Popular methods of transport have altered in recent times. Before the car was transport of choice but recently however the use of push bikes has become increasingly popular. Perhaps the trend can be put down to 'green' thinking, or maybe just the prices of gas are starting to get to people. The fact is there are plenty more cyclists on the road now than there were just a few years ago. Maybe you have been pondering purchasing a bike? If so the following is some handy advice on what to look out for.
You must make sure you get a bike that is the appropriate size for you. The measurement of your inseam is needed for this. Your inseam is the amount of inches from the bottom of your foot, up the inside of your leg to your groin. Ideally you should be able to place both feet on the ground while on your bike. This is for saftey reasons and will allow you to stop the bike if your brakes fail, avoiding any injury. Your bicycle seat should not be at the lowest setting, which is sitting atop the crossbar. You always want to change the position of the seat so that it is a few inches higher than normal, so keep this in mind when picking your bike. Adjusting your seat this 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 that you allow adequate room between you and the crossbar. When selecting a bike make sure you move the seat up slightly, to around a few inches above the height of the crossbar. Your feet should still comfortably rest on the ground. Which bike you get will greatly alter the clearance you will require. As an example, with a touring bike you will only require around 1". For mountain bikes you will require somewhere around 3 inches.
You will see there are many things you should consider when you are finding the bike that's right for you. There are so many different bicycles and accessories available that it can feel overwhelming as you try to decide which items are best for you. Don't become discouraged; map out what you need for your bike and you'll be on your way in no time.