Suggestions
and advice on how to get started in cycling
By: Michael G. Lander
Ask any cyclist around Memphis
and they'll tell you that there's so much to love about cycling here in our River
City. It offers a great way to get
around, it gives you a chance to spend time with friends and family, and it's
an excellent way to get some fun-filled exercise outdoors. If you're interesting in giving it a try
yourself, there are some very simple and easy steps that you can follow in
order to get started.
THINK ABOUT WHERE AND HOW YOU WANT TO RIDE
To begin with, avoid the temptation just to run out and buy the first good deal
that you can find on a bike. Take a
little time to think about where and how you want to ride. Most bikes are made for specific types of
riding, but essentially there are two types of riding, or a combination of the
two and these are done on mountain, road and various street bikes.
If you're most interested in getting up close and personal with nature, and the
thought of getting off the beaten path appeals to you, then mountain biking
might just be the thing for you. This is
definitely the way to go if you want to be able to ride into the woods or into
fields, through rough terrain, and trails that might have dirt, mud, sand, or
gravel on them.
If, on the other hand, you'd really rather take in all the scenery around you from
a much smoother surface, liked a paved road or a bike trail, then you will be
looking more at road or street bikes instead.
For those who want to be able to cross over and ride just about anywhere, you
might want to have a mountain bike with tires that you can switch out or you
may want to have two different bikes with each one made for the surface or terrain
on which you can ride.
FIND A BIKE
As soon as you make your decision on what style of riding that you want to
do, the next big step is to begin your search for the bike that will
accommodate your specific wants and needs.
One of the most important parts of your cycling involves finding the
right bike that will be what you want and need now, and for many years down the
road.
For those of you who want to do off-road trails,
the mountain bike
is an absolute must. There are several distinctive features that you will
want to look at, one of which is the composition of the bicycle frame itself. You will find that you have a choice of
steel, aluminum, carbon fiber and titanium.
The steel and aluminum frames are less expensive and are durable, and
can take the pounding of the rough riding, but the drawback for them is their
weight. Carbon fiber frames are lighter,
but they are more expensive and may not hold up well to mountain bike
riding. Like carbon fiber frames,
titanium frames are light, but they are also a lot tougher and they are the
best option of all. Their only downside
comes in their cost.
Other things to look at on mountain bikes are the shocks and
suspension, which will need to adequately absorb the vibration and the hits
it'll take), and the tires that should b wide and knobby for much better
traction.
For those who wish to ride exclusively on paved surfaces, and who want speed, a
road bike would be what you you would want to look at. There are even
more types and
variations of bicycles to meet the specific needs, interests and desired
uses of the cyclist. You can learn even more about the different types of bikes
that you can get by going to http://www.ebicycles.com.
One other helpful source, when looking for a bike, (or for equipment and gear),
is to also take a look at reviews, like at http://www.bicycling.com/gearfinder,
which should help guide you in your decision-making process.
As with the mountain bikes, you also have the same choices of what the frame
is made out of. Steel or aluminum frame bikes are affordable, but they
are some of the heaviest bikes that are available on the market and this would
be a definite drawback on the longer rides and when it comes to trying to
sustain higher speeds. Since road bikes made of carbon fiber and titanium are lighter, they are
much more preferable to most serious and competitive cyclists, but it does come
at a higher price.
For those who may want to ride on the road, with an occasional dirt, gravel, or
paved surface, a hybrid bike might work best for you. If, at this point, you are not sure, you may
want to borrow a bike or look for a good deal on one that you can use until you
know for sure what you want to get.
After you decide what you want and need in a bike, you have plenty of options
on where you can get it, especially if you're not in a hurry to get your hands
on one. And, if you are not set on
buying a new bike, you can often get a good deal on a
used one from someone wanting to upgrade to a new one themselves.
As for
buying a new bike, you can search for one over the Internet, but most cyclists
would probably recommend that you go to a local bike shop
instead since that gives you the opportunity to test ride
the bikes and see what sort of bike works best for you. One other
consideration that you have to also factor in when you buy on-line is the cost
of shipping and a return policy should you get the bike and not like it.
There is also a lot to be said for the face-to-face interaction that you get
when you buy from a local bike shop and, when you go there, you are helping
support the local economy and jobs in your area.
GET A BIKE THAT FITS YOU
Other than determining the right type of bike, the other most important thing
that you want to consider when buying a bike is that it is the correct fit
for you. Your body type and your measurements (inseam, arm length, and
height) will help to determine what bike frame will work best for you. After taking that into consideration, some
adjustments can also be made to the height and position of the seat, if
necessary. Choosing the right size bike
means you will ride more comfortably and efficiently.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND ASK QUESTIONS
Aside from looking for a bike that is the right size, you can also find one
that is made for your fitness level and riding experience. With those things in
mind, it is always a good idea to do your research before heading to the store,
and then ask a lot of questions once you are there. (Click here for local bike
shops).
With the exception of road bikes, the price range for a new bike will often
vary from a couple hundred to under a thousand dollars. (Click here for
the Consumer Reports Bike Buying Guide).
LOOK AT PRICES AND BE WILLING TO SPEND MORE
When buying a bike, the best advice is to consider purchasing one that is at
the top end of your budget. Cheaper bikes might seem like a good deal,
but they tend to be heavier and are not made for speed. The old saying
that "you get what you pay for," is often true for bicycles as it is
for just about everything else. If you
are willing to spend more, you will get a much higher quality bike and it will
be a good investment and one that you will likely not regret over time. (Click
here for the average price range for bikes).
LEARN ALL YOU CAN
Experience can sometimes be the best teacher of all along with reading and
talking with more experienced cyclists. Here
are some links that might be of interest to new cyclists:
http://www.treadmillreviews.net/a-beginners-guide-to-healthy-cycling/
, http://sheldonbrown.com/beginners/index.html
and http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/better/beginningcycling.php.
And, if you're just getting started in cycling, here is a link to an effective
cycling course for riding in traffic. It is shown from the cyclists perspective
and the basic premise of it is that if you act like a car, the cars will know
what you're going to do. Here is the link to the first of 3 videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjCza5e1kw.
KEEP AT IT
After the purchase of your bike, and you've already begin your cycling
adventure, you should be sure to set aside some time to ride and then try to
stick with it. To stay motivated, it can
help if you can find others to ride with and to come up with one or more
reasons to ride, such as to get exercise, to get into shape, or just to do it
for the pure enjoyment that you can get out of it.
If you want to get better or faster at it, it can be done by setting goals for
yourself, tracking your progress, and putting forth the time and effort that is
needed in order to improve.
Potential is where skill and ability intersect with one another and improvement
and success in cycling comes about from the culmination of all the previous
bike rides that came before it. Getting
there is simply a matter of getting started and never quitting.
Riding a bike in memphis (river city) sounds like a lot of fun. I might try it some day, and thank you for a great siteI really enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing bike starting tips and had great reviews regarding bike on river side. Hope it will help lot especially for beginner.
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