In recent times the western world has undergone a transportation change. Cars were the king of the road, however we can now see a growing trend in the popularity of cycling as a main method of transport. 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. Perhaps you have been giving some thought to getting a bike yourself? 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.
One of the major parts of choosing the right cycling bicycle for you is making sure that the bicycle is the right size. For this you must calculate your inseam. To do this, simply run a measuring tape up the inside of your leg from the bottom of your foot to your groin. You should be able to sit on your bike while keeping both feet flat on the ground. This is for saftey reasons and will allow you to stop the bike if your brakes fail, avoiding any injury. Believe it or not, your bicycle seat should not sit at its lowest setting, resting against the crossbar. Be sure to consider these few necessary inches between the seat and the crossbar, when you are out bicycle shopping. When you bring the seat up a few inches, you are going to have more room between the crossbar and you, and this will make for a much more comfortable ride. The goal here is to create a height with your seat so that when your pedal is at its lowest position your leg should be almost (but not quite) fully extended.
Be sure to allow room index between the crossbar and yourself. When choosing a bike move the seat so it is a couple of inches above the crossbar. You should be able to still rest your feet flat on the floor. Different bikes will need differing clearance amounts. A touring bike for example will require around 1", perhaps slightly more. With a mountain bike however you will need some more, 3 inches should suffice.
There are lots of things to think about when you are trying to find the right cycling bicycle to fit your needs. It can become a frustrating process at times to try and figure out exactly what bike you need and which accessories you should get to go with it. Take your time and do some research and you’ll find the right bike before you know it.