Summer's coming. Time to start thinking about getting a bike for getting to work, for weekend rides, or for your kids.
Choosing a bike is a personal decision and can be based on brand, price, style or even colour. Buy a bicycle that you feel comfortable on and comfortable with, but follow some basic rules...
Bike shops have qualified mechanics, sales support, and are expert at helping you find a bike that's right for you. Buying second-hand can be fine - just make sure it's in good nick, comfortable and safe.
Know how much you want to spend and don't rush the purchase. Check out several shops and compare prices. Since a good bike will last 10-15 years or longer you want it to be the right one.
Commuting, racing, off-road riding, serious touring, or just riding for fun - there's a different bike for each purpose. There are also different frame sizes to suit different body sizes and shapes, accessories that can adapt the bike to your needs. Different quality levels come with different price tags. Ask yourself what you'll be using the bike for. Don't buy one that won't be up to the task but, equally, don't buy more than you really need. You may end up paying for features that you don't use and which require costly maintenance.
The frame size of the bike must be right. There should be at least 12cm between your crotch and the cross bar when you straddle a mountain bike, and 3cm or more for a touring, hybrid or racing bike. For maximum comfort and performance, your leg should be almost fully extended with the heel on the pedal while you're sitting on the seat.
For children, don't be tempted to buy a bike for them to 'grow into' - seat height adjustment can accommodate some growth, but the frame has to fit from the word go. If possible, take your kid to the bike shop before you buy, or make sure you can exchange it for one that's the right size.
A specialist bike shop can help you choose a seat that's more comfortable for you (e.g. there are seats designed for women), alter handlebar width and stem length to suit your reach, and advise about appropriate gearing. Don't forget to buy safety gear - a snug-fitting helmet and maybe gloves.
Mountain bikes (MTBs) are fun and comfortable to ride. Their tyres give good grip off-road but need more pedalling effort on tarmac. Put 'slicks' (tyres without lots of knobbly bits) on for road riding.. An MTB can be a good choice for touring, (specially if you're combining on and off-road) or shopping, but get a model without suspension, and with brazed on carrier fittings.
Touring bikes are ideal for commuting, shopping or on-road recreation but are hard to get these days. They often have drop handlebars, a carrier for attaching panniers, and a larger frame and narrower tyres than mountain bikes. They range from single or 3-speed 'roadsters' and 10-speeds, to light-weight, multi-geared machines.
Hybrid bikes, also known as cross bikes, look like slim framed mountain bikes with narrower tyres and slightly raised handlebars. They're multi-geared and are suitable for commuting or shortish leisure trips. They are better on than off-road.
Road racing bikes look similar to a good touring bike, but have a shorter wheelbase and are very lightweight. They are mostly expensive and, while they suit the demands of racing, are not recommended for commuting because they aren't as comfortable or as strong as mountain, touring or hybrid bikes and the gearing range is too narrow.
Children's bikes are unfortunately often poorly made. Better to pay a little more for something that will be safer, give lasting pleasure and have resale value. Avoid buying a bike that's too complicated - gears and gadgets can distract from development of basic skills.
Other bikes include BMX and other small-wheeled bikes, recumbents, folding bikes, tandems, tricycles and unicycles. There are some weird and wonderful machines out there.
Check out your local library or bookshop. Richard's Bicycle Book is a classic.
Cycle Aware Wellington Inc., PO Box 11-964, Wellington, Tel/Fax: 04-972 2552, caw_wgtn@hotmail.com, www.can.org.nz