A ride on a bicycle tends to take one to flashback memory when as youngsters bicycle ride to schools with friends was an enjoyable affair. Thanks to the rising petrol price, today people opt for bicycle rides more often.

Another reason for popularity of bicycle is unlike bikes and four-wheelers, it does not pollute the environment. It requires nearly zero maintenance. Bicycle rides are considered to be a very form of exercise to burn out the extra calorie. Sport events like Tour de France inspires people for bicycle ride. If you are a bike enthusiastic looking out to buy a new bike for serious training or a casual rider who wants to have a bike for lazy Sunday family ride, this article justifies your need.

Bicycles are of various types. Thought eh basic structure remains same, the machinery as well as pick up power will be different depending upon the long and short distance riding. For example, the pick up power of street riding bicycles are different from that of race riding bikes. The trekking or expedition bikes come with stronger surcupture. Now even hybrid bicycles are available in foldable manner for easy transportation in a narrow area.

Similarly another category of bicycles are all terrain bicycles which are suitable for every occasion. Bicycles are manufactured specific to gender because traditionally, women are short and tend to have a shorter reach. Hence the top tubes are slanted to make it easier to dismount even in a skirt. The suspension may be specially adjusted with more expensive bikes.

Before buying you should decide which type of bicycle suits your need. One of the most important things to consider while buying a bicycle is to check if the bicycle fits as per your height or not lest the whole money invested on a new bike will be a total waste. It would be better if you go for a test ride to check if you are comfortable with the size of the bicycle. Do not worry; even if you are considerably shorter in height, there is bike for every size. You just need to choose one as per your height. Make sure to choose the saddle according to your pelvis shape. You can go for changing the saddle, if the one in bike does not fit you.

Gears are important component of bicycles. So double check the gear to ensure that it runs properly . Brakes and wheel come next in the consideration while buying a new bicycle. Never go in for cheap bargain. An expert and CyTech qualified sales man can guide you better while buying a new bicycle. These days, so many online shops sell bicycles and that too on attractive price.

However, it is not advisable to go in for online buying which are never seen or never tried for who knows they might be second hand or have faulty body parts. While buying a new bicycle, it is always a good idea to buy other safety accessories such as helmet, knee-pads, gloves which are a must while riding a bicycle.

People take it for granted that bicycle riding is a safer option as compared to electronic bikes. However, a considerable number of people die every year in road accident because of careless riding of bicycle. So always abide by the traffic rule. The city roads are not meant for bicycle racing. So avoid riding through red light when there is cross traffic.

If you are riding at night, a front headlight is mandatory for your bicycle. Use loud horn so that you can signal other vehicles while overtaking them. Always drive to the farthest left side, so that you can avoid the chance of being hit by a lorry or speeding cars. If you take care of these certain things, your can enjoy a safe bicycle riding!

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1.Not choosing a budget and sticking to it.

Some people make the basic mistake of spending too much for their bike then not having enough to buy the basic accessories associated with most bikes. 

Think about the extra items you will need to buy, puncture repair kits, basic tools, clothing, shoes and gloves also a good quality pump. Allow these into your budget. Expect to pay from £250.00 to £8,000.00 for a road racing bike.

 2.choosing a bike because you like the colour and your friend has one so you want the same. Just because the colour of the frame may match the colour of your favourite cycling team doesn’t mean you’ll be able to ride like a pro. The bike may well have been poorly manufactured parts or could be assembled using just a set of pliers.

 The sales and marketing for all bike manufacturers is to make the bike appealing to the eye and to fulfill a dream of being able to ride as fast as their heroes in the Tour de France.

Avoid this mistake by choosing a racing bike that has a good mix of quality components and a smart paint job that is pleasing to your eye.

Here are a few pointers in choice of frame:

Just be very aware of the material of the frame which normally has a sticker on the frame between the pedals. This sticker will state the steel type, carbon, aluminium or titanium.

With some manufacturers they offer a lifetime warranty on the paintwork, so, if you have a few stone chips then take it in to the dealer where you bought the bike and get it resprayed or they will exchange the frame.

Its possible to choose an “off the peg” frame which is already painted to the manufacturers colours, or, you have a custom paint job. Take a look at posh bikes .com they have a fantastic range of limited edition paint applications for both racing and mountain bike frames. This company also airbrush an image of a ghostly face on the frame that is not reproduced on any other frame.

Carefully think about what you are using your bike for. Just because your mate has a great looking bike and you want one the same doesn’t mean that it will be suitable for you.

3.wrong choice of size of frame

 Probably the most important aspect of choosing a racing bike is the correct frame size. This can have physiological effects both in the short and long term if you have a bike that does not fit you. Please keep in mind that when buying a bike for a child that have a few more years growth and development. This means they will outgrow their bike within a matter of 6 to 12 months.

It may well be worth considering buying a racing bike that is a few sizes too big for them, or, just buy a secondhand racing bike from Ebay or Cycling Weekly magazine. A good quality secondhand race bike will cost around £250.00.

To get the correct size either visit your local bike dealer or look at the websites below for extensive advice.

Bike sizing can be a complex procedure with many different variables taken into consideration. For this reason please view the following websites to obtain the best information on the correct size frame for you. I would not give any advise to what frame would fit your particular height, body size, ability.

There are now women specific frames meaning that the geometry of the frame best suited for women cyclists.

Above all your cycling experience must be enjoyable and comfortable so the choice of frame size should be a cautious one.

4.not knowing the use of your racing bike, are you going to be a  club rider, racing or time trialling.

You have chosen to ride a racing bike. At what level do you want to ride? If its to join a local cycling club and to ride the odd Sunday as a group which can be very sociable as well as improving your fitness dramatically. for this purpose an ideal racing bike would cost between £350.00 to £500.00 which is at he lower end of of the race bikes. The frame will be made from steel and the weight of the bike will be about 22 pounds. Riding in a club will also provide you with alot of knowledge and advise from other club mates.

You may want to progress to road racing? The need for a lighter and more responsive frame is advisable. Also the moving parts on the bike need to be lighter, work more efficiently and unfortunately are more expensive. The weight of a good quality racing bike will be 15 to 18 pounds. In road racing you get to ride at speeds up to 30 miles per hour on the flat, 25 on the uphills and 50 miles per hour on descents.

If you want to start time trialling. These are raced alone against the clock over 10,25,50,100 mile distances ten for there are 12 hour and 24 hour events where you ride as far as you can over those periods of time. You can ride these on a racing bike or more specialized time trial bikes are available.

Take some advice from the British Cycling website or just ask your local cycling club if they hold any time trial events

Whatever your dreams are of cycling you should just enjoy and be safe.

5.Incorrect choice of handlebar width.

Mostly overlooked by first time purchasers of racing bikes, the width of the handlebars determine the way you breath and also climb on your bike.

If your bars are too narrow for you then you will restrict your breathing due to your hands and arms are closer together. If they are too wide then your control over the bike will be poor. Please look at the websites in section 2 to achieve your perfect riding position.

To ride a racing bike uphill you will need to be out of the saddle, your weight on the pedals and hands pulling hard on the bars. It is therefore critical that your handlebars are the correct width or this will cause unstable control, inability to pull hard on the bars and so causing poor position and lack of confidence on the bike.

This can be easily resolved by ensuring your bar width are roughly the same width from shoulder to shoulder, If this is not clear just take a look at the websites above on the correct position on the bike.

6.not asking for discounts on accessories such as pumps, puncture repair kits, clothes, helmets, gloves.

Most bicycle suppliers want to keep you as a customer for as long as possible. They realise that you will need accessories, clothing and shoes, so, always be a little cheeky and ask for discounts or even free items.

7.Not setting up a regular maintenance regime for your bike.

Either do this with your dealer or on a regular basis yourself.

Depending on how often you ride your bike, maintenance is a crucial part of keeping your bike from breaking down whilst out on a ride. You don’t want to be stuck out in the middle of know where with your bike because you didn’t spot your chain was worn out and was due to snap. Or traveling at 40 miles per hour and realising your brake blocks needed to be changed.

Even if you start racing you may not be able to start the race if your bike is seen to be unclean, not maintained and could cause an accident to yourself and other fellow competitors.

Getting into good habit of cleaning your bike after each ride not only reflects on you as a responsible and safe cyclist but also you can spot potential worn parts such as brake bocks, tyres and lose cables etc.

Don’t leave your bike to rust after a ride, if you have ridden in the wet then spray all the moving parts like the chain, brakes, gears and exposed cables with a good lubricant like GT88 or WD40. Leave for a few hours then wash off with warm soapy water. Its easier to do this than trying to wash off rust or mud and road dirt from your bike. Apply a litle car polish to the frame and buff to a shine, this will protect the frame and make washing off the mud and road dirt.

Also think about your future use of the bike, you may want to sell it, part exchange for a new model or keep it as a second training bike.

If you are unsure of how to clean and maintain your bike then just ask your local bike shop or the dealer that sold your bike to you. You can even set up an annual maintenance package.

An excellent source of bike maintenance is the internet. Who knows there maybe a “How To Clean & Maintain Your Racing Bike” DVD?

8.One overlooked mistake most people make is to not insure their bike for damage and theft.

It doesn’t matter if you just use your bike on the odd sunny day or you train everyday and race on the weekend. To insure your bike is not expensive, you could have it as part of your contents insurance at home or take out a separate insurance. If you store your bike in the garden shed or your garage make sure you secure it well. For advice on this issue contact your local crime prevention department.

9.Not getting a price comparisons between different bikes.

Browse the internet and print off price comparisons and ask for a price match with your local bike dealer. They will more than likely want to keep you as a local client, realising the need for every cyclist to constantly buy “bits for their bike or even buy a second racing bike.

10.Not taking a specialised approach with your new sport.

Why not build your own bike? Buy the exact frame you want and the other parts. Don’t make the major mistake of attempting for the first time to assemble the bike yourself. Ask your local bike shop to do this for you, it will cost between £50 and £100, but, its well worth the money to get it right first time.

11.Not getting the right choice of wheels and tires to be able to road race at a reasonable standard it will be a good idea to invest in a good set of wheels. Ideally carbon rims and with tubular tires, these are tires and inner tubes all in one tube. They are glued to the wheel rim with a special adhesive. These tires can be inflated to 200 ponds per square inch.

This combination of wheel and tubular set up is expensive. A more cost effective solution is to use the wheels that have been supplied with your new racing bike and invest in the best set of racing tires you can afford.

The difference between the tires can be significant, from the side walls of the tire being too soft for your weight or not providing a better rolling resistance. Think about a puncture resistant tape fitted between the inner tube and tire. Tire pressure will have to be checked each time before you go out on your bike. This will give you the benefit of not only a comfortable ride but also to get the full life from your tire. Its easy to check the recommended tire pressure, just look on the side walls, it will state the tire size and then the maximum pressure to be inflated.

Practice changing your inner tube so that you know what to expect when repairing a puncture on the road. Always take care to check for sharp stones, glass or thorns on the tire before refitting your inner tube.

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Bicycle riding is a great way to spend time with the family and to get exercise. Why doesn’t everyone ride a bicycle nowadays? For one, they are intimidated when it comes time to buy a bicycle. Here are five helpful tips for choosing the perfect bike for you.

Once you learn how to choose a bike, buying subsequent bikes is a piece of cake. You can’t just see a bike that is shiny and new and say that it is for you. Most important of all is the fact that the shiny bike will stay in the garage until it tarnishes if you don’t like how it handles.

1. Where will you be riding your bike? This question gets the ball rolling. There are bike shops, fitness stores and department stores carrying bikes but just a few main types of bikes: mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, cruising bikes and road bikes. How often you will ride and the route that you choose determines the best type of bicycle for you.

2. How tall are you? This factor is important because a short person doesn’t want to have a bike that will cause them to hit the crossbar every time they try to stop the bike. Ouch! A bike that is the wrong size for you can mean cramped legs and sore knees or stretched muscles. For the answer to this question, you’ll actually have to sit on a bike or at least stand next to one.

3. Ride a bike. Don’t let the first bike you ride be the one you purchase from the store. Ask a friend for their bike to “test drive” in advance.

4. Buy the best bike you can the first time. In a recession especially, people have the tendency to stay on the cheap side. Listen; there are some things that don’t pair well with “cheap.” A bike and a car fall into that category. You will be riding this bike alone or with a carrier for your child. You want to know that you can depend on your bike to keep you safe while you ride. You don’t have to spend 300 bucks but get the features you need for the best price.

5. Visit a bike shop for advice. When you want to know something you go to the experts. Those who sell bikes for a living know about bikes. Go here first to get sized for a bike, learn the type of bike you need and find out all the nuances of bike riding. You might decide not to buy a bike from a specialty shop because of the price but you will now be armed with the knowledge to choose a bike from another store without being taken for a ride.

Choosing a Bicycle Seat

Bike riding can be fun but that fun will become irrelevant if you are uncomfortable. The one part of the bicycle that riders complain about most is the seat. If the butt is not feeling good, nothing else matters.

When you buy a bicycle, the seat is not missing. You will get a seat but it won’t necessarily be the seat that is best for you. Don’t be afraid to replace it. In fact, if you don’t replace it, your bottom will pay the price.

1. Take a look at your bottom. This is not a joke. Most bicycle seats are small and quite firm as a standard. Competitive cyclists like these seats because there is less movement as you pedal. Constant rubbing can cause chafing which is not good for long rides or any ride at all. If you are fuller in the rear, a wider or softer seat may be in order.

2. Examine the seat shape. Most seats have the same basic shape but there are subtle differences that are important. Seats that slope down on the sides do not support larger bottoms. It is hard on the tail bone and your lower back. Some seats look more like butterfly wings and provide more support by sloping up slightly. Seats with a center channel helps to keep you stationary on your bike without a lot of movement from side to side.

3. Consider a gel seat. Maybe a bigger seat is not the answer especially if speed is your choice. A larger seat makes it harder to pedal faster. Seats are narrow in front for that reason. If the seat fits your bottom and the shape is fine, adding a gel seat can keep your bottom cushioned on longer rides for greater comfort. Gel seats are a great way to stay comfortable when taking a spinning class as well or bouncing up and down on a mountain bike.

4. Learn to adjust your seat. Sometimes the problem is the height of the seat. A seat that is too high means you are straining to reach the pedals. This downward pressure puts more pressure on your bottom on that seat. Can you imagine how much that would hurt? Adjust your bicycle seat so that you can touch the pedals and still maintain a ninety degree angle with your body as you pedal. If the seat is still too hard or it hurts, then look at other possible solutions.

5. What are your riding needs? If you are just riding on occasional outings, a wider seat is acceptable. You aren’t trying to pick up speed or win a race. A narrower seat helps with maintaining speed in competition. A small hard seat can put bumps and bruises on your butt if you are riding over uneven terrain.

A properly fitted bicycle seat is important for all riders. Shop well now to avoid lots of pain later.

There is more to bike riding than just riding. That’s the easy part. Choose your bike wisely to get the best for your money.

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The Race

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Too often people are looking at the price and not the quality of the road bike when they are in the market to buy. As equally important as the price for a road bike, quality can’t be discounted.

You must consider several options when you start looking for a new road bike.

Used-vs-New
There is no shortage of used road bikes on the market today. Craigslist is one of those places and has hundreds available for sale in every imaginable category and price range. This may be a viable option if you are limited to how much you can spend. Buying a used road bike can pose many problems including knowing about any existing issues the former owner had with the bike. Even if the bike appears to be clean and in good shape there may still be small stress fractures that may cause a catastrophic failure.

You must look carefully at the components to see if you can see obvious wear on the metal. Naturally all bike parts will eventually wear out, it is the degree of wear that you must concern yourself with. The frame has to be looked at with a careful eye because if there is a small crack in the weld the bike will be virtually worthless.
Components can be changed provided you are willing to do the work yourself. You can go to a bike shop and have them do it for you but the cost will be exponentially higher. These are just some of the problems with buying a used bike. Not to mention that if the bike has a structural failure while you are riding it you risk serious injury or worse.

Mid-Range Price VS Low-Range Price
You can categorize road bikes relative to their pricing so in this article we will focus on the mid to lower-range road bikes. Road bikes generally range in price from 200 to 400 dollars for the low range and 400 to 1200 dollars for the mid range. 1200 dollars may seem like a lot of money to pay for a bike, but when you consider that most high end bikes sell in the 7 to 10,000 dollar range, 1200 doesn’t seem so bad.

The difference among these types of road bikes is the quality of their components including the tires, seat, derailleur, crank and frame. So basically the overall quality of the bikes will be as different as night and day. Although you will be probably be getting a Shimano derailleur on both bikes you will be not be getting the Shimano XTR Shadow on the low priced road bike. For most of the components this is true. The less expensive bicycle might be your best bet if it doesn’t matter to you. An example would be, if you couldn’t afford the higher priced Schwinn Laguna road bike you could instead look at the less expensive Rapido by Lamborghini. Both are excellent road bikes and for a beginner the Rapido may be good enough. If you can afford something in between, the Monza by Tommaso is the road bike for you.

Cost Of Repair
If you factor in the cost of replacement for the cheaper components you have to ask yourself what you really saved by buying the cheaper road bike. To replace the derailleur will cost you anywhere from 100 to 200 dollars and more depending on the bike shop and the derailleur you choose to replace it with. The same holds true for most of the components on the bike. The total cost of replacement will certainly out price the original cost of the road bike.

You will find that with most things you buy the cheaper it is, the cheaper it is.

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If you can’t afford to buy a new bike, purchasing a used bike is an option. But you must know what to look for when purchasing a used bike. If you do not know what to look for you could end up making a purchase you will regret. Here you will learn what to look for and how to avoid the 3 most common mistakes people make when buying a used bike.

There are many places where a person can buy a used bike today. Each weekend there are garage sales in every community. Go early since that is when the best items usually get picked up, if you are going to buy a used bike from a garage sale.

You can also acquire secondhand bikes on Craigslist or on eBay. As you will learn by reading further, never buy a bike sight unseen. What may sound like a perfect deal in an ad, can turn out to be a disaster when you truly see and ride the bike.

You would like to make certain the bike will be a design that will suit your needs is the first consideration you want to keep in mind. Just because it has two wheels and you can ride on it, doesn’t mean it will do what you want it to. There are different types of bikes and each one is built to be operated in certain situations.

There are road bikes, mountain bikes, bikes designed for racing, for touring and for cruising. There are even bicycles that are hybrids that combine features and make sacrifices in other areas. A racing bike, as an example, may not be the best pick, if you plan to be riding casually around your residence.

The second thing to do is to give the bicycle a thorough, visual inspection.

Look at how it has been maintained. If there is a lot of rust and corrosion around the chain and gears, that is not a good sign. If the tires, as another example, are cracked or rotting that is another sign of neglect.

Here are things to look for during a first visual inspection that will give you an idea of how the bike has been cared for and how much work it will need to be safe for you to ride:

• Check the condition of the brakes, the cables and pads. Check to see if they work.

• How does the chain look? Does it run smoothly? Are there any teeth missing in the gears?

• Do the handle bars feel secure?

• How do the tires and rim look? Are the tires worn? Are they properly inflated? Do the wheels spin true without wobble?

• What does the frame look like? Is there much rust on the bike? Does the frame look solid or is it bent?

• How do the pedals look? Is there any wear or damage with the pedals that will need to be repaired?

Keep in mind that this is a secondhand bicycle you are buying so it will not be in very great shape. However, a thorough evaluation will tell you how much it will take to get it up to safe operating condition and how much you might want to spend on it.

The third important thing to do is take the bike for a thorough test ride. Most people just ride it a few feet in a quick circle or two. You should ride it for a longer distance and be able to really test out the gears, the brakes, the saddle the steering and the overall feel. You want to make sure you feel comfortable on the bike.

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