In the last couple of decades a major shift has been happening in transportation. 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. This trend can be attributed to the idea of keeping things 'green' in a bid to take care of our planet. It doesn't hurt that gas is increasing in price either! Either way you will now find the roads filled with more cyclists than ever before. Have you been thinking about getting a bicycle? 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 bike brakes is incredibly important. You need to make sure you understand how your brakes work and what kind of brakes you need your bike to have. Those who do not use their bikes very regularly will be happy with normal brakes, those which simply squeeze the tire with two small pads to slow the bike down. For those who use their bike for serious riding and over heavy terrain better brakes may be needed. 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.
Be cautious, however, and always be sure to test the bike out before you buy it. You should never buy a bike until you have ridden it first, if only for a couple of minutes. This makes perfect sense because you know you'd never buy a car without test driving it first.
So you should use this same frame of mind when buying your bike. This is especially important if you are going to be spending large sums of money for a bicycle that you are going to be riding a lot. Make sure the bike is perfect for you. You should have no problem finding one that you can ride easily, but you also need to find a bike that fits your riding style. You would never want to go ride a bicycle that was uncomfortable for you.
You also want to make sure you leave some room between you and the crossbar of your bike. When you choose your bike, adjust the seat up a few inches from the crossbar and then sit on the bike. Your feet should still comfortably rest on the ground. Different bikes will need differing clearance amounts. If you are buying a touring bike, for example, you only need an inch or so of clearance. If you are buying a mountain bike you’ll want more—three inches or so between you and the crossbar.
As you can see, there are several things you should keep in mind when you decide on a bicycle that's right for you. It can be a bit tedious and frustrating to try and figure out what all you need when you are buying a bicycle. If you will not jump into things and try and educate yourself on what you need, you will be pleased with the results.