There are a lot of different criteria to consider when you are buying a cycling bicycle. Take heart! Even professional cyclists struggle when choosing their next bicycle. The truth is that there are a lot of things to think about when buying a bicycle. You need to think about safety, comfort, what the bike will be used for, how often the bicycle will be used, where the bicycle will be used and, if we’re being honest: style. All the existing options make it hard to make a choice; this choice is made more difficult by all the emerging technologies. It’s easy to just use our criteria to pick the best bike for you.
Consider how the bicycle brakes, for one. Be sure you know how your brakes work and which type you will likely need. Those who do not use their bikes very regularly will be happy with normal brakes, those which simply squeeze the tire with two small pads to slow the bike down. If you are going to be using your bicycle more often or in heavy terrain, you will want brakes that are a little more hard core and complicated. For such cycling you should look to disc brakes, these are located within the wheel itself and are less likely to be weakened over time or worse, fail.
If you intend to get a road bike then take 9" away from your total inseam. This is due to the type of tires you will be using for a road bike. Designed to work best on concrete pavements, road bikes are best suited to cycling around the city. You will want to subtract 12" for a mountain bike. Again this is to account for the type of tires you will be using. They are thicker and meant for a rockier terrain. It is possible to use mountain bikes for city cycling although this is not what they are best suited for.
Be sure to allow room between the crossbar and yourself. When selecting a bike make sure you move the seat up slightly, to around a few inches above the height of the crossbar. You should be able to still rest your feet flat on the floor. Each type of bike requires different clearances. A touring bike for example will require around 1", click for info perhaps slightly more. With a mountain bike a clearance of 3" will be necessary.
You will see there are many things you should consider when you are finding the bike that's right for you. 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.