Knowing what to look for in your new bicycle is of paramount importance. Finding their next bike is hard for even those folks who are paid to ride. The fact of the matter is that getting a bike involves many different choices. Planning ahead for things like bike use, safety and comfort, as well as where it will be ridden, and what it looks like, will help you make a better decision. Choosing between all of the options available can be overwhelming, especially since new developments in cycling happen all the time. It’s easy to just use our criteria to pick the best bike for you.
The first thing you should think about, which is pretty obvious, needs to be the cost. Sure you should also consider things like where you will be riding and how often you will be riding, but your other major criteria will almost always be the price of the bicycle.
Some of the best bicycles you can find will cost thousands of dollars. This doesn't mean you are going to have to spend thousands of dollars on a good bike, because there are ways you can find a great bike for a great price. Used bicycles and bicycles being sold at auction are great ways to save money while still getting the cycling bicycle that you need and want. Some individuals may be surprised at the recommendation that the seat not be adjusted to the lowest setting available, which causes it to contact the crossbar. You always want to change the position of the seat so that it is a few inches higher than normal, so keep this in mind when picking your bike. You want to have the comfort of the seat being higher up than the crossbar on the bike, because if the seat is sitting on the crossbar, you will not be comfortable. The goal here is to create a height with your seat so that when your pedal is at its lowest position your leg should be almost (but not quite) fully extended.
It is important you allow for room between you and the crossbar. When you get a bike be sure to move the seat up a couple of inches from the crossbar. Sit on it and make sure you can rest your feet flat to the ground. Each type of bike requires different clearances. For example a touring bike will require around an inch. With a mountain bike a clearance of 3" will be necessary.
Your main priority is the physical fit of your bike. This is the most important thing to consider when looking into using a bike to get around. You need to feel view safe but also comfortable on your bike, otherwise you won't enjoy riding it!