Many people have found reason in taking up cycling. Some folks are having a hard time keeping up with the rising cost of gasoline and maintenance bills, so they choose to ride a bike. There are those who choose to cycle because they want to do their part in helping the environment.
Still others simply ride bicycles for fun. No matter your reason for choosing to take up cycling, you need to know some important things before you decide on your first bicycle. You will be surprised at how much more there is to a bicycle than just the looks. Here are some helpful tips that you can use to help you decide which bicycle you should buy.
One of the major parts of choosing the right cycling bicycle for you is making sure that the bicycle is the right size. For this you must calculate your inseam. To do this, simply run a measuring tape up the inside of your leg from the bottom of your foot to your groin. Ideally you should be able to place both feet on the ground while on your bike. This is for saftey reasons and will check my reference allow you to stop the bike if your brakes fail, avoiding any injury. You shouldn't keep the bicycle seat at the lowest setting, either. Always consider that you are going to have to raise the seat up off the crossbar when you are shopping for your bike. You want to have the comfort of the seat being higher up than the crossbar on the bike, because if the seat is sitting on the crossbar, you will not be comfortable. The best way to adjust your seat to the correct height is to place your foot on the pedal at the lowest setting and bring the seat up as high as it can go so that your leg is almost fully extended.
Be certain to leave adequate room between yourself and your bikes crossbar. When selecting a bike make sure you move the seat up slightly, to around a few inches above the height of the crossbar. Make sure you can place both feet on the ground if need be. Each type of bike will require differing clearance amounts. A good example is a touring bike, with these bikes you will only need around 1" difference. For mountain bikes you will require somewhere around 3 inches.
When looking for a bike your main goal is to find one that suits you physically. If you intend to use your bike a lot, perhaps as your main method of transport, it is important you keep this in mind. Safety is important when on a bike but do not overlook comfort, otherwise those long rides will soon grow tiresome.