Purchasing a bike is not as simple as choosing the right color in a male or female frame to suit your taste. Today's bicycles come in a variety of styles for various purposes, and with different features within each subcategory of bicycle style. Pre-planning and research will help you pick the most appropriate bike for your riding needs while you stay within your budget.
Step 1
Determine your purpose for buying a bike. You might want the bike as part of an exercise plan, or for racing, commuting to and from work, doing tricks or recreational rides by yourself or with friends or family.
Step 2
Select a bike type based on your riding needs. Road bikes are made for commuting or racing on streets, paved paths, tracks and other smooth, maintained surfaces. Mountain bikes are used off the road in woods, dirt tracks and gravel paths. Hybrid bikes suit both on-road and off-road riding, sacrificing some characteristics of specialty bikes. BMX bikes come in three styles for use on dirt tracks, jumping and doing tricks. Recumbent bikes have you reclining, or leaning backward, in a chair-type configuration while you pedal. Tandems are bicycles built for two, if you'd like to ride with a friend.
Step 3
Decide how serious you are about your goal. For example, if you plan to use a mountain bike for infrequent, casual rides, don't invest in a bike with high-end tires if it stretches your budget. If you want a BMX bike primarily for street riding, you won't need a true dirt track back.
Step 4
Pedal the bike either in the store or on the street to determine if the pedals are too far from your feet or too close to them. Don't buy a bike that's too big for a child, thinking she will grow into it. If a child's feet are too far away from the pedals, she may not be able to brake quickly during a dangerous situation, or her feet may slip off the pedals, causing a fall. Test-riding a bike also will let you experience how the seat and handlebar feel.
Step 5
Check if the bike has a warranty, and what the limitations are. Check for length of warranty, if it covers parts and labor and if there's an extended plan available.
Step 6
Purchase the bike based on the features you desire, not your budget. If the bike you want is beyond your budget, consider buying a used bike. Many used bikes are on Craigslist and eBay and at sporting goods resale stores and bicycle shops. It's better to buy a used bike that meets all of your needs than to buy a new bike that doesn't provide what you want.
Things You'll Need
- Bicycle specifications sheet
- Sales materials
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