There are lots of reasons to take up cycling. Some folks are having a hard time keeping up with the rising cost of gasoline and maintenance bills, so they choose to ride a bike. Some decide to cycle because they want to have less of an impact on the environment when traveling.
And there are other riders who love to do it because it's fun. No matter your reason for choosing to take up cycling, you need to know some important things before you decide on your first bicycle. Bicycles should not just be chosen because of their looks or their brand name. Here are some helpful tips that you can use to help you decide which bicycle you should buy.
One way to choose the bike that fits you is to sit on the bike and see if your feet will rest flat on the floor, in case you need to stop yourself. Some experts, however, say that this is not a good idea. They say that it is better to give yourself a few inches between your feet and the ground to create a more comfortable cycling experience. You will likely find that the seat will rest too near the crossbar, if, when you sit on the seat, your knees are bent with your feet flat on the ground, which is an indication that the seat needs to be raised. If this is happening, when you start to pedal the bike then your knees are going to come up too high.
If you intend to get a road bike then take 9" away from your total inseam. The size of the tires a road bike uses are the reason for this. Designed to work best on concrete pavements, road bikes are best suited to cycling around the city. For a mountain bike take away 12 inches from your inseam. Again this is to account for the type of tires you will be using. You will find them to be much bigger and designed to handle rocky terrain. You can always use a mountain bike for city cycling, although this is not how they are best used.
It is important you allow for room between you and the crossbar. When you choose your bike, adjust the seat up a few inches from the crossbar and then sit on the bike. You should be able to still rest your feet flat on the floor. Each type of bike requires different clearances. A good example is a touring bike, with these bikes you will only need around 1" difference. With a mountain bike however you will need some more, 3 inches should suffice.
How well you fit physically with your bike is what is most important. If you intend to use your bike a i was reading this lot, perhaps as your main method of transport, it is important you keep this in mind. You need to feel safe but also comfortable on your bike, otherwise you won't enjoy riding it!