Many different means of evaluating a bike make purchasing a new one difficult. Finding their next bike is hard for even those folks who are paid to ride. All the varieties and options make it really hard to buy a new bike. 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? Choosing between all of the options available can be overwhelming, especially since new developments in cycling happen all the time. It’s easy to just use our criteria to pick the best bike for you.
The basic key to choosing a bicycle is to buy a bicycle that you can sit on and rest your feet flat on the floor so that you can stop yourself. There are some people that say this isn't the best way to choose, though. It is their belief, that your time on your bicycle will be much more comfortable, if you allow your feet to remain several inches off the ground. The seat will usually sit a little low and too close to the crossbar if you are able to bend your knees while your feet are on the ground and your backside is on the bicycle’s seat. If you can bend your knees, your knees will come up too high when you are pedaling.
If you intend to get a road bike then take 9" away from your total inseam. This is to account for the size of tires you will use on a road bike. City riding is done with thin tires, designed to work perfectly with the smooth concrete roads and sidewalks you find in a city. For a mountain bike take away 12 inches from your inseam. Again this is to account for the type of tires you will be using. Mountain bike tires will be thick and designed for mountainous terrain. You can use mountain bikes for city cycling, but the opposite is not true and they are nowhere near as good on city streets as road bikes.
It is important that you allow adequate room between you and the crossbar. When selecting a bike make sure you move the seat up slightly, to around a few inches above the height of the crossbar. Your feet should still comfortably rest on the ground. Each type of bike requires different clearances. A touring bike for example will require look at these guys around 1", perhaps slightly more. With a mountain bike however you will need some more, 3 inches should suffice. When you are searching for the appropriate cycling bicycle to suit you, there are a number of factors to consider. Do you want to ride your bicycle every day or do you see yourself only riding it once in a while? Which height of bike is the most comfortable fit for you? Would you rather have room between your feet and the ground or would you rather be able to touch the ground with your feet when you come to a stop? All of these factors will come into play as you make your choice.