Why to ride and how to get started.
Why ride?
If you are reading this, it probably indicates that you already know why riding is a good idea. It’s highly unlikely that you’ve just sat down at a computer that happened to be open at this page. More likely, over a period of time you have considered a number of ways to improve your health or regain a level of fitness or lose a bit of weight. You may have tried other forms of exercise but always ended up wondering why cyclists always seemed to have a smile on their face. Have wondered why there seems to be so many more riders on the roads these days. Wondered what all the fuss is about.
Well it’s time to stop wondering and start pedalling! But before you can get started you will need a bike, the correct bike for your needs , some accessory items and depending on your previous experience, perhaps some advice or lessons. But first a warning.........................Be prepared to have some fun!
What to ride?
If you have been out of the bike scene for a number of years, or perhaps have never been a cyclist, you may not be aware of the different styles of bike available today or be aware of their various uses. You may have heard of Mountain-Bikes and can probably decipher for yourself where they are best suited. But what is a hybrid, or a flat bar road bike, or a commuter, or a racer? And which if any best suits your intended riding conditions.
A Mountain-Bike is a tough off roader which many people use as a general purpose bike. They are pretty tough, can be used on and off road and allow a fairly upright seating position which many people find comfortable. They have a wide range of gears which helps the new cyclist as the gear ratios are very forgiving to leg muscles that have yet to reach the toned stage. Generally speaking Mountain-Bikes have 26” diameter wheels and have a widish tyre with a chunky type of tread which is great for traction and stability on loose surfaces. One disadvantage of these wheels is that they cause the bike to be a little slower than bikes with larger diameter wheels.
A Racer or a Road Bike is the thoroughbred of the cycling world. Lightweight, high geared and with dropped down handlebars to keep the rider low and out of the wind. Racers have what is called 700c wheels which are a larger diameter than the Mountain-Bikes. These wheels are quite a bit narrower and have much less rolling resistance which helps make the bike travel a lot faster. Not usually the type of bike to get started on, but a style many people will progress to as their confidence and fitness levels improve.
A Hybrid is a cross between a Racer and a Mountain-Bike. A hybrid will allow the rider to sit very upright if he wishes. It may well have suspension for comfort and will have 700c wheels like a racer albeit with a much wider tyre. Hybrids are capable of both on and off road riding as long as the off road isn’t too severe, and they will have a generous gear range just like a Mountain-Bike. The other area of advantage for the recreational or occassional rider lies in the comfort. Hybrid bikes are simply a pleasure to ride and as such will mean you are more inclined to ride the bike more often and for longer. This comfort stems from both the upright riding position synonymous with hybrid bicycles and the comfort features that are common on most of the bikes you would consider in your search.
A Flat Bar Road Bike combines most of the great features of a road bike such as lightweight frame and components, smooth, sharp gearing and speed and efficiency critical to long distance riding or commuting. Combine these with some of the features of a hybrid bike, such as a more upright riding position, wider gear range, slightly wider more robust wheels and tyres and you have a bike that is just great as a commuting bike or middle distance tourer.
A 29er is a relatively new style of Mountain Bike, but instead of having 26" wheels, they are a larger diameter like a racer or hybrid and are known as 29", hence the name 29er. A better rolling bike than its smaller wheeled sibling and worth a look, especially if you are a taller rider.
A Fixie or a single speed can be a variation of practically any style of bike, as long as it has no gears. A fixie indicates that the rear cog is fixed meaning that it does not free wheel. With this type of set up, the pedals continue to rotate whenever the wheels are turning. Tricky to ride and not a good style to start off with. A single speed with a free hub is perhaps the simplest and easiest type of bike, however without gears you had better be sure of the local terrain and be sure there are no hills in the vacinity.
Decision time.
When you come to the store to look at bikes or to make a purchase, you may be surprised about how inquisitive we are. We will ask you lots of questions, not because we are nosey, its just that the information you provide will help us determine which may be best bikes for your needs. One of the first questions we will ask is if you have an idea of what style of bike you require. If not, further questions regarding where you may ride, how often you may ride, if you intend riding with friends or family, is the bike for you or someone else, what previous cycling experience you may have, if you have any injuries or difficulty with movement or flexibility, how much had you intended to spend etc. Your answers to these questions and other information from our conversation will help us point you in the right direction and also give you confidence that when you make your selection it will be the correct one. We would even encourage you to take a test ride prior to making your purchase or to help decide between different bikes you may like.
Having decided upon a bike, the only other mandatory item is a helmet, but there are many other items that will enhance your riding experience and should be considered at some stage depending upon your frequency of riding, available budget etc. These items for consideration can be placed in 2 categories. 1/ For you. 2/ For the bike.
1/ For you, after a helmet consider gloves for hand protection and improved grip. Glasses for eye protection from sun, bugs, dirt and wind. Cycling shorts (knicks) to eliminate chafing and padding for comfort. Cycling jersey for cool comfort and with pockets to carry essentials such as food, phone and money. Cycling shoes for improved performance. Arm and leg warmers to keep you a little warmer on those chilly days and a host of other clothing for wet or cold conditions.
2/ For the bike, must have items include, water bottle and cage, pump, spares kit with tyre levers, puncture repair outfit and a spare tube. Depending on your riding situation and the bike you've purchased other often needed items include, pedals, lock, lights, mudguards, speedo, pannier rack, pannier bags, bar ends, tools and lubricant. One last item, that probably should be considered first, by anyone who has a bike is a decent floor pump (or track pump) to keep tyres inflated to their correct pressure. All tyres lose pressure even over a relatively short period of time and keeping them "topped up" will make your riding so much easier and will be better for the tyres too, saving you money and anguish in the long run.
Getting started.
Part of our process in assisting you with selecting the correct bike is also ensuring that you have the correct size bike for your height. Having done this, we will adjust the saddle height and position the handlebars if necessary to ensure a comfortable and efficient riding position. This is often done at the road testing stage, where we may also assist with an explanation of why, when and how to use the gears. We realise this isn't second nature to everyone and will do our best to ensure you are at least confident, even if not yet quite competent in the bikes operation before you leave. Another quite commonly needed instruction is how to remove the front wheel (or both) when transporting the bike in a car. This is no problem at all and will be explained and demonstrated as necessary.
Summary .
Most bikes are available in both male and female styles, in a range of sizes to suit riders of different heights, and at various price points. It isn't silly to say that there is a bike to suit everyone, and as we have over 2000 in stock, we can be pretty confident that we will have one that is ideal for your needs. To get the ball rolling, have a look through the various bike categories on this web site or just call in, have a look around and let us ask you some of the questions that will get you on the road to fun and fitness.
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/Why and how to get started