Which Bike is Best for you?
Before buying your road bike, you need to spend some time thinking about a) What are you going to use it for and b) How much can you afford to spend? The more thought you give to this, the easier it becomes to buy the best bike for you!
Why do you want a new bike? Is it for commuting to work; getting fit; joining in and riding sportives; or joining a club? Having a good idea of why, will go a long way in finding the right bike. There are bikes made for every occasion.
You then need to do is decide how much money you are ready to spend on your bike. What is your budget? No matter what your budget, there will be plenty of bikes to choose from. Don’t forget to add the cost of a helmet, possibly lights and some cycling clothes if required.
Bikes for every price:
A good bike can cost you anything from £500 to £10,000. It is hard to find a decent bike for less than £500 but if your budget is low, then why not look at the second user market. Plenty of bikes are sold on Gumtree, Ebay or Craig’s List.
An estimate is to be ready to spend £750 on your bike. At £1,000 you would be able to find a really good bike. And if you are going to be using your bike for commuting (riding to work) think about joining the Cycle to Work Scheme.
Pick something that suits your cycling needs
You need to pick a bike that suits the kind of cycling you plan on doing. If you are the kind that wants to bike down the road at top speed, then you will want to pick a different kind of bike as compared to those who want to ride on dirt roads.
Before you part with any money, visit as many cycling shops – your LBS (Local Cycling Store) as possible. Talk with all the salespeople – most of them will be cyclists – tell them what you want the bike for and your budget.
Don’t forget to look at the offers on the Internet – while savings can be made, remember, you will have little or no after sales service. And if you buy online, you may have to assemble or at least part-assemble your shiny new bike.
A good salesperson will take this information and suggest a suitable bike for you. The more you tap into the salesperson’s knowledge the easier it becomes to find a suitable bike.
Take a test ride
Before you actually buy the bike, makes sure that you take it for a test ride. Most bikes look similar but they all ride slightly differently. When you ride the bike, you will be able to spot minor or even major differences that will help you make the right choice. This is impossible if you just buy online.
Looking at all the different bikes, look at the frame and the forks. Is a carbon frame right for you, or would be better off with a bike made from aluminium or steel.
Entry-level bikes are normally bikes with frames made from aluminum. The fork, however, may be made from carbon.
Another aspect to buying the right bike cycle is to check the brakes, you need to decide whether to opt for a road bike with disc brakes or one that uses rim brakes. Disc brakes on your first bike would prove to be a good option.
Finally, yet most importantly, you need to get a bike that fits you perfectly. To get an idea about this, make sure that you take with the salespeople. In addition, if you can, book for a proper bike fit.