- what type of cyclist are you?
- Do you Ride Sometimes?
- Well if you only ride some of the time, or just for an evening ride, then probably a bike from Walmart would work for you. (as much as i pains me to recommend Walmart.)
- Do you ride all the time?
- Is your bike your transportation to and from work, or where ever? Well then a bike from a local, trusted bike shop would be good for you, and just because there are 100, 200, even 400 dollar bikes there doesn't mean that there aren't bike there that you can't afford. If there isn't a bike that you can't afford on their show room floor, just talk to one of the sales associates and see if they have anything they can order for you that is in your price range.
- What type of surface are you going to be riding on?
- On the road or on the bike trails?
- If you are going to be on paved surfaces, you will want a bike that is meant for the road. Most of the bikes that are for being on the road, have skinny tires. For example: 26 x 1-3/8, or 27 x 1-1/4 inch tires, if you don't know where to find these numbers, look on the side of the tire.
- now if you are planning on riding on gravel, or other ruff surfaces, you are going to want to get a Mountain bike, these have really wide tires. the wide tires help keep you on top of the dirt/gravel, vs. skinny tires, they would sink especially if the sand/dirt/gravel is really soft. Most mountain bike tires have nobs on them, to help give you grip in the dirt.
- Are you planning on going Touring?
- If you are planning on going touring, you are going to want a bike that is going to be road worthy, be able to have front and rear racks, Fenders if you desire, and be comfortable on your body as well, because you will be spending a lot of time on the bike. (Read below the dotted line for info on picking the right touring bike)
- Have you wanted to try a Recumbent bike?
- Recumbents, i will be honest, are not the cheapest bike to buy. they can range in price from about $800 used, up to $2,100 brand new. Now before you rush out a buy one, try one first, and see if it's the bike for you. Not everyone can ride a recumbent bike, they are a little different to ride, they have Long wheeled recumbents and they have short wheeled as well. -Long-Wheeled Recumbents: they are longer than a typical bike, like the RANS Tailwind it rides like a chopper motorcycle, you make wider turns with it. but the short wheeled recumbents can make sharper turns, but you have to be careful not to tip over. On the short wheeled, your legs are extended out in front of you, and the front wheel is below your knees. the front wheel is a 20'' and the rear tire is a 26'' tire. On the Tailwind both wheels are 20'' tires. all tires sizes vary between recumbent models. But please try a recumbent before you buy one. and remember that there are many different models to pick from, jjust because one style doesn't fit you doesn't mean that another one won't.
Now there are many different bike companies, and many different models, in many different price ranges, but you have to explore all of your options first before you make your choice, which could be a bad choice if you go with the first bike you see. Check the "big box stores," all of the bike shops in your town or even in another town as well, and even online, there may be a bike online that you may not have heard of that isn't sold in big box stores or bikes shops that you like a lot better than any of the others that you have seen. I Volunteer in a bike shop and i have tried almost every kind of bike from Touring, to mountain, to road, to even 10 speed bike, they are all different and there all for different types of riding.
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I had signed up for a weekly newsletter from "Bicycle Touring Pro," and heres what he had to say about picking the right bike for touring:
In today's newsletter I want to talk about touring bicycles...
because the most important piece of bicycle touring
equipment you will ever need to buy is your bicycle!
But selecting the correct bike for your needs is not always
as easy it first appears. As you will see in a moment, each
of the five different types of bicycle tours requires a
different type of touring bicycle. Plus, there are a number
of other types of bicycles that are available (road bikes,
mountain bikes, etc) that aren't really designed for
bicycle touring at all, but can be used for touring with a
little effort.
So today, I want to talk the different types of bicycles
you might use for long-distance touring... and end by giving
you access to a tool that will make selecting the perfect
bicycle for your bicycle tour that much easier.
THE MOUNTAIN BIKE
You've probably got an old mountain bike in your garage
and are wondering to yourself, can I really do a
long-distance tour on this old thing?
Well, I'll be the first to tell you that crossing the
country or even riding around the world on a mountain bike
is entirely possible.
That being said, I'll also be the first person to tell you that
riding a mountain bike for long distances is also not the easiest
thing in the world. Most mountain bikes are not made for extensive
riding on paved roads... so as you will see in a moment, there
may be a better option!
Mountain bikes are great in some situations, however. If you plan to
spend a significant amount of time riding on unpaved roads or
trails, then a mountain bike is an excellent vehicle for your next
bicycle tour.
THE ROAD BIKE
Maybe you don't have a mountain bike in your garage, but you might
have a road bike! A road bike is one of those fast little numbers
you saw Lance Armstrong riding around on in the Tour de France.
Road bikes are great for long day rides and supported tours where
your belongings are being carried in a chase vehicle, but for the
long-distance self-supported tour, road bikes typically won't cut it.
They're made to go fast, but they aren't made for carrying a bunch
of gear... and they aren't very comfortable when you are spending
6 or more hours in the saddle each day.
THE RECUMBENT BICYCLE
A recumbent bicycle is a bike that you sit in as though you were
sitting in a chair. Many people who ride recumbent bicycles have
back or knee problems, but some people like them just because
they're fun to ride.
Some recumbent bicycles are equipped for long-distance bicycle
tours, while others are not. Do your research before buying a
recumbent bicycle to make sure it can carry both your gear and get
you up those long hills you will likely be climbing.
THE FOLDING BIKE
Folding bikes are most commonly known as commuter bikes, but thanks
to the growing number of long-distance bicycle travelers, folding
bike companies have begun to produce folding bikes made
specifically for long-distance tours.
The advantage of a folding bike is that you can pack it inside a
suitcase and put it on an airplane, boat, or bus and travel with
your bike in relative ease. Traveling with a full-size bicycle is
not always easy... so folding bikes (while they may look a
little funny) do have their advantages.
THE TOURING BICYCLE
Finally, there is the touring bike. This is a bike made
specifically for long-distance touring.
What makes a touring bicycle different than all the bikes
mentioned above?
http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/touring-bicycles-buyers-guide/
Well, there are a number of things. But here are some of the
features that almost all touring bikes have in common:
- Touring bikes have wider tires than road bikes, enabling them
to support more weight and ride in rougher conditions. Most
touring bikes can handle a fair amount of off-road riding.
- Touring bikes are usually made of heavy-duty steel. Because
touring bikes need to carry more weight, they need to be made
of stronger materials.
- Many touring bikes will have extremely low gears so that you
will have an easier time climbing hills and mountains.
- Touring bike makers know that you are going to be spending a
long time in the saddle, so they design the bikes to be more
comfortable on your back, butt, hands, and neck. On a touring
bike you are in a more upright position than you would be on a
traditional road or mountain bicycle.
- Touring bikes are also built to support racks on the front and
back of the bike, allowing you to carry up to four panniers
(or bags) on your bike at a time.
Plus, there are a bunch of other little features that touring
bikes may or may not have that make them better for long-
distance touring.
If you want to see some examples of traditional touring bicycles
made for road touring scenarios, check out the following article:
http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/touring-bikes-bicycles-made-specifically-for-long-distance-touring/
And if you want to see some touring bicycles that are designed to
handle off-road conditions, check out the bikes on this page:
http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/26-inch-touring-bikes-built-for-world-travel/
As you can see, there are a number of different types of bikes to
choose from. And there are even some other styles of bike that I
haven't mentioned here. Each has its benefits and its drawbacks.
Picking the bike you will need for your bicycle tour is ultimately
going to depend on where you plan to go on your tour, how
long you plan to spend out on the road, how much gear you
plan to carry, and what the road conditions are going to be like
on your travels.
If you need more help finding the perfect touring bicycle, I've
created a resource for exactly this purpose. It's called "The
Essential Guide To Touring Bicycles" an you can learn more about
it right here:
http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/touring-bicycles-buyers-guide/
That's it for today. Until next time... make it a great day!
Darren Alff
contact@bicycletouringpro.com
www.bicycletouringpro.com
because the most important piece of bicycle touring
equipment you will ever need to buy is your bicycle!
But selecting the correct bike for your needs is not always
as easy it first appears. As you will see in a moment, each
of the five different types of bicycle tours requires a
different type of touring bicycle. Plus, there are a number
of other types of bicycles that are available (road bikes,
mountain bikes, etc) that aren't really designed for
bicycle touring at all, but can be used for touring with a
little effort.
So today, I want to talk the different types of bicycles
you might use for long-distance touring... and end by giving
you access to a tool that will make selecting the perfect
bicycle for your bicycle tour that much easier.
THE MOUNTAIN BIKE
You've probably got an old mountain bike in your garage
and are wondering to yourself, can I really do a
long-distance tour on this old thing?
Well, I'll be the first to tell you that crossing the
country or even riding around the world on a mountain bike
is entirely possible.
That being said, I'll also be the first person to tell you that
riding a mountain bike for long distances is also not the easiest
thing in the world. Most mountain bikes are not made for extensive
riding on paved roads... so as you will see in a moment, there
may be a better option!
Mountain bikes are great in some situations, however. If you plan to
spend a significant amount of time riding on unpaved roads or
trails, then a mountain bike is an excellent vehicle for your next
bicycle tour.
THE ROAD BIKE
Maybe you don't have a mountain bike in your garage, but you might
have a road bike! A road bike is one of those fast little numbers
you saw Lance Armstrong riding around on in the Tour de France.
Road bikes are great for long day rides and supported tours where
your belongings are being carried in a chase vehicle, but for the
long-distance self-supported tour, road bikes typically won't cut it.
They're made to go fast, but they aren't made for carrying a bunch
of gear... and they aren't very comfortable when you are spending
6 or more hours in the saddle each day.
THE RECUMBENT BICYCLE
A recumbent bicycle is a bike that you sit in as though you were
sitting in a chair. Many people who ride recumbent bicycles have
back or knee problems, but some people like them just because
they're fun to ride.
Some recumbent bicycles are equipped for long-distance bicycle
tours, while others are not. Do your research before buying a
recumbent bicycle to make sure it can carry both your gear and get
you up those long hills you will likely be climbing.
THE FOLDING BIKE
Folding bikes are most commonly known as commuter bikes, but thanks
to the growing number of long-distance bicycle travelers, folding
bike companies have begun to produce folding bikes made
specifically for long-distance tours.
The advantage of a folding bike is that you can pack it inside a
suitcase and put it on an airplane, boat, or bus and travel with
your bike in relative ease. Traveling with a full-size bicycle is
not always easy... so folding bikes (while they may look a
little funny) do have their advantages.
THE TOURING BICYCLE
Finally, there is the touring bike. This is a bike made
specifically for long-distance touring.
What makes a touring bicycle different than all the bikes
mentioned above?
http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/touring-bicycles-buyers-guide/
Well, there are a number of things. But here are some of the
features that almost all touring bikes have in common:
- Touring bikes have wider tires than road bikes, enabling them
to support more weight and ride in rougher conditions. Most
touring bikes can handle a fair amount of off-road riding.
- Touring bikes are usually made of heavy-duty steel. Because
touring bikes need to carry more weight, they need to be made
of stronger materials.
- Many touring bikes will have extremely low gears so that you
will have an easier time climbing hills and mountains.
- Touring bike makers know that you are going to be spending a
long time in the saddle, so they design the bikes to be more
comfortable on your back, butt, hands, and neck. On a touring
bike you are in a more upright position than you would be on a
traditional road or mountain bicycle.
- Touring bikes are also built to support racks on the front and
back of the bike, allowing you to carry up to four panniers
(or bags) on your bike at a time.
Plus, there are a bunch of other little features that touring
bikes may or may not have that make them better for long-
distance touring.
If you want to see some examples of traditional touring bicycles
made for road touring scenarios, check out the following article:
http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/touring-bikes-bicycles-made-specifically-for-long-distance-touring/
And if you want to see some touring bicycles that are designed to
handle off-road conditions, check out the bikes on this page:
http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/26-inch-touring-bikes-built-for-world-travel/
As you can see, there are a number of different types of bikes to
choose from. And there are even some other styles of bike that I
haven't mentioned here. Each has its benefits and its drawbacks.
Picking the bike you will need for your bicycle tour is ultimately
going to depend on where you plan to go on your tour, how
long you plan to spend out on the road, how much gear you
plan to carry, and what the road conditions are going to be like
on your travels.
If you need more help finding the perfect touring bicycle, I've
created a resource for exactly this purpose. It's called "The
Essential Guide To Touring Bicycles" an you can learn more about
it right here:
http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/touring-bicycles-buyers-guide/
That's it for today. Until next time... make it a great day!
Darren Alff
contact@bicycletouringpro.com
www.bicycletouringpro.com
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In my next post i will be talking about bike maintenance, and where you can go to learn how.
Keep on Biking....
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