Cycling - What you need to know.

Buying a new bike.

When buying a new bike there is a wide range to choose from, so before buying its worth considering how you intend to use it.  Some bikes are designed specifically for certain uses, for example off-road or racing whilst others are more adaptable to everyday use.

Remember to follow these simple points when buying a bike:

Visit your local cycle shop, the assistants will have years of cycle experience and will be able to offer help and advice in getting the right bike for you.

Decide how much you want to spend, as with most things its worth spending the extra few pounds to get a lighter, more durable bike with additional features.

Don't be fooled by jargon, if you don't understand ask the assistant, you need to be sure that the bike you are buying is the right one for you.

Get the right bike, there are many different types of bike available, here is a short guide to some of them.

Mountain bikes (MTB)

As the name suggests this type of bike was originally designed for off-road cycling and as a result have thick knobbly tyres to deal with the conditions but pedalling  can be harder on normal roads, to compensate city tyres (slicks) can be fitted if you rarely go off-road.  Items such as mudguards and carrier racks do not normally come as standard and will need fitting seperately.

Road / Racing bikes

The drop handlebars and thin slick tyres makes this type of bike the fastest and most effecient on the road.  The riding position may not be very comfortable for everyday use and the thin tyres are more prone to punctures and do not offer as much grip in wet or muddy conditions as Mountain bike tyres.

Folding bikes

These are specifically aimed at those people who want to combine cycling and other forms of transport, they are ideal for riding to or from the station but their small wheels and limited gears make them only really suitable for short journeys within town.

Electric bikes

A relatively new entrant into the cycle market, most electric bikes have a small electric motor that provides assistance when pedalling, especially useful going up hills, they do however require charging before leaving home. Initial outlay is higher than for a conventional bike but overall running costs are broadly the same.

Hybrid / City bikes

Based upon a modified MTB frame the hybrid bike is lighter and usually comes with city slick tyres making pedalling easier.  They are often sold with mudguards and other fittings as standard. Hybrid bikes can cope with most different types of terrain the normal cyclist is likely to encounter.  It is a good choice for everyday usage but would not be suitable for sports or specialist cycling.

Finally get the right sized bike, using a bike that is to large or small can lead to an uncomfortable riding position and may be dangerous.  Most bike shops will alter the saddle and handlebar heights to ensure that you have a comfortable and safe riding positon.

Safety & Security

A good quality bike lock is one of the most important pieces of equipment you will buy, there are several types available - The main choices being chain and padlock combinations (cheap and flexible), cable locks (useful for securing parts of the bike such as quick release wheels) and a solid metal D lock.  It is generally accepted that a quality D lock offers the highest level of security.

Many local bike shops and the police offer a postcoding service to mark your bike and it is also worth keeping photographs and frame number, they can help the police identify and recover your bike if stolen.

Cycle Helmets.

Cycle helmets can help prevent head injuires in the event of an accident, they should conform to BS 6863 or ANSI Z90.4.  An ill fitting cycle helmet will reduce it's usefulness in an accident so make sure your helmet fits correctly and always use the chin strap.

Cycle Lights / Reflectors.

It is a legal requirement as with all road vehicles that lights are used during the hours of darkness, the minimum requirement is a white front light and a red rear light. On all new bikes built since 1990 it is also a necessary to have a rear red reflector fitted and well as reflectors on the pedals and wheels.

It is also advisable for cyclists to wear bright and reflective clothing so that they can be seen more easily by other road users, carrying a puncture repair, spare inner tube and bike pump will also come in handy.