For outdoor enjoyment with family and friends or just going it alone, you cannot beat bicycling. However, to ensure you have a comfortable, fun, and safe ride, you need to make sure you are riding the right bike for your body size and type, the type of riding you do, and the distance you ride. If you are in the market for a new bike, you will obviously be considering a number of things such as price, functions, style, brand, and more. Although brand is a factor, it may not necessarily the highest consideration.
The most important aspect of buying the right bike is to stay within a budget that you can afford and purchase a comfortable bike. You will need to visit a number of stores and bike shops, trying out several different bikes before you settle on just one. Many times, salespeople are trained to hard sell the most expensive or best-known brand. While these bikes might be the best, remember you have many great choices. The following will help you decide:
•Personal Needs – If you were going to ride in rough terrain, then a mountain bike would be the best choice. However, if you were looking at a leisurely ride in the evenings around your neighborhood, a basic bike would be better. Therefore, you first need to think about your personal needs and the type of riding you plan to do. With this, consider that if you are just starting out, your skills and interests will likely increase. Therefore, you might buy a bike that is a little more than you initially need or pay less for a starter bike so you can afford to move to a better bike in about six months.
•Learn the Language – As you visit bike shops, you will start to hear all types of lingo used that will be completely, foreign to you. Unfortunately, some salespeople will use this to their advantage, making something basic sound high-tech. For this reason, conduct research online to learn the various bike parts and other language so you can make an informed decision.
•Functionality – When buying a bike, you want to think in terms of functionality. For instance, rather than tell a salesperson that you want a new mountain bike, tell him or her, the type of riding you plan on doing. With this, a reputable company will guide you to the best bike, whether it is a mountain bike or not. If the individual immediately starts selling you nothing but mountain bikes without asking you questions, you might consider a different bike shop.
•Testing and Questions – The two most important aspects again include testing as many bikes as possible and asking tons of questions. You want the bike to fit comfortably and you want ALL your questions answered. A bike is an investment just as a car is so you have the right to understand all the pros and cons of bike styles, brands, makes, and so on.