Buying your first bike can turn out to be an intimidating and cumbersome process even though it should be an exciting process as you are investing in something life-changing. However, you need to bear in mind that this should not be taken lightly as buying your first bike in a hurry and ending up with the wrong one can limit your enjoyment of cycling and you are going to feel less inclined to ride. There are several factors you need to consider before you step out to purchase a bike for yourself and they are:
Riding Goals
It is quite common, especially in the case of women, to ‘under buy’ when they are purchasing their first bike. This means that you go shopping for a bike because you wish to take up riding. You are going to judge your purchase according to the level of riding you do when you are shopping. This is a mistake because you are going to purchase a bike based entirely on price instead of getting one that’s appropriate for you. Once this is done, two things can happen; first, you might give up riding altogether as the bike’s too slow or heavy or you end up outgrowing the performance level of the initial purchase and end up investing in another bike that you should have bought in the first place.
Therefore, you need to think about your riding goals before you go out shopping for your first bike. You are going to need a different one for a triathlon or for simple riding in the park. An excellent way to figure out the kind of bike you need is visualizing it; what type of rider do you see yourself in three to five years? Once you know this answer, your selection becomes easier.
One Bike for Everything
This is a myth. It is not possible for you to find a do-it-all bike. You cannot find an ideal bike that can be used for riding on the urban streets, single-track, bike paths, country lanes, canal paths and fire roads. There are some bikes that may do well in some areas, but there is nothing universally excellent. You can easily find versatile bikes and most of them are equipped to handle different kinds of terrain, but the issue is not about riding a mountain bike on urban streets. It is about finding the right tool for the right application.
Color
One problem with women in bike shopping is that they are thinking as fashionistas. Of course, you are one, but this is the time when you need to be colorblind. The bike that may appeal to you the most visually may not turn out to be the best choice for the kind of riding you wish to do. You need to sort out the type of bike you want to get and then consider the aesthetics.
Once you have considered the factors outlined above, you have probably figured out what you need in a bike. Now, it is finally time look at the outcome of your internal monologues and find the kind of bike that would be applicable to them. Some of the top categories are:
Hybrids / Urbans
This type of ride doesn’t require anything top of the line, but it can provide you a kind of bike that’s comfortable, stylish, efficient and most importantly, affordable. This is the ideal pick for someone who wants to do some light riding every now and then. There are folding bikes you can use if you want something that can be transported easily. There are lots of great folding bikes available for excellent prices. You can review some on foldingbikesreviews.com.
Road Bikes
Have you decided to go for your first triathlon? Then you need a road bike for this purpose. They tend to fall in the most expensive category because they provide you with excellent performance and are of the highest quality.
Mountain Bikes
If you live near the woods or away from urban areas, you need to have a mountain bike as they are better for that kind of landscape. There is considerably variety in this category as opposed to others such as full suspension, hardtail or rigid and you can consider the pros and cons of each before selecting one.