If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed or have new posts delivered to your e-mail inbox. Thanks for visiting BicycleFrenzy.com!
I’ve been trying to convince my girlfriend to get a bicycle for some time now. I’ve just about accomplished this and we have even gone and looked at some bikes. There are a lot of options when it comes to picking out a bicycle and getting started with cycling these days. So read on and maybe this will provide a little assistance with getting started. If you’re trying to get your girlfriend or boyfriend to bike you can force them to read this and it may save you the trouble. So here we go.
What kind of bike should I get?
Well that all depends on where and what kind of cycling you intend to do. Maybe you are a little older and you want to just ride on the Katy Trail for a little exercise and something to do on the weekends. Maybe you want to take a cross country road tour or you want to ride on Chubb Trail in St. Louis or Opossum Hollow in Knob Noster State Park. Maybe you just want to ride your bike to work because gas prices are climbing. The best thing you can do is find a local bike shop and talk to some one there. They can help you decide on the best bike to fit your needs.
I can get a cheaper bike at Wal-Mart, why should I go to a bike shop?
The major retail outlets are less expensive because of volume of sales and cheaper components. The Schwinn you buy at K-Mart is not the same Schwinn you would get from a bicycle shop. The bicycles in the retail outlets are also not assembled by people who really know bikes. The part time employee at Wal-Mart putting bikes together in the store room isn’t concerned if the bearings aren’t properly installed or if the chain isn’t adjusted just right. The wrenches at your local bicycle shops can’t afford to loose business or have unhappy customers due to poor assembly. They take great pride in selling quality bicycles. You should also get properly fitted for a bike. If the bicycle fits you better it will lead to a more comfortable and enjoyable experience. Last time I checked they didn’t have anyone at Wal-Mart helping customers pick the bike that fit them the best.
Do I have to wear spandex?
No you don’t have to but for some types of cycling it is more comfortable if you do. If you are going to ride a road bike across Kansas then you will want cycling shorts. If you want to ride across town to the library then you probably wouldn’t wear cycling shorts. Cycling specific clothing has several advantages over others types of clothing while cycling. Cycling shorts and pants have a chamois in the rear that provides some additional padding as well as moisture wicking to prevent chaffing on your bum when riding. The close fit of the spandex prevents the material from getting bunched up or getting caught in any moving parts. If you are commuting a short distance or going on shorter rides at a generally leisurely pace then you may not want or need cycling specific cloths.
What else do I need besides a bike?
That sort of depends on what kind of bicycling you intend to do. If you want to take day trips or even longer trips, you will want some sort of seat bag or panniers to carry stuff. You will need a spare tube or at least a tube patch kit and a good multi tool. You should get a water bottle cage and bottle (a lot of bike shops even throw these in for free…you won’t get that at Wal-Mart) or some sort of CamelBak so you can stay hydrated. Last but absolutely not least you will need a good bicycle helmet that fits properly.
Do I really need a helmet?
You absolutely need a helmet! There are lots styles and brands to choose from. Helmets these days are stylish, light weight, and have plenty of air flow. There is no good reason to not wear a helmet. If you are mountain biking there are plenty of rocks and trees to crash into. Your head was not designed to take the kind of impact that can happen if you should get in an accident on its own so do the smart thing and get a helmet.
This is by no means the ultimate guide to getting started in cycling and there are plenty of better sites and more questions that could be asked. Hopefully this will provide a little jumping off point for someone. Check out the links throughout this article for some additional info.
Subscribe to BicycleFrenzy.com by Email
{ 0 comments… add one now }