When I decided four years ago to start biking to work, I was immediately overwhelmed by the wealth of options.
The last time I'd ridden a bike, handlebar streamers and Huffys were still in vogue and bike shopping usually meant browsing yard sales in my dad's pick-up truck.
So, I took the easy way out. I logged onto Craigslist and snapped up the cheapest bike in my price range that I could find. I promptly regretted that decision for the next year and a half.
Four years and three bikes later, I've finally nailed the science of bike shopping. Since the most common question I'm asked by friends is how to shop for the right bike, I thought I'd put together a guide.
1. Decide what kind of biker you are.
In my experience, there are generally three main types of cyclists on the road. Finding out which one you are is key to finding the right bike:
1. The Spandex Elite: You'd kill to raid Lance Armstrong's closet and consider cycling more of a sport than a means of transportation. Your bike should be built with speed and agility first in mind and comfort last, with enough gears to manage different types of terrain.
2. The Urban Commuter: You're looking for a bike that is sturdy and reliable enough to carry you anywhere. You want a bike that fits in just as well at the park as it does weaving through midtown at rush hour. You likely don't need tons of gears, unless your route is especially hilly.
3. The Weekender: You'd rather cram yourself into a packed subway car than risk your neck on the road. You're looking for a bike to take on weekend jaunts and run errands around your neighborhood. You'll do fine with a single- or three-speed.
2. Choose your bike style wisely.
The Spandex Elite: Depending on how serious of a rider you are, you'll want either a Road Bike or a Racing Bike. Both styles are ultra-lightweight and their razor-thin tires make them fly. Road bikes are great for commuters who want a daily rush but don't necessarily plan to compete in real races. Racing bikes are light, aerodynamic, hella-expensive, and designed for more competitive-style racing.
The Urban Commuter: You're looking for something that fits under the"Hybrid" umbrella, like commonly found "City bike" or "Commuter" styles. Hybrids are built with comfort and stability in mind, with heavier frames than road bikes and thicker tires to handle hazards of the road like debris and uneven pavement. The frames can come in all shapes and sizes, from the more feminine step-through style to the unisex and more traditional diamond frame.
The Weekender: You're all about the Cruiser. This style is built chiefly with comfort in mind, with thick tires, a nice cushy saddle (though you can always swap it out for something sleeker) and widespread handle bars. You'll love cruising to the store or showing off your ride on the boardwalk, but cruisers are typically too slow and clunky for city commuting.
3. Test ride bikes to make sure they fit your body.
My biggest mistake when I bought my first bike was going directly to Craigslist without testing out different styles first.
There's no way to be certain that a bike will work for you unless you hop on and give it a spin. You should make sure the frame is the right size for your height and that the seat can be adjusted to suit your build.
Bike shops will gladly set you up for test rides and you can pummel them with questions about specs while you're at it. The more shops you visit, the better. You'll get a good sense of the price range for the style of bike you want.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider