Bicycles Buyers Guide
Buying a bike is a very personal experience, because more often than not, the new bike is meant for just one individual and is not something to be shared by the whole family. There is so much choice in bikes today that the selection process can appear somwhat complex. A good starting point would be to decide on how exactly you propose to use it. Just like shoes, bikes are designed for specific uses: for city riding, for racing or for riding in mountainous terrain, to mention a but a few examples.
Types of Bikes and Key Features
Although some bikes can be regarded as hybrids and arguably fit in more than one of the following categories, the main genres are as follows:
Mountain Bikes
These are a big hit, particularly with younger users and come with an ever widening range of gears. Most mountain bikes also come with some degree of suspension and a frame / wheel layout designed for easy manoeuvrability. That said, they invariably have a set of rugged, 'knobbly' tyres designed for grip but which create an element of road resistance. So if you're thinking of using your mountain bike mainly on city roads, you might want to replace the tyres with 'slicks.' When you ride a mountain bike, the chances are that you'll have to adopt an inclined body position which isn't optimum for flat road surfaces. There is a seemingly endless range of accessories including pedometers / computers; saddle bags; tool kits; lights; mudgards; various saddle and handlebar options to name but a few. Clearly accessories equate not only to cost but - more importantly - to additional weight so you may need to exercise some restraint!
City Bikes / Road Bikes
Also known as hybrids, these come with light weight, smooth tyres that reduce road resistance and make pedalling easy. The frame is designed so the rider adopts a more upright riding position that's ideal for roads. Hybrids generally come complete with mudguards and other standard fittings. You can ride these on different kinds of terrain (although they are not designed to withstand the extremes of terrain for which mountain bikes are intended) and they are good for long distance riding. However, if you plan on participating in sporting events you will probably need to consider a racing bike.
Racing Bikes
If you're in the market for a speed racer, you'll need to consider a bike that is lightweight and designed for a streamlined riding position to minimise wind resistance. The best racing bikes have light wheels with thin slick tyres and drop handle bars. These features are a must for achieving maximum speeds and efficient racing. On the flip side, the tyres are by definition more prone to punctures and are not very effective on poor road surfaces. Lightweight racing wheels are also easily buckled so rough terrain is out. The riding position can make the ride a bit wearisome on everyday trips when compared to hybrid bikes. Gearing is far higher than that of mountain bikes, reflecting the relatively flat terrain of a road run. The real money here is in the metallurgy: go for the lightest possible frame that your budget can stretch to.
Folding Bikes
If you're going to be using different modes of transport and plan to ride your bike for just a part of the journey, you might consider going in for a folding bike. The advantage here is that the bike can be folded up and stashed away in the boot of the car or bus, or carried on the train. Folding bikes are equipped with small wheels and fewer gears (usually of the internal three speed hub variety rather than the 18-24 speed derailleurs seen on other bike genres) and are really suitable only for short journeys. Saddles tend to be conventional sprung models although some higher end offerings may offer gel saddles as an option. When choosing a folding bike, check the simplicity of the folding mechanism itself as these do vary somewhat. A good design should take only moments to fold / unfold and lock into place.
Cycles for People with Special Needs
There are specially designed bikes for people with a disability, allowing their owners the benefit of mobility besides promoting good physical exercise and the thrill of a good bike ride. As an example, the Micah Trike is reported to be a good model for children and young adults who have cerebral palsy (CP) or a related disability. Riding this bike allows users to have a fun yet relatively safe riding experience.
Choosing a Good Bike
Always go for the type of bike that most closely suits the kind of cycling you'll be doing for the most part. Rather like a car, you will need to test ride different bikes before you buy: models in the same group can have a surprisingly different road feel. Specify your needs clearly and ask the bike retailer to suggest the right size of bike and the correct seating position for you. Try to get the seat and handlebar positions adjusted to suit your comfort before taking delivery. When buying online, most local bike shops will be happy to undertake this for you after the event for a small charge.
Comfort Matters
Once you've chosen the brand and model of the bike you wish to buy, it's important to focus on the right size of frame that matches your build and height and have the adjustments made. If you're a woman, make sure you go for the women's models unless you have a specific reason for doing otherwise. Most retailers will offer a range of saddles as an optional extra. If you are planning to spend protracted periods on the road, choosing the right saddle is essential, particularly for men as research has shown that poor saddles can affect blood flow to the groin area with potentially serious consequences. There are numerous medically designed saddles, many of them using modern gel technology, which are specifically designed to minimise this risk.
Future Bike Technology
As metallurgy and other composite technology science continues to evolve, frames will become ever lighter without sacrificing strength or rigidity. Similarly, other components including stems, handlebars and even drivetrain and gear elements will benefit from these advances. Many higher end bikes now come with disc brakes as opposed to the traditional rubber rim brakes. Not only is this technology more effective but it reduces friction through poorly aligned brakes and any wheel buckle. It is likely that disc brakes will find their way onto ever more bikes, including those at the budget end of the scale in the future.
Conclusion
Choosing a bike can be both an enjoyable as well as a challenging experience. Bike lovers today have almost too much variety from which to choose, with bikes designed for a range of different activities from mountain to cross-country to just plain city riding. From the handle bars to the frame size and almost every other part of the bike, there are features that distinguish one model from the other. Aside from choosing a bike designed for your intended use and accurately sized to your proportions, be sure to have a local bike shop adjust it and fine tune it correctly.
|
Vouchers Feed
Compare Prices