How do I find the right type of bicycle for me?

Question

I am interested in taking up bicycling for exercise and I am totally new to it. I want to purchase a bicycling that I can ride to my local park or so and burn off some calories. What should I consider I figure I wouldn't be purchasing a mountain bike ,I live in the city. I am about 5'4 is hieght an issue in considering a bike ? what type of bike shall I consider maybe a beach cruiser ?what about the tires as far as size/

Answer 1

I am a roadie (road cyclist), so here is my biased opinion:

Price shouldn't be an issue, unless you want an expensive road bike. Comfort bikes have a setup that leaves you in an upright position. This is great, because they are comfortable. They also have wide tires, which absorb road shock. Some have shocks, which improve overall comfort, but rob you of speed, due to the extra weight and the tendency that when you pedal, the bike bobs up and down, so the shock absorbs that power, instead of it going straight to the wheels. Also, given that they have you sitting straight up, a lot of your power is lost due to the air getting in the way. This will become apparent as you go faster. Most comfort bikes also come with BIG saddles, which feel comfortable at first, but actually press on your soft spots (ouch!). A good seat will allow you to pedal, and will support your body by the bones, and will not come in contact with your business.
A mountain bike is the slowest of all, but remains the most popular due to their rugged looks. (Like men)
A full on road bike will be the fastest, but will have you leaning over on the handlebars, putting stress on your wrists, and potentially giving you (temporary) back pain.
You might want a Fitness bike. I think you'll like these. They have almost the same speed as a road bike, but have a geometry more relaxed (by this I mean that you'll be sitting closer to straight up), have seats that aren't too wide, and too skinny (like mine), and the tires will be wide, but not be too wide (like a deterrant).

Finally, find a convenient bike shop (not wal-mart) that has experienced salespeople. Bring them a list of the things you want, and things you are concerned about. They will be able to pick a bike that works well for you, and that fits well. The difference in a bike from a bike shop and a big box store is that the bike shop will find a bike that actually fits you (not the one size fits-all approach at Target), but they will also give you free servicing for the bike, and do warranty repairs on it. They're also better, too.
I stray away from buying bikes at Target because of their approach- any "adult" bike from a big box store will come in one size-adult. Obviously not all adults have the same height, so this is a flawed theory. Most likely, the bike will be too big or too small, resulting in injured knees. Bicycling actually improves knee strength, not the other way around.

I've heard good stuff about the Trek Fx series, you might want to ask a dealer about that.

My rant is over.... =)

Answer 2

I agree to all of the above suggestions. I would add, do your research. Look around and find a bike that is going to fit your economic needs as well. I feel bad for people that spend a lot of $$$ for a bike they only ride a few times a year. First try to narrow the type of riding; either a comfort, fast fitness, or perhaps more of a hybrid style, a cross between a mountain and comfort. Beach cruisers are normally good for "flat" surfaces and laid back, like big luxury cars. When you go to a bike shop ask about 06's, you can get some good deals now. Try the bikes, start off slow... No need to enter a race, enjoy the sport and if you find a real liking you can always upgrade. Best of luck.

Answer 3

Talking to a bike shop is a very good first step. If you are doing a lot of riding in parks that are paved a mountain bike is not your best option, but you may want to look at a hybrid. Many of these offer the positive features of a mountain bike and a road bike in one bike. I have a Gary Fisher hybrid that I have logged many miles on. A pro shop can let you try out many bikes and you can figure out which is best for you. Cycling is a great way to get out and be active. Best of luck to you!

Answer 4

Don't get a mountain bike unless you know for a fact you will be going into mud and dirt and puddles, etc quite often. Since you live in teh city and want to go to a park... i'll suggest a fitness bike or a hybrid. Basically, they are a mixture of a road bike and a mountain bike. Light and fast enough but strong enough to take punishment. Giant has nice models called the FCR1, FCR2, FCR3. Trek has the 7.3, 7.5, 7.6. I think this would be the way to go for you.

link to the Giants:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/road/4/

link to Treks:
http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/subcategory.php?c=4&s=17

This is the best way to go based on what you have said you wish to do with the bike. Don't fall for bike shops trying to sell you the most expensive bike in the store or a bike that you really don't need.

Answer 5

When you visit our store to get sized to a bicycle, we have you straddle a few different ones so we can determine the correct size for your body dimensions. When we find a frame size that's right, we raise the seat to provide the proper leg reach for pedaling and then ensure that the reach to the handlebars is right for your arm and torso lengths. Our goal is to make you as comfortable and efficient on your new bicycle as possible.

Wear Cycling Clothing
You can help us fit you correctly to your bike by wearing clothes you're comfortable cycling in. For example, if you're getting fitted while wearing shoes with thick soles and heels, it's harder to recommend the ideal frame size or seat height. Also, wearing tight-fitting street clothes can make it tough for you to pedal or reach the handlebars on a test ride.

A Perfect Fit Is Usually Possible
It's often easy to find a bike that fits perfectly. This is possible because manufacturers make frames in a wide variety of sizes and because bicycles can be fine-tuned with seat and stem adjustments, or part changes, when the adjustments don't do the trick. Once in a while, however, we run into a person who needs a size out of the ordinary, such as might an NBA basketball player or a horse jockey. Bike makers offer wide size runs, but that doesn't mean they have everything. And, if you're very tall or short, we're happy to search to find an appropriate bike or have a bike custom built (an option that can be very satisfying and results in a one-of-a-kind mount.) We'll do our best for you.

The Standover Test
A ballpark indicator of how a frame fits is clearance between the crotch and top frame tube when you're straddling the bike. On bicycles designed for road use, you usually want about one to three inches of clearance (depending on the size and design of the bike). On off-road models, which usually have sloping toptubes and long seat posts, more clearance is needed. Look for three to six inches (depending on size and design).

Cycling should be as easy and comfortable as possible. We enjoy finding the optimum fit for the most enjoyable experience on your new bike.

Answer 6

i began heavily driving as an individual on MS 150s too. i'd accept as true with those who said a highway bike for all the excuses listed. it really is my opinion that until eventually you'll journey on unpaved trails/roads an significant area of the time that a hybrid is the worst of both worlds. it isn't a mountain bike and not at all a highway bike. first portion of do is decide what type of driving you'd be doing 80% of the time. Then %. your bike to that end. inspect the link below. It consists of 30+ articles on highway biking. celebrate with your MS one hundred and fifty.

Answer 7

Go to a pro bike shop they will no exactly what you need.