What kind of bicycle do you need ? The short reply is : Any variety . It does n’t weigh , so long as you could ride it .
The longsighted reply is : You postulate a bike that fits you , that can be keep in unspoiled mending , that is suited to your life and the terrain you ’ll be bicycling over , and that is fun to ride .
Within those argument , you ’ll find multiple options , sometimes too many . Keep in mind that there is no single idealistic bicycle . choose a cycle is a subject of fancy out your needs and then finding a motorcycle that will become them reasonably well .
You don’t need to marry your bicycle
Do n’t assume you need to go out and corrupt a new bike before you start tantalise . There ’s nothing incorrect with doing this , of course of study ; but it is n’t a requirement . Deciding that you need to find the perfect bike before you’re able to start ride is a gravid recipe for never beginning .
If you ’re totally Modern to riding , one way to get started is to borrow a bike from a friend or family phallus who is about your height . Even just renting a bicycle for an afternoon , or mental test riding a different style of motorcycle at your local cycle store every weekend will help you get a sense of what you like — and , just as important , what you do n’t care .
Then again , if you know you need to ride , there ’s something to be said for just spring into the deep end and get yourself a cycle , any bike . Why wait ? Bikes have in effect resale time value , and the bike that frustrates you daily is potential someone else ’s dream ride . If your burnished new ride does n’t work out , you may sell it and get something else .
You do n’t have to hook up with your bike . If your first cycle end up not being right for you , there is no shame in that . Sell it and move on . For most everyday riders , life is a never ending quest for the perfect cycle . There ’s joy to be found in that .
Questions to ask yourself
Think about the following questions . It might help to write down any conclusions or questions that come in up and bestow the list to the bike shop with you .
Do you require to ride tight or slowly ?
How far will you be riding , and how often ?
Are there a lot of hills where you will be riding ?
What kind of roads will you be riding on — smooth asphalt , rutted streets , or gravel / dirt route ? Will you need to spend a lot of meter on meddlesome street ?
Do you need to carry clobber on racks on your bike ? Will you habituate a house trailer with it ? Will you carry kid ?
Will you need to impart your bicycle up and down step ?
Do you have a lot of space to park your bike , or does it want to fit into a lowly apartment or office ? Will your wheel spend a heap of time park outside ?
Do you have any medical issues that might involve your wheel fit ?
How much do you want to drop ?
What do you want the bike to front like ? It ’s okay to care about color !
Even if you do not have answers to all of these interrogative sentence , conceive them will help you find a bike that meets your needs .
Working with a bike shop
you may bring through a little money by buying a Modern bike online or at a department store , but if you ’ll be riding regularly , it ’s deserving spending a little extra to develop a family relationship with your local bicycle shop . That fashion , when your new bike anguish your wrists or develops a rattle in the first workweek , you ’ll have ready help aline it to sour . You ’ll always have a place to go with head , primed assistant , and hangout need . When you ’re ready to buy another bicycle you ’ll have the advantage of a templet to the outgrowth who is already conversant with your motive .
If there are multiple cycle shop in your area , shop around . You ’ll want a place you finger comfortable and where they have the thing and services you need in your price range . If you have a good interaction with an employee , it ’s okay to ask for them specifically when you go back .
For a positivist bike shop experience , here are some rules of thumb :
Be prepared . Go in with as unclouded an idea as possible of what you ask , whether this is the exact part and model telephone number or “ something is creak near the rear cycle and it ’s been doing that since the wheel fall over last week . ” Even if you do n’t know where to begin with researching your needs , cogitate them through as thoroughly as you could .
Ask a lot of interrogation . If the sales representative or mechanic pronounce something you do n’t understand , require them to define the terminal figure or put it a different way . If they are n’t willing to answer your questions or do n’t listen , incur another employee to work with or go to a different shop .
trial ride , trial drive , trial run drive . Never purchase a bicycle that you have not first exact for a twisting and rule to be prosperous .
Illustrations by Joe Biel
Elly will be joining us tomorrow , May 21 for a web chat at 12 pm EST . See you then !
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