Bicycle
An important first step in making bicycle commuting a part of your daily life is purchasing a bicycle or
tuning up your old one. First you will need to determine what type of bicycle
is best for you, based on your needs, preferences
and environment. The tips below will help you get started, but you should visit a specialized bicycle shop to be properly fitted for a new bike.
Basic Steps to
Buying a Bicycle
-
Determine the kind
of riding you plan to do (distance, location and likely conditions)
- Figure out the type
of bicycle made for that kind of
riding (comfort, road, hybrid, cruiser)
- Select the proper
size bicycle (frame size and style)
- Test
ride the models you have selected
(be aware of seat and body comfort, leg
extension, hand position, and any leaning
or pressure you feel)
- Choose the bike that
feels most comfortable
to you (certain accessories can enhance
comfort)
- Ride and enjoy
your new bike (clubs, group rides, events,
transportation)
- Keep your new bike
adjusted
and maintained (break it in, maintain
tire
pressure, keep it clean)
(from BikesRNotToys)
Bicycle frame
materials: pros and cons
Steel:
Pros - Strong, cracks grow slowly,
easily repaired, available in a variety
of dimensions and alloys
Cons - Heavy (three times heavier
than aluminum and twice as heavy as titanium),
rust potential
Aluminum:
Pros - Light, inexpensive, tubes
are available in a large range of diameters,
wall thickness and alloys
Cons - Cracks grow quickly when
they develop, leading to sudden failures.
Harder to repair than steel, and requires
a large diameter and/or thick walls to achieve
adequate strength and stiffness.
Titanium:
Pros - Light, strong (weighs about
half as much as steel but 25 percent more
than aluminum)
Cons - Expensive
Carbon Fiber:
Pros - Light, strong and
easy to adapt
Cons - Issues with reliability,
especially joints and connections. Long-term
exposure to UV rays may be damaging to the
resins that bond carbon fiber. Breakages
typically occur suddenly.
(from Rivendell
Bicycles)
See the Bicycle
Buyer's Guide , Fuji 's Find
my Bike or Which
Bike is Right for Me? for more information |
