In the last couple of decades a major shift has been happening in transportation. While the majority of people in the western world seemed most interested in travelling via automobile, in the last couple of decades many people have been choosing the bicycle as their primary mode of transportation. This trend can be attributed to the idea of keeping things 'green' in a bid to take care of our planet. It doesn't hurt that gas is increasing in price either! The fact is there are plenty more cyclists on the road now than there were just a few years ago. Maybe you have been pondering purchasing a bike? If you have been thinking about using a bike as your main mode of transportation, or just thinking about getting one for fun, there are a few things you need to think about.
How your bike brakes is incredibly important. It is vital you understand how your brakes work and what brakes will be best suited for your style of cycling. There are some bicycles that have breaks that are designed to grab onto the wheels and squeeze then in order to stop the motion, and this is great for a hobby rider. If you decide you want your bike for more off-roading adventures, you need a different kind of braking system that can keep up with that particular style. Disc brakes sit within the wheels themselves and work are less likely to give out under stress.
Will you need more bells and whistles for your bike to function optimally? If you have to move things using your bike, you’ll certainly want to add a basket. Will a child ever be transported on your bike? Then you have to choose a bike that will allow for a child seat attachment. Will you be towing anything behind you? Your new bike needs to support the weight of the trailer if this is your plan.
Just exactly how many gears do you think you’ll use? If you plan to ride in rocky or mountainous areas, you’ll need more gears than riding on flat land. The number of gears doesn’t make one bike better than another. In actuality, you may never use all the gears. Save your money for a different feature you’ll really use. Ensure you have enough gears to handle the situations in which you will be riding, especially if you bike will be your main mode of transport. As you can see, there are many things to take into consideration when deciding on the perfect bicycle for you. Some people will need a bicycle that can stand up under a lot of wear and tear. Others need a bicycle that will help get them from point to point with very little chance of breaking anonymous down. Price may be the biggest thing you want to consider. As long as you take your time to find out all you need to know about buying a bike, you should be good to go. Buying the first bike you find is not advised, in doing this you could end up with a terrible bike and miss out on one that is perfect for you.