There are many people who decide to cycle as a way to get from one place to another. 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 people are competitors in 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. These tips are intended to help you along your way.
You want to first and foremost, ensure that you are able to come to a stop on your bicycle, and the key to that is selecting a bicycle that allows you to rest your feet flat on the ground, when you are sitting on the seat. There are some people that say this isn't the best way to choose, though. These people explain that the best way to pick a bike is to ensure there is a few inches between the ground and your feet, and you will be provided with a much more comfortable ride. When buying a new bike, you will see the seat is placed extremely low to the crossbar, so when you sit on the bike with your feet on the ground and are able to bend your knees, you should pick a different bike. If you can bend your knees, your knees will come up too high when you are pedaling. You will also need to consider which handlebars you want on your bike. There are many different types to choose from, each better for specific roles. Those handlebars which extend horizontally out offer great control for maneuvering. They are good for distributing your weight as you ride over a bigger area. If you are using your bike for racing, then you want to pick some handlebars that are more slim and allow you to lean forward on your bike so you can go faster. For those of us who only plan to use our bikes sporadically, you may wish to go with a handlebar style that is comfortable and yet easily stored away.
The angle of your seat (also called the saddle) is also important. You can tilt the seat any way you want it. What angle you tilt your seat at is solely going to depend on what position you find most comfortable. Find the position that will be most comfortable to you, and stick with it. You may not want to adjust the seat at all in the beginning, then after a ride realize that the way it was positioned is not the way you want it at all.
When purchasing a bicycle, you have tons to consider. You have innumerable decisions to make as you choose how safe a bike to buy, as well as one that read this is pleasing to the eye. You can feel unsure of yourself, and a bit overwhelmed, as you attempt to purchase a new bike. By investing a bit of your time to look at your preferences you will make the best decision.
Take your time to learn about your options before you shop. The peace it will offer during shopping makes it very worthwhile.