In the last couple of decades a major shift has been happening in transportation. More and more people are leaving the car behind in favor of the bicycle, in the west the car reigned supreme but we are now seeing a growth in popularity of the bike. Perhaps this because the last couple of decades have seen a major shift in the popularity of “living green.†Maybe it is because the cost of gas is just too high. No matter what has caused it, the fact is there are now more cyclists on the road than in a long while. Maybe you have considered buying a bike? 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.
One thing you can consider when choosing a bike is whether or not your feet can rest flat on the floor while you are sitting so you can stop yourself. There are certain professionals, though, who disagree with this concept. They say that it is better to give yourself a few inches between your feet and the ground to create a more comfortable cycling experience. If your feet are on the ground and your knees are bent when you sit on the seat of the bike, it generally means that the seat is sitting too low for you and too close to the crossbar. Also, if you find that your knees are bent when sitting on the bike, your knees are going to come up too high when you are pedaling your bike.
Take 9" away from the total go to my blog of your inseam if you plan to get a road bike. This is due to the type of tires you will be using for a road bike. Designed to work best on concrete pavements, road bikes are best suited to cycling around the city. If you are looking for a mountain bike, you will want to subtract about a foot (twelve inches) from your inseam measurement. Mountain bikes have different tires than a road bike. You will find them to be much bigger and designed to handle rocky terrain. You can use mountain bikes for city cycling, but the opposite is not true and they are nowhere near as good on city streets as road bikes.
Be certain to leave adequate room between yourself and your bikes crossbar. When choosing a bike move the seat so it is a couple of inches above the crossbar. Your feet should still comfortably rest on the ground. You will want to leave different clearance lengths depending on the type of bicycle you are buying. For example a touring bike will require around an inch. However for a mountain bike you will need 3" between the crossbar and yourself.
You should keep these things in mind when you go out and buy a bicycle, especially if you want to find the one that is right for you. There are so many different bicycles and accessories available that it can feel overwhelming as you try to decide which items are best for you. If you will not jump into things and try and educate yourself on what you need, you will be pleased with the results.