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. This trend can be attributed to the idea of keeping things 'green' in a bid to take care of our planet. It doesn't hurt that gas is increasing in price either! 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 then there are several things you should look at when you do.
How your cycling bicycle stops is very important. It is vital you understand how your brakes work and what brakes will be best suited for your style of cycling. 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. If you decide you want your bike for more off-roading adventures, you need a different kind of braking system that can keep up with that particular style. 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. You shouldn't keep the bicycle seat at the lowest setting, either. Be sure to consider these few necessary inches between the seat and the crossbar, when you are out bicycle shopping. You will have a much more comfortable experience when riding if you are able to get some clearance between the crossbar of the bicycle and you. 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.
Just exactly how many gears do you think you’ll use? If you plan to ride in rocky or mountainous areas, you’ll need more gears than riding on flat land. You can’t evaluate the bike only by the number of gears it has. You may never have cause to use all the gears. It’s a waste of money to pay for all those unused gears. If your bike is going to be the main means of travel for you, you absolutely must get the number of gears you need for the situations in which you’ll ride. There are a lot of criteria to use when deciding which cycling bicycle is right for you. Will this be an activity that you enjoy daily, or will you only be taking your bicycle out on special occasions? Which height is most comfortable for you? Do you feel more at ease with your feet just above the ground as you sit on the seat, or would you rather that your feet sit flat when you are at rest? All of these factors will come into read play as you make your choice.