Before you buy a bicycle, here are some tips for finding the right type for your workout.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Buying a bike can be as complicated as shopping for a new car. There are a lot of factors to consider. That’s why it’s important to ask yourself a few big picture questions before moving on to the details.
How will you be using the bike? Casually? On roads? On trails? Nowadays there are mountain bikes, road bikes, cruisers, comfort bikes, etc. There are even hybrid bikes that combine the features of mountain and roads bikes! Decide what your plans are for using it and go from there.
Road bikes are built for speed. They’re lighter, have narrower tires, and the handlebars are low so that you ride hunched over to keep down wind resistance.
Mountain bikes are built for stability and off-road performance, so they tend to be heavier, have treaded and thicker tires, and have suspension systems to absorb bumps.
When picking out a bike, size matters. Straddle the bike. You should have 1-2 inches of room above the top bar. 3-4 inches if you plan on doing off-roading. Make sure you can comfortably reach the handlebars.
When the pedal is at its lowest position your knee should bend about 25-30 degrees. The handlebar position depends on the type of bike you’re buying.
Don’t be afraid to take several for test drives. There are tons of gadgets and add-ons out there, such as shifting, braking, quick-release operations, etc. Figure out what you truly need versus what you want. It will affect the price.
Speaking of price, the end of the year is typically the best time to purchase a new bike because a lot of stores are slashing prices to get rid of their old inventory.
Once you’ve found the bike for you get out and enjoy the outdoors. Remember to obey traffic laws while biking, be a defensive rider, and lastly, no matter what bike you buy always wear a helmet.