In the last couple of decades a major shift has been happening in transportation. 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 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. No matter what has caused it, the fact is there are now more cyclists on the road than in a long while. Maybe you have considered buying a bike? 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. There are some bicycles that have breaks that are designed to grab onto the wheels and squeeze then in order to stop the motion, and this is great for a hobby rider. For more hardcore cycling on tough terrain you may want some better brakes. These disk brakes are perfect for serious bike use, they sit inside the wheel and will be able to handle heavy use without malfunction. The type of handlebars you choose is also important. Not all handlebars are the same. Those handlebars which extend horizontally out offer great control for maneuvering. These kinds of handlebars are also great in distributing your weight evenly. For racing however you will want special handlebars, ones which are thinner and are positioned in such a way you can lean over them as you cycle. This is to lower wind resistance and will allow you to go faster. If you aren’t going to be using your bicycle very often, you might simply opt for a handlebar style that feels comfortable and makes it easier to store your bicycle while you aren’t using it.
Ask yourself the number of gears necessary for your bike. If you are going to be travelling in relatively flat places, you will not need as many gears as you would need in rockier terrain or a terrain with lots of hills. The number of gears doesn’t make one bike better than another. The truth is that you might not need all of those different gears. Save your money for a different feature you’ll really use. Know how you’ll ride your bike; make sure you have the correct gears for traveling, especially when this is your main mode of transport.
When looking for a bike your main goal is to find one that suits you physically. That internet is the primary goal of anyone who chooses cycling as their primary form of transportation. Safety is important when on a bike but do not overlook comfort, otherwise those long rides will soon grow tiresome.