The choice to utilize a bicycle as your main mode of transportation, is beneficial for a number of reasons. There are a lot of reasons to ride a bicycle that have nothing to do with your preferred method of getting places. Some people take up cycling in order to exercise. The thrill of competition draws other people to the sport of cycling. And there are others that simply want a way to bond with their family, so they take up cycling. Regardless of why you are taking up cycling, you are going to have to consider a variety of things when choosing the bicycle that is a perfect fit for you. This article provides some advice to help you along your way.
The first thing you need to do is try the bicycle on for size, meaning sit on it and make sure that your feet are still flat on the floor so you will be able to stop yourself. There are some people that say this isn't the best way to choose, though. They state the best way to choose a bike is to leave a few inches between your feet and the ground so you can have a more comfortable ride. If your feet are on the ground and your knees are bent when you sit on the seat of the bike, it generally means that the seat is sitting too low for you and too close to the crossbar. If this is happening, when you start to pedal the bike then your knees are going to come up too high.
For a road bike you should take away 9" from the inseam measurement you took earlier. This is because of the size visit their website of the tires on your road bike. Designed to work best on concrete pavements, road bikes are best suited to cycling around the city. For 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. These tires are designed to handle rocky and jagged terrain so are therefore thicker. Mountain bikes can travel on city pavement but that is not what they are designed to do.
Another essential element in a comfortable cycling experience is the angle of the seat(also known as the saddle). The seat is designed to be tilted any way you want it to. Most people find a seat that is flat to be a bit too uncomfortable, so they tilt it the way that feels the best. Always choose the most comfortable position for your seat. You could leave it as it is, but the narrow part of the seat might not allow you to rest comfortably in a forward leaning position.
How well you fit physically with your bike is what is most important. This is the most important thing to consider when looking into using a bike to get around. You need to feel safe but also comfortable on your bike, otherwise you won't enjoy riding it!