of the way so they can't get tangled in the chain or gears. There are a lot of criteria to use when deciding which cycling bicycle is right for you. Are you going to be using your bike every day or will you only be riding every so often? What seat height gives you the most comfortable ride? Are you a person who would rather your feet be flat on the ground when you are sitting or would you rather have a little room between your feet and the ground? Think about all this when buying your bike, and you will make the right choice.