With so many different types of bicycle, we can easily get confused with what kind of bike is the right one for us to get the best cycling experience, especially for those who have allodoxaphobia. Choosing the right bike actually needs careful pre-work in the first place. Just learning where you ride and why you ride can help you find the most suitable bike and give you the optimal cycling experience.
1. Knowing Where and Why You Ride
Anyone who loves cycling knows that there are four basic types of bicycle: city bikes are the most common mode of transport; mountain bikes; trail bikes and road bikes. Riding on different types of roads needs different types of bicycle and we also need various types of bikes based on different cycling purpose. You see, some people like mountain-cycling, some prefer racing and some just want to commute in the city. They need different bikes to get the optimal cycling experience.
For example, city bikes are optimized for urban commuting with special handlebars and are reasonably quick and solid, ready to use in all weather conditions and handle the rough and tumble of the urban roads.
If you enjoy the adventure journey and you like riding in the bumpy terrain areas, a mountain bike is a better choice for youto conquer it. Mountain bikes are used for off-road cycling and that’s why it has the features of sturdiness, hard-wearingquality. And all its components are designed to resist tumble conditions: wide flat handlebars, bigger axle, powerful discbrakes, high-tech front fork, fat tires with a low-pressure and heavier-weight frame.
Road bikes are usually used for competitive road racing, so it’s designed for maximizing the speed: drop and narrow handlebars, as-light- as-possible frame, narrow and high-pressure tires and deep-section- shape-rims brakes to lower wind resistance and focus on the speed.
Once you know your cycling reason and the places where youride, you can choose the basic type: city bikes, mountain bikes,trail bikes or road bikes. And then we can go to the next step.
2. Budget
Usually budget is the first thing some people consider to buy anew bike as it goes without saying that bikes can be very expensive. They range from a hundred dollars to thousands ofdollars based on different types, brands, functions, components, quality, materials and other changeable factors.
Basically, the more expensive the bike is, the better performance it has. The performance of a $100 bike is not comparable to that of a $1000 bike, let alone its cycling experience. Therefore, the better cycling experience you want,the higher you need to pay. Usually, the basic metal frame ofthe low range bike is heavier and the frame of high rage bike isthe lightest one, such as carbon fiber and titanium frame whichwill perform better.
Before deciding to buy the bike, think about that how often youare going to ride the bike as well as how long you keep the bike. If you want to ride to work every day and each day you need to ride for a long distance, go and get a higher qualityone. Although it is more expensive, think about it in this way: if the bike costs you $1000 dollars, and you are going to ride 10miles a day, 300 days a year for 3 years, it only costs you about$1.1 a day and $0.11 each mile of your transportation. What a bargain you can enjoy excellent cycling experience everyday!
So I strongly recommend you to buy the best one you can afford. Believe me, you won’t regret to buy an expensive onewhen you enjoy the optimal cycling experience. You can also find a decent and affordable second-hand bike also if you don’t have the budget.
3. Frame
The frame, just like the heart to human, is the core of a bike.The most money we pay is spent on its frame. The frames of bikes vary from steel, aluminum to carbon fiber, high-tech titanium, and there even is a bamboo frame which is uniqueand environmentally friendly. Different materials can make frames with different features. Based on the features you are looking for, you can choose the frame which is suitable for your needs.
An aluminum frame can make a stiff and light bike, and the price is lower relatively, but you may feel a little harsh when cycling on rough roads. A steel frame is usually used in a touring bike which the weight doesn’t count much. Heavier though it is, its comfort and durability are undeniable. A framemade of carbon fiber is lighter and stiffer than the frame madeof steel or aluminum, and it makes the bike goes faster. And atthe same time, it’s more expensive than the other two, which makes it a choice of high-rank bikes. A titanium frame is very suitable for making a road bike for it is the lightest and most durable one while its anti-corrosion is rather strong.
4. Buy A Bike Which Fits You
There are many sizes of a bike and it’s a very basic thing to consider when buying a new bike. You may think that all those numbers and charts are boring and maybe difficult to understand, but finding the right bike size does play a vital role in the comfort and enjoyment of your cycling.
If you can understand the size charts and numbers, you can findsome basic measurements like your arm length, your leginseam and your torso length. And then figure out the bike top tube you need: basically, your suitable top tube length is your torso length adding your arm length, divide the result by two,and that subtract six. And then you can consult some size charts and numbers. If you are not sure about it, ask for advice from the local bicycle shop. They will be willing to help you.
The tube length you figure out is just a reference value. The most important thing is to try it on your own. When you are actually on the bike, your feeling will tell you whether it’s the right size for you. And you can adjust the height of your seat or your handlebars to get fitter. Only after some trials and errors can we find out the right bike.
Choosing the right bike actually is the first step for us to enjoyour cycling journey. And the best bike, in fact, is the one suits you the most. Considering what type of bike you need, how much you are gonna pay, which frame you want and what isthe right size for you first, it’s easier for us to get our ideal bike. Whatever bike you choose, don’t forget to get yourself a helmet to keep safe.
I really hope this passage will help you to some extend.
