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Get the right bicycle for your needs

  • Ron 

The worldwide pandemic has pushed people to gain a new perspective on life. Starting from whipping up delicious meals to picking up the good old guitar – people have been forced to slow down. If you are one of those who feel trapped staying indoors, you may have looked for ways to step out. This is where bicycles have saved millions of people from boredom and inactivity.

Bicycles are a new way to explore the outdoors. They help you get your daily exercise and also make for an exciting way to move around. You could be visiting the nearby grocery store or taking a break from the city life – bicycles provide you with a certain sense of freedom. However, it goes without saying that to ride a bike, you need to own one.

Buying a bicycle can be a daunting task as the number of options is endless. However, if you are new to the world of cycling, the options are relatively straightforward. This guide aims to help beginners buy a bicycle that is just right for them. Are you inspired by the Tour De France and wish to cruise around with your new bike? Go through this bicycle buying guide to know more.

How to Make the Right Choice?

Before you go to the bicycle store to make the purchase, it is better to know what you should be looking for. So here are a few pointers that will push you in the right direction.

Objective

The first thing you need to know is the reason for buying a bicycle. Why do you want to ride a bike? Is it just to facilitate traversing small distances, or do you wish to take it up seriously? The objective behind the purchase makes the purchase easier.

Budget

There can be no decision without a budget in mind. When it comes to bicycles, the number of options you will have are endless. As a result, they will belong to an extensive range of prices as well. Set your budget so that you do not end up overspending. However, be flexible in terms of your consideration as no one wants to miss out on a good deal. 

Surface

Where and how do you want to ride? If you wish to buy a bicycle for commuting, then you will mostly be on the pavement. If you wish to travel around the city, a city bike or an electric bike fits the list. Mountain bikes are best for off-road trails and uneven terrain, while being ill-suited to road riding. Once you have figured out the objective behind buying a bicycle, it will be easier to answer this question.

Type

Bicycles can be broadly classified into six types – road bikes, mountain bikes, commuter cycles, fat bikes, foldable bikes and hybrid cycles. Each of these has its own unique features regarding the tire width, design, and handling efficiency. These days, electric bikes are pretty popular as they offer speed and automation with little to no environmental impact and they are available in most of the six types mentioned above.

Brand and Store

There seems to be more bike brands than ever. Some are more focused on family or casual riders, while others are more oriented towards racers or those that seek performance. Your best option is to visit larger stores in your area that carry a number of different brands. Qualified sales staff can learn more about your interests and desires to direct you to appropriate brands or styles.

There is an increasing number of brands that sell direct-to-consumer over the internet. While these brands do cover the spectrum of bicycle types, I’d recommend starting with a local dealer if you’re buying your first bike in a while.

Size

Fitting the rider to the bike, and having the right size bicycle, is all too often overlooked. A bike that is too big or too small can quickly lead to fatigue and even joint injury, and, you can hurt yourself if you can properly control the bike because of its size

Insurance

Quality bicycles should be looked at as an investment, as they will serve you for many years to come. Unfortunately, they can also be subject to damages from crashes and from theft. Especially for the new rider, we recommend bicycle insurance to protect your bike from accidental damages and theft. Bicycle insurances provide extra coverages and third party liabilities, and some providers also provide coverage for wear and tear, electrical or mechanical breakdowns, and damage to self or self-property.

Anatomy of a Bicycle

It is good to be aware of the anatomy of a bicycle if you wish to get a bike. The essential parts of a bike include:

Frame

The frame supports the rider and all of the other components of the bike. Frames can be made out of steel, aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber. All of the materials have their advantages and disadvantages. While you can find steel and aluminum framed bicycles at nearly all price levels, carbon and titanium are largely reserved for higher end bikes.

Wheelset

The wheelset consists of the rim, hub, spokes, and tire working together as a system. Most quality bikes sold nowadays will have a wheelset made with alloy (aluminum) rims. There are carbon fiber wheelsets available, but as with frames, these tend to be found on higher end bicycles.

Brakes

There are three types of brakes – rim brakes, coaster hub brakes, and disc brakes. Disc brakes are increasingly popular across a number of bicycle types and can be further classified into mechanical and hydraulic disc brakes systems. While the hydraulic systems do provide the best performance, they are not really optimized for maintenance by casual mechanics. 

Suspension

Suspension is often incorrectly thought to buffet the rider from road and trail imperfections and obstacles. While that is a benefit, the real job of suspension is to give the rider more control by keeping the wheels in contact with the road or trail. They also reduce jarring if the bike does have an impact.

Bike manufacturers don’t want you to know this, but suspension on bikes under $500 is largely cosmetic.

Drivetrain

The drivetrain of a bike is how your muscle power propels you forward. A complete drivetrain system is composed of shifters (operated by the rider), derailleurs that move the chain on the gears, a crankset with one to three gears, and a cassette with anywhere from 7 to 12 gears. Bikes can have anywhere from 12 to 30 gears nowadays, but more is not necessarily better. Bikes with fewer gears can provide a shifting range similar to their counterparts with more gears, but with significant savings in weight and complexity. Advanced bikes consist of a complex gear system offering higher flexibility. 

There are also electronic shift systems that replace shift cables with wires or even work wirelessly.

Contact Points

The contact points constitute the seat, pedals, and handlebar and stem. While you should expect some time for your body to grow accustomed to riding, it should go without saying that you should not feel discomfort in your hands, feet or your rear end when you’re riding your new bike.

Concluding Thoughts

Most European countries have shifted to more eco-friendly ways of travelling using electric cars and bikes. However, India is gradually on the road to attaining the same. If you are considering switching to bicycles, the timing could have never been better. Visit good bike shops and request a test ride to decide which bike suits you best as a beginner.

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