Tips to choose your first bike

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Wednesday, 17 March 2010 13:57

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Your first bike

by Hugh Pines

If you’re in the market for a bike - your first one - you probably find the choice absolutely bewildering. Before you spend the amount time I have researching the advice of experts and wannabes on the internet, as well as talking to the good folks at real bike shops, take a read through this short article. The tips to choose your first bicycle are bound to clarify things for you, and narrow your choices.

Decisions

First of all, you need to decide what type of bike you want. Where will you be riding your bike the most - on road, off-road or both? Answer this and you will be off to a good start.

There are many different types of bikes; even I knew this! In the road bike category there are touring, sport and racing bikes. You need to decide what type of road riding you want to do. Is it for leisure purposes or do you want to compete in road races? For off-road purposes there are also several categories of mountain bikes or MTBs as they are commonly termed. Be careful with this category. I realised there are many MTBs that are more suited to on-road riding and not meant for the rough stuff. One of these is a hybrid: a cross between a road bike and mountain bike. It’s lighter than a mountain bike, but not as fast as a road bike. Straight handlebars, medium-width tyres and an upright riding position make it ideal for short distances and commuting. You might give preference to a road bike if travelling longer distances at higher speeds is important to you.