What sort of bike should I buy?

What do you want to do, what do you want to see and where do you want to do it? Cycling is not simply pushing pedals round as fast or as slow as you want. Many different activities are covered in the topic of cycling and each one has a different equipment need and fitness requirements.

Initially you will need one basic thing, a bike. Bikes usually have two wheels when you visualize one. There are trikes that are three wheeled and quads with four that are much more strange contraptions. Bikes ususally have just one seat although there are tandems which are making a comeback for couples who never want to have to look at one another again.

The what do you want to do is also important.We are concentrating on two wheels in this intro for the occasional cyclist.

If you want a fast track bike, increasingly popular as more velodromes appear there are certain companies’ products to look at. There is no point buying a specialized bike for the mountains and then trying to speed round the embankments of a track in a Madison event.

If you want a road bike, most people are now looking for one that weighs virtually nothing so that when you get to the inevitable hills the gear ratios allow you to think only of losing some weight to make the ups easier.

If you are looking for or want a mountain bike, then the rigid tubular structure, well sprung suspension and really thick tyres may help you avoid the nastiest falls and the inevitable broken collarbone (Yes I am bitter about it)

The occasional cyclist may well want a hybrid that allows you to cope with the hills and a bit of off road as well as getting up a head of steam on the flat roads on the way to your destination.

Whatever your decision as regards your need for a bike and the type of cycling that you want to do the benefits that you will find for your health and wellbeing are manifold. Weight loss, lower resting heart rate and a general feeling of wellbeing will only be offset by initial saddle soreness until you become accustomed to the bike. Cycling is an activity that allows you to take advantage of the countryside and beauty but don’t get into it too seriously to start as you will be frustrated by 60 year old fatties passing you at will to start. They are total weirdos and you will never find a decent reason why they move much faster than you do.