Getting Back in the Saddle – Tips For Buying a New Bike
OK I admit it. The last time I rode a bike regularly it was a “sit up and beg” bike with my schoolbooks on the back. I don’t even want to think how long ago that was.
So it is a bit daunting to walk into a cycle shop and see how much everything has changed. But I have committed to do more cycling as a result of my joining a group of women going wild outdoors, and my employer offering to knock 45% off the price off a new bike. So I really need to decide what I want.
So What Have I Found Out?
Most importantly,many more bikes are specifically designed for women’s needs and natural body shape. This means bikes now cater for the natural cycling position women adopt so it is comfortable and efficient to cycle this way.
Secondly, make sure you start with the right overall frame size and then that there are enough adjustable bits – e.g. height of handle bars and saddle stem will mean a more comfortable ride. Saddles are also incredibly important. Women’s saddles are shorter and wider than men’s will a less pronounced “nose” and wider at the back. They are also more padded and some have cutouts to relieve pressure on tender areas
Thirdly, be clear what you plan to use your bike for- before you go into the shops. This may seem obvious but there is so much choice, that unless you have a clear idea what you want it is easy to get something else.
Here are a few tips to help:-
For short distances on roads – something of medium weight with small wheels and tyres of medium width and tread will be fine. Buying a bike that folds up means you can even take it on the train for part of the journey and cycle the rest.
For cycle paths -wider tires with a bit more tread are ideal. But not too much. More tread means more grip, but when you are on the road that can make cycling harder work. Take advice on suspension for front and rear forks. If every bit of the bike has separate suspension you can find you never stop bouncing up and down.
Bikes for this kind of use are variously called hybrid, comfort or track and trail depending in the supplier. Some even come with an extra light frame.
For rough terrain – you need a mountain bike. The 4 x 4 of the bike world. These are rugged bikes that will handle almost any ground; wide, knobbly tires that won’t puncture too easily on rough ground and lots of gears for the hills.
Mountain bikes can be split into two main groups :- hard-tails that only have suspension at the front and full-suspension bikes that have suspension at the rear as well. Mountain bike suspension has been designed to absorb the shocks from riding over uneven terrain. It aids traction over difficult loose surfaces and helps you to control the bike. If you aren’t trying anything too challenging a hard-tail bike will provide enough suspension. If you fancy venturing into more extreme trail riding then full-suspension can make the experience more comfortable and more exciting.
For longer journeys on smoother surfaces – either touring bikes or road bikes. Touring bikes are designed for load carrying and all day comfort. If you want to enjoy cycling holidays this may well be the bike for you. Touring bikes are often equipped with low gear ratios to cope with carrying the extra weight of luggage.
Or finally race bikes – really light with the skinny tires and droopy handlebars that you see on the Tour de France. These are designed for those who love the thrill of speed, for going really fast on smooth roads, to handle smoothly, climb and accelerate rapidly and corner fast.
By Alison Derrick
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