Knowing what to look for in your new bicycle is of paramount importance. Even for those people who are paid to ride, buying a new bike is hard. Considering the various factors makes purchasing a bike tough. Imagine the future: how safe, comfy and stylish do you need the bike to be. How far will you ride and where will you be riding? All the existing options make it hard to make a choice; this choice is made more difficult by all the emerging technologies. Simply apply this test as you go to get your new bike.
The brakes on your bike are of utmost importance. It is vital you understand how your brakes work and what brakes will be best suited for your style of cycling. If you are choosing a bicycle for sporadic hobby riding, you can get by with the brakes that are little more than pads that squeeze your tires to keep them from moving. If you are going to be using your bicycle more often or in heavy terrain, you will want brakes that are a little more hard core and complicated. Disc brakes sit within the wheels themselves and work are less likely to give out under stress.
For a road bike you should take away 9" from the inseam measurement you took earlier. This is because of the size of the tires on your road bike. Designed for cycling around the city road bike tires are thin. You will want to subtract 12" for a mountain bike. The tires on a mountain bike are not the same as a road bike. Mountain bike tires will be thick and designed for mountainous terrain. You can of course use a mountain bike for road cycling but this isn't supposed to be their primary use.
Never leave out the safety gear, either. Bicycle helmets are something completely different than they once were. Not only are they made to better protect you, but they are also made to appeal a bit more aesthetically. You should never, ever ride your bicycle unless you are wearing your helmet. You'd be surprised at how many lives have been saved from that one simple thing.
If you are going to be taking your bike off road, then you need to also invest in some knee and elbow pads, as well as ankle and wrist guards. Another good idea is to buy some pants clips if you are going to be riding your bike as your primary form of transportation. They work by clipping your pants out of the way so they can't get tangled in the chain or gears. You need to consider blog here several things when choosing your bicycle for the first time. Are you going to be using your bike every day or will you only be riding every so often? Which height of bike is the most comfortable fit for you? Would you rather be able to put your feet flat on the ground or would you rather have that few inches between your feet and the ground when you are sitting down? These are some of the things you need to consider when choosing your bike.