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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Millions of people worldwide are riding bikes, from the casual rider to the competitive athlete. The question you must face is what is the best bike for me. If you are thinking about buying a road bike then there are some things you must ask yourself to help determine the best choice for you.

What is the reason I want to ride?

How much should I pay for a road bicycle?

What is the difference between the low priced bikes and the higher priced bikes?

The first question we must ask ourselves is why we want to ride a bicycle. If you are just a casual rider there is no need to buy the high priced, carbon fiber bicycle, go ahead and get the lower priced entry-level bike. There will be less need for ongoing maintenance because you won’t be riding as many miles. Regardless, you will still have to perform a certain degree of maintenance on whichever bike you purchase. You may not have a need for the upgraded components because you don’t need to shave a few seconds off your times. The corollary to this is that the lower priced bike’s components will wear out quicker and not be as efficient as the higher priced bikes.

The Tommaso Velocita is a first rate example of a mid priced road bike that offers both quality and better prices.

The price of the bike will also be a determining factor for many people when deciding the best road bicycle for them. Most entry-level bikes will run you about 250 to 450 dollars depending on what bike you buy and where you decide to buy it. This bicycle will suit you well as a casual cyclist because you won’t be putting a lot of miles on the bike. You are better off buying a better bike if you plan on riding more than once or twice a week. Depending on the road bike and where you purchase it, a mid-range bicycle will cost between 500 and 1200 dollars. If you are considering using your new road bike for more than just a leisurely ride then you should buy a bike that will hold up to the rigors of everyday use. The higher-range road bikes can range dramatically in price and can reach prices in the 00 dollar range with the lower end of the spectrum at around 1200 – 2000 dollars.

The difference between the low priced, mid-range price and the higher-range priced road bicycles are basically in the quality of the components of the bike. Many beginning riders won’t notice how heavy his bike really is until he he sees his friend scream by him on the road with his 14 pound Tommaso with an upgraded derailleur and crank set. The novice may not even notice that he has to slow way down when he comes to the bend in the road at the bottom of the incline while the higher-ranged bike seems to glide effortlessly through the turn with speed and confidence.

This is only several examples that should have given you enough insight to help you choose your next road bike wisely. Your long term and short term goals are the keys to choosing the best road bike for you. Choose a bicycle that has a proven track record of reliability and customer satisfaction and has proven itself over time.

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I remember when I went with my dad to the local bike shop to pick out my first bike. I was so excited. I remember looking up at walls and walls of bicycles in all shapes, sizes and colors. When you walked in the door, there were tall ceilings line forever with neat rows of bicycles and the smell of new rubber permeated throughout the entire building. I walked around with my father for a while and he allowed me to gravitate towards certain bicycles. It was neat because, unlike, other stores, you were actually allowed to touch the stuff in here. I felt the handlebars and ran my hands along the banana seats and through the streamers. Eventually, I found a bicycle that I liked and my dad exchanged a few words with the sales guy in the store. Before you knew it, the bicycle had been taken down and we were being led to the back of the store to the parking lot where there were other people riding around on bicycles.

I was actually going to get a chance at test riding this bicycle! At the time, it had training wheels on it, but I remember it clear as day. It was a purple, banana seat bicycle with streamers coming out of the handles. It rode really smoothly; I loved it. A few minutes later, my father was at the register paying for my first bicycle. I remember riding my bicycle up and down the sidewalk with neighbors as well as in my backyard on the patio. There were so many good memories, including the day the training wheels came off and I was able to balance well enough on my own to finally ride solo.

I think that for a lot of people, bicycles hold some sort of sentimental value, which is why it usually takes some time and deliberation to choose one out. Once you get old enough to purchase your bicycle, things can become a lot more technical, especially if you’re planning on using your bicycle for more than the leisurely ride in the backyard or around the neighborhood. Bikes can range in size as well as in price. For instance, some people will actually spend upwards of $1,000 to purchase a lightweight “road bicycle”. If you’re planning on buying a new bicycle, know what you are going to plan on using it for. If you are planning on becoming a cyclist who races road bikes, you’ll be looking for a different bicycle than someone who is planning on going mountain biking or taking their kids out for a ride on the boardwalk.

Usually, you can purchase bikes that are already assembled, but it’s always a good idea to double check and make sure that this is the case. A lot of the times, you’ll end up having to assemble the bike, so be ready for it if that’s the case. If you can afford it, buy your bicycle from a “bike shop” versus a discount store or some other store that happens to sell bikes (ex: Target, Kmart) because the people at a bike shop are generally qualified to deal with specific issues as it relates to bikes versus people in other stores who are more likely to give you their opinion but not really know what they are talking about.

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Perhaps the most frustrating part of being a parent of a kid who rides a bike is that while you know how important it is for his safety to wear a helmet, your child does not seem to understand its relevance. The loss of 698 lives in bicycle/motor vehicle crashes in 2007, which makes it just under two people every day of the year in the U.S., is a terrible toll. 57% of those killed were between the ages of 5 and 44; 15% of those killed in 2007 were under age 16, 77% of those injured were between the ages of 5 and 44; 28% of those injured were under age 16. Let these alarming statistics scare you further.

Here are some tips and ideas which are aimed to get your child wear a bike helmet, EVERY TIME he takes his bike out on the road:

1.Start the helmet wearing habit as early as when they are riding tricycles. This can turn it into a life-time habit. This is also the time when you can teach them the link between wheeled vehicles, pavements and helmets.

2.Let them choose their helmet. If they are the ones who are going to wear it, let them decide what they want to wear. All you need to watch out for is that the helmet is comfortable, fits properly and is generally safe (CPSC sticker). Even if the helmet works out a bit expensive, you rather agree to this, provided they promise to wear it all the time.

3.If you too ride a bicycle, wear a helmet yourself. Kids learn from adults and you could be a role model for them in this regard. This would also show them how much protection the brain needs.

4.Talk to your child’s close friends and encourage them to wear helmets too. Peer pressure works like magic in such circumstances. Once your child sees others wearing helmet, his ‘need for inclusion’ would urge him to wear one too.

5.Teach your child regarding the importance of protecting his head; their bikes are their first ‘cars’; you love their independent decisions and value their intelligence; helmet use can protect them from grievous injuries, pain and even death.

6.Give your child a short course in bike safety, using popular guides like Teaching Your Child to Ride a Bicycle. This would show him that wearing helmets is not an arbitrary rule invented by his family. Remember, you child needs some safety instructions as well.

7.Show your child that even professional athletes like football and hockey players, baseball batsmen and racing car drivers wear helmets for their safety.

8.Take your child to bike racing events where every one is wearing a helmet. When he sees winners of such races wearing helmets, chances are that he would get convinced too.

9.Nothing works well with children better than rewards and recognition. Praise them openly for wearing helmets when he rides a bike.

10.Be firm and consistent in your demand for helmet use. If you budge once, they would quickly presume that they can get away from the rule of wearing a helmet when they take their bike out. Remain stubborn about helmet use and do not allow your kid to take his bike out, without a helmet on his head.

The above ten tips are aimed to make your task easier and make your child agree to wearing a helmet. Individuals injured in a Michigan bicycle accident do have legal rights and should contact a bicycle accident attorney immediately after the accident. This is important because you will want your Michigan bicycle accident attorney to take photographs and interview witnesses, and the longer you wait the harder it is to locate a witness.

Additionally, if you or you child are injured as a bicyclist in Michigan you will often have claims for personal injuries and can file Michigan No-Fault Insurance claims for medical expenses, lost wages, and other benefits, even if you did not own a vehicle or have a Michigan No-Fault Insurance policy. Often in Michigan many claims can be filed even in circumstances of hit and run accidents involving bikers.

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It is no wonder that the writer Irish Murdoch said: “The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart.” Bearing in mind that this quote comes from 1965 imagine what she would have said if she was writing today! The spirit of cycling is marvellous and nowadays there is a great range of cycling clothing to enhance the experience for enthusiasts.

For when the weather is not so pleasant, and let’s face it in the UK we are not blessed with a Mediterranean climate, it is best to dress yourself in a cycling jacket or a wool cycling jersey. This will keep you warm against the chilly air. However it is raining or there is rain expected then put on a windproof cycling jacket which will protect against both the rain and the wind. Match these up with some cycling pants, and some knee warmers or leg warmers. For rainy conditions you will also want to wear some waterproof gloves. There are also waterproof over-trousers that you can buy. Try to find ones that are adjustable with zip pockets and ankle gussets.

Buying cycling clothing regardless of the weather you will have comfort on your mind. The type of gear you choose may need to be influenced also by the type of cycling you are planning to do. For safety you will need a cycling helmet and reflective clothing depending on the circumstances. The helmet needs to be quality and fit correctly.

When the weather becomes warmer you will start wearing cycling shorts and sleeveless shirt such as the Endura cycling pro sleeveless shirt. This has stretch underarm panels to improve freedom of movement and is made of fabrics which give excellent fast-drying performance as well as easy care washing.

When choosing cycling shorts consider yourself lucky as back in the 1900s these were made of wool and offered very little flexibility. Nowadays with the advances in fabric technology there are lots of highly flexible and durable fabrics out of which cycling shorts are manufactured. Cycling shorts will be fitted with panels and depending on the design will vary in comfort. In general the more panels the better. Some cycling shorts are more lightweight depending on the fabric combination while some will include rubber leg grippers.

There are also baggy cycling shorts available. It is best to look for the ones with adjustability and easy care fabric. Some are hard wearing, water resistant and may have leg vents. Check for a smooth underside to avoid snagging or pressure points. See if they also have durable double or triple stitching on the seams. Short sleeve jerseys are also suitable for the better weather. Look out for low odour fabrics which should also be highly breathable. When choosing one check for a snug fit cuff and collar.

As an avid cyclist whatever the weather you want to be able to go out cycling when you have the time. Choosing the best selection of quality cycling clothes will let you enjoy your hobby whenever you wish.

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