Many people have found reason in taking up cycling. There are those who decide to take up cycling because the price of gas is too high and the cost of maintenance on a vehicle is too high. Some decide to cycle because they want to have less of an impact on the environment when traveling.
And then there are those who choose to cycle because they simply love it. Whatever your reason for going cycle shopping there are some definite criteria that you need to think about before you make your choice. Bicycles should not just be chosen because of their looks or their brand name. Outlined hereafter are some pointers you can take into consideration when going out to buy your bike.
It is important to know how your bike comes to a stop. Be sure you know how your brakes work and which type you will likely need. If you are choosing a bicycle for sporadic hobby riding, you can get by with the brakes that are little more than pads that squeeze your tires to keep them from moving. If you are going to be using your bicycle more often or in heavy terrain, you will want brakes that are a little more hard core and complicated. 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.
Take 9" away from the total of your inseam if you plan to get a road bike. This is down to the tires a road bike equips. These tires will be thinner and designed for efficiency on concrete roads or pavements. You will want to subtract 12" for a mountain bike. 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.
It is important that you allow adequate room between you and the crossbar. When choosing a bike move the seat so it is a couple of inches above the crossbar. Your feet should still comfortably check over here rest on the ground. Which bike you get will greatly alter the clearance you will require. A touring bike for example will require around 1", perhaps slightly more. For mountain bikes you will require somewhere around 3 inches. You will need to think about many different things when choosing a bike for them. Some people will need a bicycle that can stand up under a lot of wear and tear. While other people just want a bike that is comfortable and will get them from one place to another without risk of breaking down. Price can also be a point to consider. Be sure to shop around before taking the final decision and parting with your cash. Do some research and steer clear of buying the first bike you come across.