How to Choose a Bike | ebike Shuangye factory
Choosing the perfect bike can be confusing for some of you when it comes time to upgrade. But that doesn’t mean you’ll choose the first bike you find, especially if it’s your first bike. Finding a professional bike with a solid design and added features is no mean feat. This requires knowing and knowing exactly what type of bike you want to ride.
Only when you know what you’re going to do with your new bike can you be sure of your perfect match. You may need a bike for training, touring, commuting, or a day trip around town. Some people need a stronger bike to handle difficult terrain and the bumps, dirt, roots and grass that come with it.
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that there are many factors to look forward to before choosing a bike.
1. Do you need a new or used bike?
Every once in a while, when you’re considering buying a vehicle, the idea of buying a used car at a lower price seems tempting. Correct me if I’m wrong, but buying a used bike is a great way to budget, especially if you want a tough bike for adventure riding.
When you want to buy a used car, you must have a lot of hesitations in your mind. How many kilometers has this bike been ridden? How many times have it been repaired? Do you need regular maintenance of your bike? and so on. Here’s what you need to know in order to avoid a heated conversation between you and the seller.
Understanding a bike’s drivetrain is critical. This system is responsible for moving the bike forward without compromising balance and speed. The drivetrain consists of cranks, chains, rear gears, front gears, derailleurs and gear levers. Regardless of the condition of the bike, the drivetrain should be able to shift without resistance. (6)
As a beginner, knowing how often certain parts of the drivetrain will need to be replaced is a good way to calculate how much you’re going to spend. There is no value in buying a used bike and going the extra mile if it comes close to buying a brand new bike.
On the other hand, if there is minimal wear on the cranks, chainrings and cassette, there is no problem. According to reviews, if one part of the drivetrain is damaged and needs to be replaced, the fate of the other parts is the same. Therefore, careful inspection of each component is essential.
Next is the drivetrain, you should check the braking system, wheels and suspension. If all of this is checked and done and the bike still produces a squeak, check that the front brake bearings are stable. Since different bicycle noises indicate different underlying defects, it is always useful to know about even minor bicycle failures.
2. Find the right size
When you end up picking the wrong bike size, you’re always going to be uncomfortable and slow to adapt. Not to mention, it can lead to neck pain, back pain, and other stress injuries. Other readers also reported loss of balance, slow riding and frequent falls. (8)
Correct bike size can prevent foot problems and stiffness. For this reason, you must consider each bike component before deciding on the last one. These components include:
frame size
saddle
pedal position
handlebar height
The first step is to measure your body size, starting with the inseam measurement. You want to have your legs fully extended and your knees slightly bent for a comfortable riding position. Therefore, measuring your saddle height and pedals is important to make the downstroke without hurting your feet or knees.
The next thing to do is adjust the seat angle. Most mountain and hybrid bike riders want their seat to be parallel to the ground for better posture and an upright back position. Keeping your seat in the front/rear position can prevent kneecap, shoulder and neck pain.
Many bikes have adjustable handlebar heights, but with fixed-design bikes, you’ll need to determine your fit. To be honest, I find bikes with fixed handlebars to be much stronger than adjustable ones. However, if you have more than one person riding the bike, the latter will definitely work.
The handlebars should be the same height as your seat. This allows for a good riding position without creating an abnormal backbend when leaning forward. This measurement is for professional cyclists during racing or adventure travel. But for recreational riders, the handlebars must reach a little higher than the seat. It depends on the type of bike you buy. (9)
Once you’ve determined your ideal bike size, you can check out a number of frame size charts. If you want something to help you calculate your bike frame size, you can also find tools like this online.
In short, once you’ve decided which type of bike is best for you, determining the fit is easy. From the seat and handlebars to the pedals, every part of the bike counts. It’s not enough to just stand on the bike and take a rough measurement.
3. Detectionermining The Right Brake System
4. Riders with bikes with slow-working brakes are prone to accidents and serious injuries. You need your brakes to remain precise and efficient, all the time, to avoid such pitfalls. Fortunately, for most bikes out there, there are many different types of brakes that are gaining popularity among professional cyclists and beginners:
5. Disc brakes: Disc brakes are perfect for all-weather conditions. In these brakes you’ll find variety of kinds such as cable disc brakes and hydraulic disc brakes. The former is less complicated to maintain than the latter. Most bikes feature cable disc brakes as the gear offers packs a powerful punch. The hydraulic disc brakes, on the other hand, are more accurate to control. But they do require a bit of upkeep than cable disc brakes.
6. Some basic information about disc brakes such as its strong stopping power and incomparable system make it one of the best braking systems for mountain, road, and hybrid bikes.
7. Rim brakes: Rim brakes are next to disc brakes for being the most efficient braking system. They require very little maintenance, dry weather, and are easy to replace. Although they might not be as good as disc brakes during different weather conditions. Rim brakes are directly attached to the brake with the help of hand levers and cable. So when you pull on each handle, the cable moves slightly to apply pressure and slow down.
8. Rim brakes are less complex and easier to handle. That being said, they do lack durability for mountain bikes. (12)
9. Drum brakes: Rugged and sealed, drum brakes are low-maintenance beasts. Because of the integrated and enclosed wheel rear hub, they are 100% dust, water, moisture, and all sorts of weather resistant. The durability makes them heavy-duty than rim and disc brakes.
10. The upside to these brakes is that they’re perfect for daily use. But they lack the stopping power for mountain bikes, especially on dirt trails. The best match for these are commuter and hybrid bikes.
11. Coaster brakes: If you’re looking for basic brake function, specifically the kind you find in children’s bikes, coaster brakes are it. They pedal backwards to slow down the bike. Plus, you use them without the involvement of cables, levers, or rear gears. If you are looking for a kids bike, coaster brakes offer plenty without the need of hand strength or stamina.
12. The only downside to using coaster brakes is that you have certain grounds to stay away from. For example, according to one report, coaster brakes don’t work well with downhill slopes.
13. Fixed-gear brakes: I saved this for last because it’s not the most common brake system you’ll find. It’s rare to see bikes with fixed-gear brakes since these don’t coast and neither do they offer a strong stopping power. To be fair, a fixed gear bike comes with little maintenance. You will notice the pedal moving forward with the bike.
14. If you’re a casual rider, you should assemble cable disc brakes for better control, at least on the front wheel.
15. And that’s it! Taking specific brake systems as an important factor of consideration depends on the type of riding and bike you ultimately choose. And by roughly looking at the bike’s braking system you won’t be able to differentiate between a coaster or a fixed- (13)
16. 4. Choosing The Right Gearing For A Bike
17. You will find a wide variety of gears in standard road and hybrid bikes. Some bikes offer single-gear performance, while some offer 30 gears or maybe more. Building upon the chain-rings, cogs, cranks, and the number of teeth on the cogs, the bike’s gearing system can get more accurate and complex.
18. When considering the right gearing system for your bike, there are two important factors to make sure of. A bike with lots of gears is more efficient at maintaining a comfortable riding speed unless you’re a strong cyclist. So the number of gears you get or have depend upon how strong you are and what kind of terrain you’ll be riding on.
19. If you are going to ride your bike on hills and bumpy terrain, you need as many gears as you can get. For flat surfaces or pavements, opting for low gears isn’t a bad option. It makes the bike lightweight and easier to handle . You don’t have to ride a bike with too many gears if you’re a strong cyclist to begin with.
20. Using single gear bikes is a good way to drop some extra weight and punch down maintenance. Professional cyclists who take part in races often ride single-speed bikes as they’re more popular. This offers effortless shifting and consistent pedaling performance on flat terrain. (14)
21. Based on what you buy each bike type comes with its own gear enforcement. Here’s a quick look at each of them:
22. Mountain bikes: As you already know, mountain bikes are good for hardcore climbs and slopes. You will find most mountain bikes with either 9-11 back cogs and one to 3 front chain-rings. The chain-rings help making smooth climbs up hills . However, having a single chain-ring on mountain bikes can offer simple gear
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