We have seen a change in transportation recently. 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 the trend can be put down to 'green' thinking, or maybe just the prices of gas are starting to get to people. Whatever the reason, there are more cyclists on the road than ever. Have you been tempted to use a bike for your everyday transport needs? 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.
It is important to know how your bike comes to a stop. You need to make sure you understand how your brakes work and what kind of brakes you need your bike to have. For light use you can get a bike with traditional brakes, ones which simply squeeze the tires with small pads. For more hardcore cycling on tough terrain you may want some better brakes. For such cycling you should look to disc brakes, these are located within the wheel itself and are less likely to be weakened over time or worse, fail.
If you want to ride a road bike, you will need to subtract about nine inches from your inseam measurement. 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. Again this is to account for the type of tires you will be using. Mountain bike tires are thicker than road bike tires, designed for rocky terrain. It is possible to use mountain bikes for city cycling although this is not what they are best suited for.
Be certain to leave adequate room between yourself and your bikes crossbar. When you choose your bike, adjust the seat up a few inches from the crossbar and then sit on the bike. Make certain you can still place both feet flatly on the ground. Different bikes will need differing clearance amounts. A good example is a touring bike, with these bikes you will only need around 1" difference. With a mountain bike a clearance of 3" will be necessary. There additional reading are many different factors to take into account when finding the right bicycle. Do you want to ride your bicycle every day or do you see yourself only riding it once in a while? At what height do you feel the most comfortable? Do you feel more at ease with your feet just above the ground as you sit on the seat, or would you rather that your feet sit flat when you are at rest? You will want to answer all of these important questions, as you make your bicycle selection.