The preferred mode of transport has taken an unlikely turn in recent years. 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. It could be down to efforts to remain green, perhaps people want to save money on high gas prices, or maybe many people just want to get in shape! Either way there are now more bikes on the road then ever before. 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.
One thing you can consider when choosing a bike is whether or not your feet can rest flat on the floor while you are sitting so you can stop yourself. There are certain professionals, though, who disagree with this concept. They state the best way to choose a bike is to leave a few inches between your feet and the ground so you can have a more comfortable ride. If your feet are sitting flat on the ground while your butt is on the seat, this usually means that the seat is too close to the crossbar and will need to be adjusted for comfort. Also, if you find that your knees are bent when sitting on the bike, your knees are going to come up too high when you are pedaling your bike. You shouldn't keep the bicycle seat at the lowest setting, either. You always want to bring the seat up at least a few inches when you begin to ride, so keep this in mind when you are picking your bike. Adjusting your seat up a few inches will give you more clearance between you and the crossbar of your bicycle, which can add quite a bit of comfort to your 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.
It is important you allow for room between you and the crossbar. When you choose your bike, adjust the seat up a few inches from the crossbar and then sit on the bike. Your feet should still comfortably rest on the ground. Each type of bike requires different clearances. A good example is a touring bike, with these bikes you will only need around 1" difference. With a mountain bike however you will need some more, 3 inches should suffice. There are a lot of criteria to use when deciding which cycling bicycle is right for you. Do you want to ride your bicycle every day or do you see yourself only riding it once in a while? Which height of bike is the most comfortable fit for you? Do you prefer your feet to rest flat on the ground or do you like to have some pop over to these guys room between them and the ground when you are sitting on the bicycle’s seat? You will want to answer all of these important questions, as you make your bicycle selection.