Choosing The Right Cycling Bicycles

In recent times the western world has undergone a transportation change. While the majority of people in the western world seemed most interested in traveling via automobile, in the last couple of decades many people have been choosing the bicycle as their primary mode of transportation. It could be down to efforts to remain green, perhaps people want to save money on high gas prices, or maybe many people just want to get in shape! Whatever the reason, there are more cyclists on the road than ever. Perhaps you have been giving some thought to getting a bike yourself? If this is the case it is important you know what to look for, the following tips will help you in your quest to find a suitable bike.

It goes without saying that choosing the correctly sized bike is of utmost importance. To accomplish this you need know your inseam measurement. To do this, simply run a measuring tape up the inside of your leg from the bottom of your foot to your groin. The goal is to be able to sit on the seat of the bike and still rest your feet flat on the ground. This means that you will be able to stop your bicycle with your feet if the brakes do not work-without having to tilt the bicycle and risk doing harm to it and to yourself.

If you intend to get a road bike then take 9" away from your total inseam. This is due to the type of tires you will be using for a road bike. These tires will be thinner and designed for efficiency on concrete roads or pavements. For a mountain bike you will need to take 12" away from your total inseam. Again this is to account for the type of tires you will be using. Mountain bike tires will be thick and designed for mountainous terrain. You can of course use a mountain bike for road cycling but this isn't supposed to be their primary use.

You also want to make sure you leave some room between you and the crossbar of your bike. When choosing a bike move the seat so it is a couple of inches above the crossbar. You should be able to still rest your feet flat on the floor. You will want to leave different clearance lengths depending on the type of bicycle you are buying. If you are buying a touring bike, for example, you only need an inch or so of clearance. If you are buying a mountain bike you'll want more-three inches or so between you and the crossbar.

When looking for a bike your main goal is to find one that suits you physically. This is the most important thing to consider when looking into using a bike to get around. Comfort and safety are the two most important aspects of riding a bike.