Riding Score #2: How comfortably can you ride?
I decided to address this issue first, because if you're not comfortable you won't be able to ride very fast OR very far.
The first comfort item, of course, is the bike itself. You don't have to spend a fortune on a bike, but you DO need to spend enough to get a decent one. I don't recommend buying your bike at WalMart. Find a reputable dealer. The dealer should be able to measure you for a frame. You should be able to straddle the bike and your crotch should not touch the center bar - there should be about 1/2 to 1 inch of clearance. In addition to frame size, tire size (or, more appropriately, rim size) must be considered. Most mountain bikes or trail bikes use 24 or 26 inch rims; most street bikes use 26 or 27 inch rims
The next question is bike configuration. For riding in a hilly area such as northwestern Pennsylvania, you will want as many gears as you can get; if you can include a "mountain climbing" gear, that is even better.
Riding "stance"or position - bicycles come in a variety of configurations that allow you to assume different riding positions, from the recumbant (leaning back with feet in front of you) to the upright (the so-called "comfort" or "cross over" bikes) to the severely salient (leaning forward, such as on a racing bike).
Other details to consider on a bike include handlebars, pedals, and of course, the saddle.
The saddle is by far the most important item on the bike in terms of comfort; pay a little extra to get an "anatomically correct" male or female saddle. Another benefit of shopping at a reputable dealer is that often they will allow you to try different saddles so you can find one that truly fits you comfortably.
Based on my experience, I strongly recommend pedals with traps or clips. There are a wide variety of pedal locking systems on the market. I personally don't care for the kind that require special shoes. I have inexpensive cage type toe clips on my bike; they are easy to use, easy to get in and out of, and I don't need special shoes.
OK, now we (hopefully) have a comfortable bike; In the next post we'll look at clothing.
Riding "stance"or position - bicycles come in a variety of configurations that allow you to assume different riding positions, from the recumbant (leaning back with feet in front of you) to the upright (the so-called "comfort" or "cross over" bikes) to the severely salient (leaning forward, such as on a racing bike).
Other details to consider on a bike include handlebars, pedals, and of course, the saddle.
Based on my experience, I strongly recommend pedals with traps or clips. There are a wide variety of pedal locking systems on the market. I personally don't care for the kind that require special shoes. I have inexpensive cage type toe clips on my bike; they are easy to use, easy to get in and out of, and I don't need special shoes.
OK, now we (hopefully) have a comfortable bike; In the next post we'll look at clothing.
Good to know.
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