Choosing the Best Bicycle for You
Selecting the Right Bike for You Different bikes are designed for different riding conditions.
You will find several different styles and designs at any bike shop.
Road Bikes are designed for riding on smooth paved paths and roads.
Mountain bikes are meant for riding on the trails, from packed dirt or gravel all the way to deep mud.
Somewhere in the middle is a hybrid bike, it looks more like a mountain bike with a more upright position but with smoother tires and different gearing than a full mountain bike.
A hybrid bike will allow you to ride on some smoother trails without trouble but also go faster than a mountain bike on paved roads.
Price: You should decide the budget depending on the type and style of the bike.
The price will also vary with the style, features, accessories, and quality of the components.
You should understand the importance of all features and parts, read various reviews on various bikes and parts offered.
You will need to count on a lot of features.
There are some essential features for better and safer performance.
A top of the line bike will definitely cost more.
Always factor in how long you might have a bike and how much use you will get out of it.
Sometimes it is easy to look at a couple hundred dollar difference as the deciding factor in your purchase.
But if the more expensive bike lasts for a few years more than the cheaper bike while giving you a safer more enjoyable riding experience it can be easily worth the difference.
The main bike features can be categorized into the following groups: Important Features: Frame and Size: The ease of riding and durability of the bike depends on the design and strength of its frame.
Frames are current made in steel (chrome-moly), aluminum, titanium or carbon fiber.
In most cases the price will scale up along that same order as well.
There should be some gap when you stand over the top tube of the frame.
It will allow you to easily maneuver and have a safe ride.
If you there is too much gap when standing over the bike is too small for you and you would be cramped in other areas like the reach towards the handlebars, seat height, etc.
Weight: The lower is the weight, the better.
Steel is generally the most heavy, not in all cases though, followed by aluminum then titanium and the lightest would be carbon fiber.
Carbon fiber isn't even a metal, allows you to make some interesting designs but is generally really difficult if not impossible to repair if you get a crack in a carbon fiber component of the bike.
Wheels: The largest wheels, which can fit on a particular size of frame, give the best performance on roads as well as difficult terrains.
Tires: The road bike should have smooth high pressure narrow tires.
A mountain bike needs wider tires and more traction to hold on different types of terrain.
Critical Features: Brakes: Whereas simple caliper brakes may do well with road bikes, many mountain bikes needs powerful and efficient brakes.
Disc brakes are common with mountain bikes.
There are some road bikes with disc brakes now but it is less common.
Drive Train and Shifters: A single speed road bike may serve for riding the plain roads.
You may need low gears on road bikes to easily climb the slopes or steep hills.
A 16 to 27 gear combinations mostly works perfectly on road bikes.
Mountain bikes should have a versatile and dependable gear system for changing conditions on the mountains.
Shimano or SRAM 21- 27 speed glide shifting system is one of the most suitable options.
You can select the rapid fire shifters as they work quickly and easily on bumpy roads.
Suspension Forks: These are must on a mountain bike to absorb the shocks.
Full suspension bikes are more comfortable and expensive as they have shock absorbers on both front as well as rear.
They provide you a better control on rough terrains.
The hard tail bikes have suspension only in the front and require low maintenance.
These are comparatively cheaper, lighter weight and quite durable.
Bike Safety Features: Chain guards spoke protectors, lights, reflectors are some of the essential accessories for safety.
Puncture-resistant tires can protect you from accidents due to dangerous tire blowouts at high speeds.
While it isn't a "bike" feature specifically, always wear a helmet.
In some areas it is the law, but it is just good common sense.
You might feel like you are the best rider in the world but when someone else hits you and you can't do anything about it, you'll be happy you protected your brain.
You can read the reviews on the different makes before you select the best bike at a local bike shop that will suit your needs and match you budget.
You will find several different styles and designs at any bike shop.
Road Bikes are designed for riding on smooth paved paths and roads.
Mountain bikes are meant for riding on the trails, from packed dirt or gravel all the way to deep mud.
Somewhere in the middle is a hybrid bike, it looks more like a mountain bike with a more upright position but with smoother tires and different gearing than a full mountain bike.
A hybrid bike will allow you to ride on some smoother trails without trouble but also go faster than a mountain bike on paved roads.
Price: You should decide the budget depending on the type and style of the bike.
The price will also vary with the style, features, accessories, and quality of the components.
You should understand the importance of all features and parts, read various reviews on various bikes and parts offered.
You will need to count on a lot of features.
There are some essential features for better and safer performance.
A top of the line bike will definitely cost more.
Always factor in how long you might have a bike and how much use you will get out of it.
Sometimes it is easy to look at a couple hundred dollar difference as the deciding factor in your purchase.
But if the more expensive bike lasts for a few years more than the cheaper bike while giving you a safer more enjoyable riding experience it can be easily worth the difference.
The main bike features can be categorized into the following groups: Important Features: Frame and Size: The ease of riding and durability of the bike depends on the design and strength of its frame.
Frames are current made in steel (chrome-moly), aluminum, titanium or carbon fiber.
In most cases the price will scale up along that same order as well.
There should be some gap when you stand over the top tube of the frame.
It will allow you to easily maneuver and have a safe ride.
If you there is too much gap when standing over the bike is too small for you and you would be cramped in other areas like the reach towards the handlebars, seat height, etc.
Weight: The lower is the weight, the better.
Steel is generally the most heavy, not in all cases though, followed by aluminum then titanium and the lightest would be carbon fiber.
Carbon fiber isn't even a metal, allows you to make some interesting designs but is generally really difficult if not impossible to repair if you get a crack in a carbon fiber component of the bike.
Wheels: The largest wheels, which can fit on a particular size of frame, give the best performance on roads as well as difficult terrains.
Tires: The road bike should have smooth high pressure narrow tires.
A mountain bike needs wider tires and more traction to hold on different types of terrain.
Critical Features: Brakes: Whereas simple caliper brakes may do well with road bikes, many mountain bikes needs powerful and efficient brakes.
Disc brakes are common with mountain bikes.
There are some road bikes with disc brakes now but it is less common.
Drive Train and Shifters: A single speed road bike may serve for riding the plain roads.
You may need low gears on road bikes to easily climb the slopes or steep hills.
A 16 to 27 gear combinations mostly works perfectly on road bikes.
Mountain bikes should have a versatile and dependable gear system for changing conditions on the mountains.
Shimano or SRAM 21- 27 speed glide shifting system is one of the most suitable options.
You can select the rapid fire shifters as they work quickly and easily on bumpy roads.
Suspension Forks: These are must on a mountain bike to absorb the shocks.
Full suspension bikes are more comfortable and expensive as they have shock absorbers on both front as well as rear.
They provide you a better control on rough terrains.
The hard tail bikes have suspension only in the front and require low maintenance.
These are comparatively cheaper, lighter weight and quite durable.
Bike Safety Features: Chain guards spoke protectors, lights, reflectors are some of the essential accessories for safety.
Puncture-resistant tires can protect you from accidents due to dangerous tire blowouts at high speeds.
While it isn't a "bike" feature specifically, always wear a helmet.
In some areas it is the law, but it is just good common sense.
You might feel like you are the best rider in the world but when someone else hits you and you can't do anything about it, you'll be happy you protected your brain.
You can read the reviews on the different makes before you select the best bike at a local bike shop that will suit your needs and match you budget.
