WHAT IS SO BAD ABOUT BUYING A WRONG BIKE

Have you ever wondered how to make the determination that you are buying the right bike? Buying a bike is an investment and if you are anything like me, you are going to want to know that you are making the right decision in your purchase. 

Many people don’t realize it, but there are many types of bikes available and each of them offers different uses. You can’t just walk into a store or a bike shop and buy a bike without knowing its purposes and strengths. It’s important to understand these differences before you make an investment. 

How to Know That You are Buying the Right Bike?

Did you know that bikes have different purposes? They may seem like they all do one thing, but it goes well beyond just pedaling down the road. Let me put it the easy way: a screwdriver can do so much more than just put the screws in, but it is all it was originally designed for. Bikes are the same. You can use different bikes for purposes other than they were really designed for. 

Mountain Bikes

Mountain bikes are designed and built for off-road cycling. Mountain bikes incorporate performance and durability features to make riding in rough terrain easier and safer. This also means that mountain bikes are heavy though. 

Sure, you can load a mountain bike with cargo and make it look like a mule, but you might have problems going through dense woods and down the mountainside (or up for that matter) with all this extra weight. 

Road Bikes

Road bikes are bicycles that are designed for traveling at higher speeds on the pavement. These bikes are lightweight and come with narrower tires and different brakes than other bikes. 

The same goes for road bikes though. If you load them up with tons of hanging cargo it will make it difficult to maneuver on the road and they are very unstable to ride off-road. 

Cruiser

Cruisers are bicycles that are made for traveling paved roads at a slower pace, or cruising. These often have balloon-style tires, no front brakes, upright rider seating, and their style is much different than that of other bikes.  

Cruisers are great for cruising, but they aren’t meant for high speed, for extra weight, or for off-road riding. 

Hybrids

A hybrid bicycle is a hybrid combination of a mountain and road bike. These bikes are great for various types of riding, be it paved roads, off-road, higher speeds and even carrying cargo with you.

If you are just now beginning your bike search, be sure and check out our previous posts. We have discussed these topics so far – pros and cons of buying a cheap bike, Can Craigslist be trusted?, and All kinds of bikes. These posts are a great place to begin your bike search. Consider reading them if you haven’t yet.

Now that you read up on our previous bicycle buying posts and have learned about types of bicycles, you are closer to being ready to buy your new bike!  

MAKING DECISIONS

You can accessorize your bike for your riding needs more specifically, as you advance, put some miles on your new ride first, and understand what else will make you a happier rider. However, the type of your future ride should be picked at the research stage of your bike shopping. 

If you’re completely or somewhat clueless (it is totally ok – we were there too) of a type of riding you’re planning to do, a properly sized Hybrid will most likely be your safest choice, since it gives you the best of both worlds. If later on, you decide to get into something more hard-core on either side of the spectrum, you will still be able to sell your Hybrid and buy whatever it is you need. In any case, at that point, you will have a lot clearer understanding of your needs. 

Although buying a high-end bike might sound as a good idea (as long as you’re set on the type and pricing options), my personal recommendation (and I am rather an enthusiast – not a pro) is to go through the learning curve on a lower-end brand until you understand what type of bikes you prefer, what brands you a favor and riding mistakes you need to work through. “Bike hopping” can run the bill up fairly quickly especially when you’re buying new bikes every time.

Explore Craigslist: sometimes you can find your dream bike for a fraction of the original cost. Another important thing is to find a mechanic, who knows what he’s doing and doesn’t charge you an arm and a leg for his work (usually they are cheaper than the stores). Ask a lot of questions and ask for recommendations. Discuss possible future upgrades, but remember one thing – if you are not set on the type do not go overboard with upgrades. When picking an upgrade, make sure you can remove it and mount it on your next bike if you decide to sell (or otherwise get rid of) your old ride. You’d rather put your money into the one you end up owning at the end.