How to choose the proper road bicycle

Your local bike shop will be very helpful in your selection but I want you to go there loaded for bear.I am going to concentrate on the newbie in this article because I believe if you are looking for a 4 or 5 thousand dollar bike, you're probably not a novice at bike selections.

Road bikes are designed for recreational riding with good performance on paved roads.These bikes are designed for comfort and load carrying capacity.(i.e. fenders,baskets,accessories of that nature.) Meant to be ridden in the body upright position.(bars come to you, not you leaning towards the handlebars) Available in coaster brake(back pedal to stop) and various speed combinations. The 3 speed grip shifter models are very popular these days.

HOW TO SELECT BIKE SIZE

For mens bikes straddle the bike with feet flat on the ground. Grab the handlebar goose neck with one hand and the back of the seat with the other hand. Raise the bike as high as it will go. You should have1' to 1 1/2' of clearance between the tires and the ground.

For women, test drive a mans bike and if uncomfortable choose a womens bike( has no upper cross bar )

HOW TO CHECK PERFORMANCE

Most shops will let you test drive any bike you are interested in. If they won't, find another shop, as the test drive can reveal so many things that merely viewing cannot.

CHOOSING THE PROPER TIRES

Road bikes normally come with a tread design suited for pavement(smoother thread as opposed to knobby style tires) Bikes with the knobby tire are most likely mountain bikes and when driven on pavement give an uncomfortable ride and require extra effort to pedal.

CHOOSING A BIKE SADDLE(SEAT)

1. Ask yourself what kind of riding will you be doing.Short or long rides,commuting or recreational

2. Choose the type of cushioning

Foam-denser for long rides, softer for short rides

Gel- advantages-comfort & shock absorption

disadvantages- loses softness and becomes hard over time

3.Choosing saddle style

Comfort saddles are wider and softer than the narrow racing style. They are designed for shock absorption and comfort. Great for recreational riders.

Cruiser saddles are even wider and as the bike is ridden in the body upright position, more weight is exerted on the seat requiring more cushioning.

Prostate saddles for men have a large gap in the middle to front portion of the seat to allow for less pressure being exerted on the prostate

PROPER SEAT HEIGHT

Have someone steady the handlebars while you are positioned on the seat and place one of the pedals in the full down position with your foot flat on the pedal.You should have a slight bend at the knee. If knee has too much bend have technician raise seat and reverse procedure for a knee locked straight or foot not touching pedal.

And finally, and this should be your first priority, determine your price range as they vary from brand to brand and most shops have a variety to choose from

I hope this article has been useful to you and if I can answer any questions please leave a message at mark@bicyclerepairtoolsforthediyer.com