There are many people who decide to cycle as a way to get from one place to another. There are a lot of reasons to ride a bicycle that have nothing to do with your preferred method of getting places. Engaging in exercise is one of the overwhelming reasons that a large number of individuals choose to go cycling. Some people cycle as a competitive sport. And some people decide that they want to take up cycling as a hobby with their family and friends. Whatever the reason you have for wanting a cycling bicycle, there are a lot of different things to consider when you are trying to decide which cycling bicycle is right for you. Try these tips out to see if they can be of help.
The first thing to ensure is you get a bike that is the right size. For this you must calculate your inseam. Simply measure through your inner leg from your groin to the bottom of your foot to find out your inseam. When you get a bike you should be able to lay both feet flat to the ground if need be. This is for safety more than anything else, if your brakes should fail you will not be able to easily stop the bike otherwise.
If you want to ride a road bike, you will need to subtract about nine inches from your inseam measurement. This is down to the tires a road bike equips. Road bikes are meant for city cycling—the tires are thinner and work best on concrete paving. For this link a mountain bike you will need to take 12" away from your total inseam. This is because the tires of a mountain bike are different than those on a road bike. 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.
Another thing to keep in mind is purchasing safety gear. Bicycles of then and bicycles of now are two completely different things. Not only are they made to better protect you, but they are also made to appeal a bit more aesthetically. 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 also get some elbow and knee pads, and some wrist and ankle guards if you are going to take your bike off-road. Another piece of safety equipment that you should think about getting are pants clips, especially if you are going to be using your bike as a primary mode of transportation. These things are little clips that clip the pants leg up so they don't get tangled in the chain or the gears.
As you can see, there are several things you should keep in mind when you decide on a bicycle that's right for you. There are so many different bicycles and accessories available that it can feel overwhelming as you try to decide which items are best for you. As long as you go prepared and know what you need and are looking for, you can shed some of that frustration and find the perfect bike.