When you walk into any bicycle shop, it quickly becomes obvious that you have a lot of choices available to you. If you haven’t ridden a bike in a while or are completely new to the world of cycling, this can be a bit intimidating—but you shouldn’t let all the options deter you from getting a bicycle! Talk to the friendly staff at your local bike shop and read the tips below to ensure that you end up choosing the best bike for you.
Determine What Type of Bike Suits Your Needs
The first thing to figure out is what kind of riding you’re going to be doing. If you’re going to be riding primarily on pavement, you’ll most likely want a road bike, because its narrower tires allow for greater speed and efficiency over an even surface. If you’re a casual rider, you might choose a road bike with flat-bar handlebars that allow you to sit up more, but if you’re interested in racing, you’ll want drop-bar handlebars that allow you to ride in a more aerodynamic position.
If you’re interested in riding on trails (or know that you’ll be biking in an area with uneven pavement), your best bet is a mountain bike. Because these bikes have wider tires, they are able to go over rougher terrain, but are less efficient than road bikes. For a good compromise, you can also choose a hybrid bike. While not as aerodynamic as road bikes, hybrids have relatively efficient peddling and can handle rough terrain (up to a certain extent), making them a good choice for commutes or casual riding.
Find out what's happening in Princetonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Get the Correct Fit
Getting the right fit for your bike is incredibly important, because the wrong one can cause discomfort or even an injury while riding. The first thing you’ll want to check is the stand-over height of the bike. To do this, throw a leg over the top tube (that top bar in front of the saddle) of the bike you’re trying out. For a road bike, you’ll want to have about one inch of clearance while standing over the bike, and for a mountain bike, you’ll want about two or more inches.
Next, you’ll need to check the saddle height. Your leg should have a very slight bend when the pedal is at the lowest point of its rotation, and you may need to adjust the seat so that you can pedal comfortably and efficiently.
Find out what's happening in Princetonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Keep in mind that this is a very general overview of how to get the correct bike fit, and the best thing you can do is visit Hart’s Cyclery where you can be professionally fitted or use our computerized robotic assisted bicycle fitting system.
Test Ride the Bike
Just looking at a bike in the shop isn’t going to be enough to help you decide if it’s the right bike for you. Ask to take the bike out for a test ride, so that you can get a good sense of what it actually feels like to ride it.
If you’d like to learn more about finding the right bike, come in to Hart’s Cyclery. Our friendly and professional staff would be happy to help.
Since 1988, Ross Hart has owned and operated Hart’s Cyclery in Pennington, NJ. The bike store sells and services the finest brands in the world, including Giant and Cannondale. We provide personalized customer service, taking the time to understand your needs, lifestyle, and athletic style. The focus is ensuring you discover the right bike and the right fit – for the best cycling experience possible.
The next time you visit, check out our newest addition: the GURU Dynamic Fit. The computerized robotic assisted system has revolutionized road bike fitting, and we’re the only shop in the area that offers the service.
