| Whenever you buy a new bike, for yourself or for | | | | Does the bike fit? |
| your children, it is important that you get a bike that | | | | When you stand astride a bike - you'll want plenty of |
| is the right size. If the bike doesn't fit, it will ruin the | | | | room between yourself and the top tube. (This is |
| enjoyment of biking altogether, and if you or your | | | | called the "standover height.") It is best to have |
| child continue to ride the bike, can even cause knee | | | | around four to six inches of clearance between the |
| or back injuries, as they try to compensate for the | | | | tube and your crotch. If you have to come to a stop |
| poor fit. | | | | suddenly, you'll appreciate that this clearance is |
| A great many people buy bikes for their children | | | | important - and you don't ever want to ride on a |
| from department stores or discount stores like | | | | bike - even for a few minutes - if you're too short |
| Target and Walmart. However, this is a bad idea, as | | | | for it, because you'll learn your lesson painfully. |
| the bikes there are the bottom of the range, and are | | | | Saddle height |
| put together by people who are not necessarily | | | | Have someone hold the bike still while you sit on it. |
| properly trained in the task. (Have you ever looked | | | | Extend one leg down to the pedal at its lowest |
| at the furniture they put together?) And if you are | | | | extension...your leg should not be at full extension, |
| fortunate enough to even find someone to help you | | | | but rather slightly bent. Only when this occurs is the |
| in the "sports section," they still probably won't know | | | | saddle at the correct height. Also, always ensure that |
| anything about how to help you fit the bike properly. | | | | the seat is level - tilting it forward or backward for |
| It's best, therefore, to buy a bike from a bike shop - | | | | whatever reason will ony lead to discomfort. |
| you'll be able to get expert advice, and the bike shop | | | | If you're planning on mountain biking or going over |
| personnel will be able to answer your questions. | | | | any kind of uneven terrain, you'll be rising off your |
| However, it's also important that you familiarize | | | | bike seat all the time, in reacting to the terrain. You'll |
| yourself with the terminology and principles of bike | | | | probably lower the saddle an inch or so to |
| fitting, so that you can appreciate what the bike | | | | compensate for all that jouncing around. |
| people tell you. Because there are bikes specially | | | | Top Tube |
| designed for every niche sport, the fit you want | | | | If you're a woman, pay careful attention to the |
| differs from bike to bike. | | | | length of the top tube, which separates you from |
| Remember also that the majority of adult bikes are | | | | the handlebars. You don't want to have to stretch |
| made for adult males, and that adult women are | | | | forward uncomfortably while you ride. |
| typically shorter then men, and weigh less. They also | | | | Handlebars |
| may have long legs, but shorter torsos. So women | | | | If you already own a bike and want to have the |
| have a more difficult time finding bikes that fit. | | | | handlebars raised or lower by purchasing a new stem |
| Fortunately in the last several years women-specific | | | | through which the handlebars go, that costs money. |
| bikes have been designed by companies such as | | | | But when you're being fitted out with a new bike, |
| Terry (they make only women-specific bikes), and | | | | the store employees can exchange those with no |
| from other major companies with a women's bike | | | | problem. And again, this is something that a discount |
| division. | | | | store can't do. |
| When the average person thinks of a "woman's bike" | | | | When you find a bike you like, take it out for a test |
| - he or she thinks of those bikes in which the top | | | | ride. Indeed, don't just settle for test riding one bike. |
| tube is not horizontal, as in a "men's bike," but sloping. | | | | There are many different types of bikes on the |
| This type of bike is easier to mount if you're wearing | | | | market - frames made of different materials, full |
| a skirt, but in the general scheme of things they are | | | | suspension or front suspension, etc. that you'll want |
| not as sturdy as a "man's bike" and should be | | | | to get the feel of each one of them. |
| avoided. | | | | After you've had the experience of riding various |
| So, go to a bike shop and look around at their vast | | | | different kinds of bikes, you'll be able to make your |
| array of bikes. | | | | own decision in a more informed manner. |