We have seen a change in transportation recently. Cars have long been the most likely mode of transport in developed countries, however bikes are beginning to rise in popularity. Perhaps this because the last couple of decades have seen a major shift in the popularity of “living green.†Maybe it is because the cost of gas is just too high. Either way there are now more bikes on the road then ever before. Have you been thinking about getting a bicycle? If so the following is some handy advice on what to look out for.
It goes without saying that choosing the correctly sized bike is of utmost importance. To do this, you will need to measure 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. The goal is to be able to sit on the seat of the bike and still rest your feet flat on the ground. This is for saftey reasons and will allow you to stop the bike if your brakes fail, avoiding any injury.
Take 9" away from the total of your inseam if you plan to get a road bike. The size of the tires a road bike uses are the reason for this. Designed for cycling around the city road bike tires are thin. For a mountain bike take away 12 inches from your inseam. This is because the tires of a mountain bike are different than those on a road bike. Mountain additional info bike tires are thicker than road bike tires, designed for rocky terrain. Mountain bikes can travel on city pavement but that is not what they are designed to do.
Don’t forget to buy your safety gear. Bicycles of then and bicycles of now are two completely different things. Not only do they look a lot better than they used to, they are also built better to provide greater protection. It is important that you never ride your bicycle without also wearing your helmet. Sometimes that fraction of padding really can save your life!
It wouldn't hurt to invest in some knee pads and elbow pads, as well as wrist and ankle guards if you plan to do some off-roading. Another good idea is to buy some pants clips if you are going to be riding your bike as your primary form of transportation. Pants clips are designed to hold your pants in place so they don't get caught up in the chain or the gears of the bike.
When looking for a bike your main goal is to find one that suits you physically. When deciding upon using a bike for transportation you need to keep this in mind. Comfort and saftey are the two most important aspects of riding a bike.