Matthew Davies Learns to Choose the Right Bicycle
Introduction
It is normal to get confused or overwhelmed when you want to buy your first bicycle. There are several types of bicycles to choose from and each of them can offer a unique set of features that may or may not be suitable for you. My friend Matthew Davies, spent a whole week researching on bikes before he went to buy one. Now, he has the perfect bike.
What is Important?
Today, we will discuss how you can choose the right bicycle for you. Read below to know, on which things you need to pay attention before deciding which bicycle to buy.
- Bike type - Primarily, there are 4 types of bike and each type is suitable for riding on a different type of surface or riding habits. These are -
Road bikes - This type of bicycles are built for speed and best for riding around in the city or over a pavement.
Mountain bikes - This type of bicycles are built for off-road use. Thus, it is very easy to travel on gravel roads or rugged trials using this type of bikes.
Hybrid bikes - This type of bicycles are like a combination of road bikes and mountain bikes. You can travel on both off-road as well as pavements using these type of bikes.
However, they don’t offer the same speed as road bikes nor the amount of control you can get on mountain bikes.
Cruiser bikes - This type of bikes are generally built for leisure travel around a beach or the city. They are mainly used for comfortable riding experience.
- Bike features - Before you buy a bike, take a look at the following features -
No. of gears - Modern bicycles usually come in 18, 21, 24 or 27 gears. More gears are useful if you want to climb hills or steep roads. If you generally plan on riding straight roads, they may not be that important for you.
Brake type - Generally, bicycles come with 2 types of brakes - rim brakes or disc brakes. Rim brakes are more economical to use or replace but provide less stopping power in muddy or wet conditions.
Disc brakes offer superior and consistent braking performance even in bad weather. However, it is more costly to use and replace.
Suspension - If you want to travel on off-roads, you need to buy a bicycle with a full suspension as it can provide more traction, comfort and reduce the impact on your body. For city riding, you can choose a bike with only front suspension. These are also easier to maintain. If you want a bike only for speed, you can choose a bike with no suspension at all. These bikes are light-weight due to having no suspensions.
- Bike comfort - Even if your bike has amazing features, it will not be fun to ride if it not comfortable. Thus, before choosing a bike, make sure to get the right size bike for you with a good handlebar shape.
- Bike price - It is normal to think that a higher priced bike will be a better fit for you. However, that is simply not the case. A more costly bike can offer you more features that you may not need or it may even ruin your travel experience. By carefully choosing a bike which only has the features you need and is also comfortable to ride, you will not only save cost but also enjoy a superior riding experience.
Final thoughts
So, be like my friend Matthew Davies, and carefully consider your needs and wants. Once you know that you can easily choose a bicycle for yourself.
