No matter what age you are, learning how to ride a bike is a skill everyone should have. It is a great way to save gas for daily travel and helps incorporate exercise into your lifestyle seamlessly. Plus, it looks pretty cool!
Now, the decision is all yours, so it can seem quite daunting to choose between the endless options available. Finding the right bike isn’t as simple as ensuring a comfortable bike seat and smooth pedaling. Many other factors go into buying the perfect bike, specially if you’re looking for a sporty one. So, keep reading if you want to take your biking game up a notch.
1. Types of Bikes
You’re in for a surprise, as the range of bike types includes electric, comfort, road, mountain, fitness, gravel, and many more. The first type includes a battery and motor, powering the wheels and allowing you to turn the pedals directly. As hub motors can affect steering, you should check your state’s guidelines for e-bikes before purchase. The good thing about e-bikes is their ability to easily incorporate convenience and safety features, customizing the bike to your needs.
If you’re looking for an option to withstand rugged trails and mountainous treks, you may want to opt for a mountain bike. This type can be categorized in two ways: full suspension and hardtail. Full suspension mountain bikes provide better control on rough terrains, but the best hardtail mountain bikes buying guide will tell you that the latter pick is lighter and climbs hills easily.
Road and gravel bikes are durable and heavy, allowing for serious mileage, high speeds, and exceptional performance. Riders typically use these bikes for multiday touring, allowing them better reach and relaxed geometry. Meanwhile, fitness bikes are a combination of road or gravel frames.
2. Nature of Use
If road riding is your thing, look for race-oriented designs, aerodynamic riding positions, and endurance-type frames. In such cases, there’s no better pick than an endurance road bike featuring mudguard mounting points, increased tire clearance, and relaxed geometry.
Those who want to take to the trails should opt for a mountain bike, specially if they want to explore the countryside. Look for features like upright position, fat tires, powerful brakes, and a wide range of gears.
3. Suspension System
It’s also important to consider your bike’s suspension system, which absorbs shock in case of bumpy roads or a collision, keeping your ride smooth. Most mountain bikes have effective suspension systems as the riders typically find themselves in rocky situations.
If you use your bike on bumpy trails, invest in a frame with an efficient suspension system. It’s worth noting that most wide tires add enough suspension, specially if they’re at low relative pressure.
4. Size
If you find the right specialist shop, they’ll help you find the ideal-sized bike for your body. However, it’s worth noting that bike sizes are often inconsistent across different brands, so make sure to do your research on the right sizes for various bike types.
The right-sized bike doesn’t just ensure comfort but also reduces your chances of getting hurt. If your bike is too large, you won’t be able to pedal comfortably and possibly cramp your feet or legs. If the bike is too small, it can be impossible to find a comfortable saddle height while riding.
5. Gears
The gears are an essential part of shopping for bikes, as most bikes have many gears. You’ll commonly find bike frames with 20, 22, 27, and even 30 gears. This variety of gears allows you to comfortably ride up and down different paths.
Although it may seem so, more gears don’t always make for a better bike. Instead, you should opt for a range of gears that suits your intended terrain. The bike’s gears are part of the groupset, including cranksets, cassettes, derailleurs, bottom brackets, brakes, and gear shifters. So, you must ensure your bike’s groupset matches its intended use.
6. Brakes
You’ll also need to pick from a range of breaks for your perfect bike. Luckily, most new bikes are fitted with disc brakes instead of the older cantilever or rim brakes. These newer brakes allow you to stop riding more consistently and provide better control over the intensity of the brakes.
If you opt for a more high-end frame, you’ll have hydraulic brakes, while cheaper bikes typically have mechanical disc brakes. The difference is hydraulic brakes’ ability to improve modulation on the road.
7. Price
Finally, you can look at the price tag. Of course, you may find your dream bike which accommodates you in more ways than one, but what if it’s over your budget? Typically, you’ll spend at least $250 on a non-motorized bike and $550-$900 on a mountain bike.
If you’re looking for a high-quality, long-lasting bike that works for your intended use, you mustn’t expect to spend less than $1000. However, an investment above $2500 will truly find your dream bike.
Conclusion
Finding the perfect bike can be hard, specially if you’re particular about your sports equipment. However, if you spend extra time ensuring that the frame, size, gears, brakes, and longevity are ideal for your intended use, you have a high chance of finding the bicycle of your dreams.
