- Step1
Examine the $150 bikes at a discount store. This is what junk looks like; do not buy these bikes, because they will never work well. Prepare to spend more at a reputable bike shop.
- Step2
Test-ride before buying. Sizing systems are confusing, as some refer to wheel sizes while others refer to frame sizes. Additionally, frames are not always sized using the same measuring system. One company's 17-inch mountain-bike frame, for example, probably won't be the same size as another's. Look for smooth shifting and good handling.
- Step3
Know what the bikes' components are: wheels, tires, brakes, pedals, derailleurs and anything that attaches. The more familiar you are with these individual items, the more information you can absorb from a salesperson.
- Step4
Understand what benefits are provided by different frame materials. Aluminum alloys are stiff and good for short rides, while chromoly and titanium frames absorb more road vibration, making longer rides more comfortable.
- Step5
Choose pedals depending on your need. Your options are a basic flat pedal; a basic pedal with a cage around it (called a toe clip); and clipless pedals for which you have to buy special shoes that attach directly to the pedal.
- Step1
Mountain bikes are designed to tolerate rough treatment and abuse. They also give comfort and stability over rough terrain, on a bona fide mountain or over curbs and potholes. A lot of this ruggedness comes from the fat tires, which don't roll as effortlessly as road tires.
- Step2
Decide what you can afford. A $400 mountain
bike works great for general cruising and trail rides. For aggressive riding with hard climbs and descents, plan on spending $700 or more. - Step3
Stand over the top tube of a prospective bike and make sure your feet touch the ground comfortably. This is very important on a mountain bike--you may need to bail to avoid a wipeout.
- Step4
Look for a frame that allows a comfortable, upright riding position. A cramped frame with too short a distance between handlebar and seat will not allow you to stand up and pedal, and will tend to tip backward on steep climbs.
- Step5
Decide if you want front suspension, full suspension or neither. Most mountain bikes include front suspension, as the majority of riders consider it essential. Full suspension is fun for fast downhills but adds weight, cost and a decrease in pedaling efficiency.
- Step6
Do a subjective assessment of how the bike feels. You'll usually achieve a proper fit by feel more than by numbers. How does the bike climb? Can you stand up and steer easily?
- Step1
Most road bike designs are race-driven, designed for lightweight and aerodynamic efficiency at the expense of comfort. Touring bikes may have upright handlebars, fenders, carrying racks and other amenities. A $300 bicycle is fine for moderate riding. A $500 bicycle will last longer, have better brakes and shift more smoothly. For serious workouts, racing or high-mileage riding, plan to spend $900 or more.
- Step2
Decide on your comfort needs. Don't let the salesperson talk you into a racing-style bike if you don't want one. Instead look for one with higher handlebars to take the strain off your back.
- Step3
Change the seat (also called a saddle) to suit your bottom line. Larger, well-cushioned seats are available. Both men and women can buy seats with a gel insert or concave area to reduce pressure on sensitive parts (check them out at sites such as REI.com and TerryBicycles.com).
- Step4
Examine wheel and tire widths. Wider tires are comfortable and more secure but slower. Racing bikes are equipped with narrow, high-pressure tires, which are fast but require more skill and concentration.
- Step5
Consider the bike's weight. It does matter, but not as much as most people think. A 40-lb. (15-kg) bike is not as pleasant to ride as a 22-lb. (8-kg) bike, but most of us can't tell a 20-lb. (7.5-kg) bike from a 22-lb. one.
- Step6
Visit several shops and ask about frame sizing and composition. You are likely to get different answers. Listen to the staff, but use your own judgment and go for many test rides.
- Step7
Pay attention to the top tube's length. This is the bar that forms the top of the bike frame and is the primary determinate of the distance between the seat and the handlebar. Too long a top tube and you will be uncomfortably stretched out. Too short and you will be cramped. Look for a frame length that allows you to move your hands to different positions on the handlebars and doesn't force you to place too much weight on them.
Tips & Warnings- The more you know about bicycle components, the more likely you will be to spot good deals. Expensive bikes have top-shelf component packages that you would be hard-pressed to equal in price if you tried to purchase individually. Cheap bikes have cheap components, and midrange bikes have a mixture. As a buyer, it's your job to spot the differences.
- Unless you are, in fact, a racer, extremely lightweight frames and wheels are not the best choice. They're designed to win races, not to provide stability and durability, and won't always tolerate riders who weigh over 180 lbs. (67 k).
- There's no need to spend a lot on children's bicycles because they're quickly outgrown. Spend enough to get important safety features like good brakes.
- You can replace handlebars with a shape that suits your grip comfort needs and riding style.source from : EHow
Thursday, September 10, 2009
How to Buy a Bicycle
There are so many different types of bicycles that making a decision can be difficult. The primary consideration is to get a bike that matches your needs and fits properly; after that, it's a matter of test-driving to see what you and your budget like.
Instructions
How to Select a GT Bicycle
Started three decades ago in a Southern California garage, GT Bicycles began as a manufacturer of BMX, or motocross, bikes. Their next move was into themountain bike
market, followed by road bikes and recreational models. Today, GT bikes are still most often seen on the BMX circuit, but they remain a solid choice for roadies and mountain bikers as well.
Instructions
- Step1
Make sure you try out BMX riding or mountain biking if you've never done this type of riding before. You will want to select a bicycle that you will ride happily for a long time.
- Step2
Get online to the GT bikes Web site and select the bicycle category of your choice.
- Step3
Note the model names of the bikes that offer what you're looking for and look up the authorized GT bicycle dealers near you.
- Step4
Ask your GT dealer to size you for the model of bicycle you're looking for. Each category's frame has different attributes that can require different sizing parameters. If you're used to one type of bike and are moving to another, it will likely feel odd, so do listen to the sizing recommendations of the experts.
- Step5
Test ride an assortment of GT bikes by putting them through their paces. While you should always test ride the bicycle you want, this is particularly true for mountain and BMX bikes. While you obviously cannot jump off ramps, you can get the feel for both types of bikes by taking them up over curbs and other small urban streetscape features.
- Step6
Select the GT bicycle that fits your needs today and down the road.
Tips & Warnings
- If you're looking for a BMX bike or mountain bike, you'll still want to know what type of BMX riding or mountain bike riding you'll be doing. BMX offers everything from dirt track racing to jumping and freestyle, while mountain biking can be standard cross-country mountain biking to so-called "downhill," which is described by the name.
- GT Bicycles had a recall of a certain frame style back in the mid-1990s, but this problem has long been rectified and should not affect your decision to select GT.
Select the Perfect GT Bicycle
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