Guidelines For Choosing The Right Bicycle For You

By Gregg Hall

If you are in the market for a new bike, you have your work cut out for you. Selecting just the right bicycle can be a difficult decision. With the plethora of brands, sizes, and styles, how can you be sure you will find the right bike to suit your needs?

First, determine who will be riding the bicycle. With the purchase of a bike, size matters. For adults, you may want to select a bicycle that fits you comfortably based on your height and the size of the seat, for example. Children, in particular, are more susceptible to assorted size requirements. A bicycle that is too small will be uncomfortable. Selecting a bike that is too large, may allow room for growth, but lack of control will be an issue.

Another consideration when purchasing a bicycle is to think about the particular uses for the new bike. Will this bike be ridden in sports competitions or simply for recreation around the neighborhood? The answer will provide insight into the specific bike you will need to purchase. This will help you to narrow your search for the perfect bike.

Price range is important. The cost of a bicycle can range dramatically. Set a price range for your purchase and stick to it.

Quality is another factor when choosing your bike. You not only want a good price, but excellent quality. Durability is important. A bike that will show wear after the first trip around the block or from a single jump would not be the best bike to purchase. Consider buying a strong and lightweight bike that will last for years to come.

Take a look at reviews online about your prospective bicycle choices. Ask friends and relatives about their experiences with such brands and styles. Tapping into this knowledge base will give you further insight into your new bicycle purchase.

Safety is of utmost importance. Take a look at the safety features equipped on your potential bike. Are there plenty of adequate features such as padding and strong bolts?

The look of the bike is undoubtedly a major factor in the purchase of a new bicycle. You want your new ride to show off your personality and style. Although you can add specific customization to your bike, you want to make sure that it fits your personality. Do you like the style of the bike? What about the color? If the look of the bike does not please you, but the other features meet your specifications, it is advisable to hold off on the purchase. Wait until you locate the bike that matches your attitude. You will be much happier with such a purchase.

Despite the overwhelming number of bicycle varieties, styles, and price range, it is possible to find just the right bicycle for your next purchase. Keeping in mind factors such as size, weight, and durability, you should have no problem finding just what you are looking for in a bicycle. Considering reviews will also help you to make a decision. Finally, decide on the bike that matches your style and personality. Following these guidelines will help to ensure your satisfaction with the purchase.

Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about bicycles as well as bicycle parts at http://www.bicyclepartsandclothing.com

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Better Fitness and Health From Using Your Bike

Better Fitness and Health From Using Your Bike

By Sunil Tanna

Most of us could benefit from taking more exercise, and thanks to constant reminders from government, the media, and of course the medical profession, most people are only too aware of this fact. Of course knowing that you should take more exercise is not the same thing as actually taking that exercise. Especially since it's also true that we tend to all leading increasingly busy and hectic lives, and it simply may not be very easy to fit more exercise into our schedule.

Of course, another common problem is simply maintaining your enthusiasm about improving your health through exercise. It's all too common to start out with great intentions for turning over a new leaf - but can you keep it up in the long run? For example, many people who join gyms are, initially at least, positively excited about the prospect of improving their health and fitness, and perhaps also losing weight, yet the statistics show that as many as three quarters of gym memberships go unused after the third month.

One of the reasons why cycling is such a great form of exercise is because unlike swimming, running or going to the gym, you don't need to find an extra slot in your daily schedule for it, but instead can integrate into your daily routine. Instead of driving your car or riding on the bus at every opportunity, why not hop on your bike? If you think about the amount of time that you spend sitting in traffic jams, cycling may even turn out to be a time saver!

By S. Tanna. First published at http://www.guide2cycling.com/p1_articles_bike_fitness.php

For more about cycling, please visit http://www.guide2cycling.com/

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Cycling - An Easy Way To Get Healthy, Fit and Lose Wieght

By Matt Mccullough

If your not a cyclist already it may appear that the past time is an expensive and time consuming occupation -- especially if you live near a popular riding road and see the rainbow colored lycra-clad groups on hi-tech bikes flying past. In fact it represents a low cost, extremely accessible and time efficient way to improve your health and fitness.

Cycling has gained huge popularity over the last decade. This may well have begun with Lance Armstrong's story bringing it to the masses but beyond that it is a great, low impact way to get regular exercise what ever fitness level you're currently at. It is easy to begin and has a low cost entry point. Of course once you begin, there is an endless array of toys to invest in -- you can always be faster, lighter and more aero-dynamic. It is partly this aspect which has contributed to its popularity -- the further you progress in the pursuit, the more you discover about technique, equipment and how to train. It has all the aspects of a great game where the skill you develop through time and effort is rewarded and provides new territory to explore.

You can buy an entry level road bike for just a few hundred dollars and if you're concerned about when you'd find the time, try riding to work, or part of the way. You'll not only be benefiting your health but also the environment. The benefits of cycling to your health are numerous including improving your cardio-vascular health, strength and also being great for your back. When you exercise regularly and sensibly you sleep better, have more energy, are more focused and able to get more done in less time. The incremental effects of an exercise plan that you can integrate into your everyday life are cumulative so as you progress you'll notice and enjoy even greater results .

As a low cost, low impact way to improve strength and cardio-vascular health cycling represents a great option for improving your health and fitness. Starting is as easy as getting on your bike and riding. The simple freedom this represents may well hook you from the start and as you progress and notice the benefits of regular exercise you'll be motivated to continue further. Whether you plan on competing or do it for the simple pleasure of fresh air and better health, recording your rides is a great way to see your progress. The internet has many resources providing further information about cycling and you can get free software to record and track, not only your rides, but also your health. This is a great way to motivate yourself and really see the long term benefits.

So -- if you want an easy, in expensive way to get fit, get riding.

Matt McCullough has been instrumental in establishing the cycling resource site Cycling-Secrets.com. Cycling-Secrets provide resources and information to cyclists of all levels and provides free software to help you track your rides, health and progress. Cycling-Secrets also supports a number of bicycle centered charities.

http://www.cycling-secrets.com - free cycling software and resources

http://monroe15.wordpress.com/ - Matt's Cycling Blog

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Folding Bikes - EcoSmart Solution To "An Inconvenient Truth"

By Robin J. Derry

Enjoying the good life, well fed Al Gore could save his carbon credits and get lean-and-mean by hopping onto the latest generation of eco-friendly money-saving collapsible bikes. Affordable, easy-to-ride, quick fit hinge-framed to slip into the back of a car or onto a bus or train, fold up bikes offer the perfect environmental solution to the energy and pollution crisis...and no small amount of fun!

Commuter Bike To Work - No Global Warming...Just A Hotter Trim You.

Getting fit, saving commuter tolls, getting "into the flow" rather than fighting traffic and road rage becomes an easy-access reality with modern collapsible bicycle designs.

Buyer's Tip #1 - Choosing The Best Folding Bike For Your Needs.

Is it work...or is it travel...or perhaps just around-the-neighborhood casual riding that you have in mind? Whatever your preference, check out the 16 in. or 20 in. wheel sized folding bikes, making sure that it's big enough so that your riding stance is comfortable and that easy-rhythm pedaling efficiency is possible regardless of hills or road conditions.

The two key sizing factors are overall frame length (end-to-end) along with seat post height and corresponding handlebar front stem length. Get "set up" on your commuter bicycle by speaking to a local bike pro shop.

Tip: While "on the saddle" of your folding bike, your leg should be extended at the bottom of the pedal's arc to the point just short of full extension. Reason? To gain maximum power yet avoid hyper-extension or flexing of the knee.

Buyer's Tip #2 - Multi Gear Multi Speed Performance Fold Bikes.

Like their touring bike and mountain bike kin, folding bicycles offer a wide spectrum of riding possibilities.

* British Designs.Traditional and popular British based Brompton folding bicycle offers a straight forward 3-speed or 6-speed option wheel hub and derailleur assembly.

* German Top Designs. Meanwhile, German Birdy folding bicycle designs include the 9-gear Speed or the 14-gear Rohloff all in single-piece aluminum tube construction for a full suspension comfortable ride.

* American Engineering. USA designer Dahon folding bicycle designs push the speed-and-gearing choice envelope even further, with models offering over 24-gear riding options. "Fast spin high RPM pedaling" is the goal, for low-stress high efficiency riding to work or urban riding while on vacation.

Buyer's Tip #3 - Long Life Performance Materials And Engineering For Fold Up Bikes.

'Re-designing the wheel' drives the folding bicycles engineers to exploit a wide technology resource pool for performance materials such as the Dahon folding bike and its use of double butted 7005 aluminum tubing for strength and reduced weight. Anodized alloy frames, stainless steel spokes, sealed bearings and wheel hub and derailleur assemblies, titanium handle bars or titanium pedals and titanium rear forks for high strength light weight performance.

Buyer's Tip #4 - Commuter Bike Accessories That Make A Difference.

You're saving gas, money, getting fitter, contributing to a Green World...but you still have to get to work on time, safely and with minimum fuss when storing your bike on a connecting train or in your office.

* Folding Bike Case. Folding bike accessories that give you the bottom line solution begin with the folding bike bag or the hard shell complement, the folding bike case. Typically 30 seconds or less is all you'll need to open frame hinges, adjust seat post and handlebars, clip together components before speedily inserting your fold bike into its case. Total weight? Generally under 27 lbs.

* Folding Bike Basket And Luggage Holder. Simple clip-on attachments to your commuter bike mean that you can easily "commute" with spare gear, your lunch, your briefcase and laptop and more.

* Safety Lights And Water Bottle. There's nothing wrong with being "highly visible" to nearby commuter cars. Solution? Besides wearing some brightly colored jacket, or placing reflector Velcro strips around your ankles, think about installing a light weight safety flashing light on your foldable bicycle.

Bottom Line. Learn more about the best folding bicycle designs, equipment options, leading commuter bike models, and accessories that will enhance your fold up bike while commuting, on travel vacation, or taking a spin through nearby parks and streets.

Folding Bikes: http://www.wise4living.com/sbike/ Dahon Folding Bicycle: http://www.wise4living.com/sbike/dahon.htm Author Robin Derry is publisher for http://www.wise4living.com/ a specialty knowledge site that gives insights and solutions on a wide range of product, technology and lifestyle interests. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_J._Derry