4 Key Things to Consider while Buying a Bicycle for Adults
Remember the last time you went shopping for a bicycle for an adult? What did you look for before making the purchase? Surely, the price, brand, comfort, and accessories. But do you know there are a lot of other factors to consider when choosing a bicycle?
There are multiple sources of information available at the click of a mouse that offer cycling knowledge and multiple e-commerce websites to buy a cycle online. But how can you purchase a bicycle just by seeing its picture? A cycle has to be experienced. It should be comfortable to ride, solve the purpose and should be value for money.
Consider and analyze the points below. These will help you choose the correct bicycle:
1. Need and Use – Purpose to Buy a Bicycle
Spend time to understand why you want to invest in a bicycle. The purpose can be anything -- fitness, casual riding, commuting, adventure and long-distance riding, off-road cycling. Understanding your need is very important as there are different bicycles for different purposes.
I. Hybrid bicycles for commuting, fitness and casual riding
Hybrid bicycles are a mix of MTB and Road Cycles. Like MTBs, these have straight handlebars but thin tires similar to that on-road cycles. There are hybrids with shock-ups and without and these can be ridden on different terrains
Ii. Road bicycles for Long-Distance rides and racing
Road bicycles are designed for speed and efficiency and perform best when road conditions are good. These bicycles have thin tires and drop handlebars.
III. Beyond road bikes for touring
These look like road bikes with their drop handlebars but a closer look will reveal the difference. The tires are broader than road bikes, the handlebar flayed and the design more comfortable. These necessarily have disc brakes.
IV. MTBs For Off-Road Cycling and Mountain Trails
MTBs can be identified by their broad tires. These have flat handlebars and at least front suspension to withstand shocks on rough terrains and disc brakes. MTBs with two suspensions are used for downhill riding.
V. Fat bikes for riding in deserts or on ice
These can be identified by their extra wide tires. Fat and heavy, these bikes are a pain on roads but super efficient in deserts or on ice.
2. Selecting the Correct frame size as per your height
‘One size fits all’ isn’t true in the case of cycles. It is imperative to select the correct size with reference to rider height and leg length. With correct frame size, perfect posture can be achieved, greatly increasing the efficiency and comfort of riding while reducing the possibility of injury.
3. Choosing a Cycle as per Riding Conditions
Select one considering the terrain on which you’ll be riding. A multi-gear bicycle is always suggested. If road conditions aren’t good, a bicycle with front suspension is suggested.
4. Budget
This is the trickiest part. With higher price come great features, comfort, and quality. But the budget should be purely based on your purpose. A high budget bicycle will give you a great experience which you would like have more often ensuring continuity of riding.
Consider these points. Stop worrying, start pedaling!
Happy Bicycling!