Bike Buying Tips

I have seen a lot of people writing about wanting to buy a bike, so I thought I would tell you what I learned in my bike buying experience.

1.  What kind of bike do you want?

Do you want a road bike, a mountain bike, or a hybrid or fitness bike?  What do you plan to do with your bike?  A lot of people end up with hybrid/fitness bikes (these are similar, but slightly different, so I will discuss the hybrid bike).  A mountain bike has wide, knobby tires.  Awesome for gripping a rough path.  You sit upright.  This is what a lot of people think of when they think of a bike.  A road bike is very different.  It has narrow tires and curved handlebars.  You are bent over more when you ride.  A hybrid bike has slightly smaller tires, but you’re sitting upright, not bent over.

Note that this is a dramatic oversimplification of the differences.

Personally, I went with a road bike.  I wanted it for road racing, specifically triathlons.  So I knew this sort of bike would be the best fit for me.  I was a little afraid of the handlebars.  Don’t be.  They’re quite easy to get used ot.

2.  Set a budget.

Once you know what kind of bike you want, how much do you want to spend?  I did a quick survey of local bike shops and found some intro prices (if you’re buying new).

• mountain bike – $300
• hybrid bike – $450
• road bike – $700

So there is a difference.  I’m sure you will find cheaper bikes as well, but this gives you an idea of how the different types of bikes vary in price.

3.  How much should you spend?

Well, that’s a personal question.  If you are rich, then buy whatever you want.  But once you’ve figured out what you can spend, you can either decide to go cheap or to max out your budget.  There are risks either way.

You can go cheap and save money, but you risk wanting a new bike within a year.

You can go high end, but you risk hating the sport.

Middle of the road might be your best bet.

And don’t forget that bike stores often sell used bikes.  This will reduce your cost immensely.

4.  Can’t I just borrow a bike?

Well, you can… but when it comes to road bikes especially, you will be much happier on a bike that fits your body.  A good bike shop will measure you and make sure that you have the right bike.  Too big or too small and you just won’t be comfortable riding – and the ride will be more difficult as well.  So you can borrow a bike, but make sure it fits you!

5.  Where should I buy? Should I buy right away?

Find a local bike shop or two or three (many carry different brands of bikes).  Try a bunch of bikes.  Then go home and think about it.  Don’t buy right away.  Don’t get lured in by sales tricks.  A good bike shop won’t do this and will treat you incredibly well regardless of what type of bike you want to buy or how much you want to spend.

6. At some point, you will just know.

It sounds ridiculous, but you will know your bike when you ride her.  It’s hard to explain.  The ride just feels right.