choose a bike

The purpose of this article is to provide a resource to those that want to choose a bike. Some topics that this article will address when choosing a bike are bike types and basic maintenance. It will also cover other useful bike related information that I've collected over the years and a section on different kinds of bike gear that one might find useful. Until last year, I hadn't been on a bike since I was a twerp. Everyone has one when they are a kid. Its your ride, your wheels, your whip, your transportation. Its how you picked up the girls (even if they were on the handlebars or on your rear pegs). We forget how much fun it can be, and file it away with all of the childhood things that we have grown out of. I thought this way until my brother gave me his 90's specialized mountainbike. I had been meaning to give it another try but never seemed to be able to get around to it. Thats where this obsession started for me. Ever since I'm a fanatic and I have since bought another brand new Specialized Hardrock mountainbike. I know I'm supposed to limit the promos on here, so thats the only one that I'm going to plug for this article. Everyone I talk to and everything I read tells me the same thing, this brand is one of the best you can get as far as durability.

People and exercise are a strange topic of consideration. Either you love feeling the burn and breaking your $$!!@ at the gym or you hate it. The thing about riding a bike is that it never really seems like exercise. My mom used to yell at us when we were kids, "Go outside and get some exercise!!!" we'd snicker and say, "Ha, we'll show her, we'll ride our bikes, thats not exercise just having fun!!!" Once again, this revelation has visited itself upon me. I realized it when I was tooling around in the woods, (probably the best exercise you can get on a bike), riding up hills, down paths, through roots, rocks and everything else. The soreness in my whole body would hit me the next day after riding my bike, not bad sore mind you but like I just went to the gym and did some really hard sets. I'd wonder, what the hell did this? Then I remembered, could it be? Riding the bike. That wasn't exercise was it? I was just having fun. Before I knew it, I was in the best shape of my life and never going to the gym, I just couldn't stop hitting the trails and I felt great. That was last summer and I've since bought another bike and have been learning everything possible about maintenance, technique, and every other bike related topic I can find.

Anyone can ride a bike, this is why they have so many varieties. My favorite is the mountain bike but there are many many more depending on what you enjoy.

Roadbike- these bikes are strictly for road use, they have very thin tires and are designed with long distances in mind. Many times the rider adopts a bent over position for speed and minimization of wind resistance. Often times these riders (usually only the harcore ones) wear special clothing for the purposes of high visibility, keeping cool, and dry. They have the potential to look ridiculous in their highlighter bright spandex ensambles, but these clothes do have a purpose besides making you look like an olympic speedskater wannabee. I myself have purchased my first pair of tight black biking shorts which I hide religiously under a pair of green cargo shorts. Just don't feel comforatable walking around displaying everything I've got I guess. I obtained mine for the very reason my bike seat is very uncomfortable on long rides and the additional padding in them makes the ride much more enjoyable. I intend to get one of these bikes eventually but they can be pricy. When I buy one I may choose a roadbike based on my budget. There is no shame in fixing up an old one and to be honest many times you'll be better off if you live in a city with a high theft rate. In fact in my city, old bikes are preferred for this very reason and they are highly modified for the users unique preferences. I will elaborate on this further in my fixed gear bike write up below.

Comfort bike- this is a bike for those of us that feel like taking a nice leisurely journey with no mountain, no drop offs, and no crazy drivers threatening to flatten us to the pavement. These bikes generally have wider tires than a road bike but thinner than a mountain bike. They allow the rider to adopt an upright riding position due to their elevated stem which raises the handlebars up higher. They offer both stability and comfort filling a vital role for those of us just in need of some leisurely exercise. The most comfortable thing associated with these bikes is the frame design. It allows the rider to adopt an upright stance and still comfortably reach the handle bars. They also generally have kick stands, wide comfy seats, storage baskets, and some new ones (expensive) have automatic gear shifting so you don't have to do anything but pedal. These are perfect for old people, parents with children subject to leisurely neighborhood rides, or ..... my girlfriend.

Mountain bike- as you could probably tell, this is my favorite. I am of course biased toward this type but anyone reading this should understand that its all about what suits your personal needs and preferences when choosing a bike. As a general rule these, and all bikes in my opinion used to be simpler to describe. In recent years there have been many deviations from the standard mountain bike design. I will tackle them one at a time after the description. A mountain bike has wide, knobby tires, a heavy duty frame and on many occasions is stripped of extra options common on other bikes to allow for safe offroad manuvering. Kick stands, racks, baskets and other add ons detrimental to ones safety when precision is required are usually removed so the trails are easier and safer to negotiate. Mountain bikes are primarily for use in wooded areas and trails but can be used on the very roads that every other bike is on. The will not be as comfortable as a comfort bike, or as fast as a road bike but they'll get you there. When choosing a mountainbike, or any other, be sure to get sized for it by someone that works in a bike shop. For instance, I know the frame size I require is 19. Larger frames would be tougher for me to use and I'd probably hurt myself on the trail. The process of how to choose a bike size can be complicated but many times its all about how it feels when you ride it.

Older mountain bikes were designed with boty solid forks and frames. The fork is what holds the front tire in place and allows the handle bars to turn it. Some of these are still sold but most mountainbikes now come with shocked forks. This adds a little bit of suspension to the front end of your bike to cushion the bumps associated with trail riding. A good entry level mountain bike costs about 300 dollars but will not come with good high end shocks in the fork. For regular usage these may do fine but in heavier application or over time may fail. The shocks on my new bike are cheapos and all the reviews I've read about them says that eventually they will have to be replaced. Note: This is one of my favorite things about google, you can research anything that you buy in detail to make sure your getting a good deal. Don't take anything I say is a good product at face value, research it!! Its how I got my info and everything I buy thats expensive especially bikes.

This brings me to the next addtion to the mountain bike family. This is the full suspension bike. This bike is just like the conventional front shocked mountainbike but has an additional linkage in the back of the frame to allow for the movement of the rear tire when negotiating hard landings or tough woods riding. The normal bicycle enthusiast probably doesn't need one of these. You see them cheap sometimes but these are a waste of money. Real bikes of this caliber cost at least 1,000. Shocks wear out with time though because they are a moving part. Its perfectly acceptable to have a rigid frame unless you get crazy. If your that advanced you probably don't need to read this article about how to choose a bike because I should be learning from you!

downhill bike- This is for serious application riding, you guessed it, downhill and riding hard. These bikes are sturdier, heavier and aren't even to be ridden uphill. I believe they are for competition. I'll research them more but for your first bike, probs not a good idea. They also are extremely expensive, I've seen them for as much as 4,000 dollars!

hybrid- a hybrid bike is a relatively new addition to the bike world but a welcome one. It is a form of mountainbike but with tires suited to both road and light trail use. It is well suited to bags, racks, and anything else you want to hang on it and has other features that make it a pretty comfortable ride. I'm guessing its targeted toward people who want to take the bike on the road but without getting fancy but are a bit more advanced in their plans than those that opt for the comfort bike. This is subject to interpetation, as the biking lines get blurred it gets tougher to put anything in its own category. You could probably use any of these bikes for whatever purpose you wanted to some degree. The question is however how good it would feel to attempt it. My brother is far older than I and has recently purchased a hybrid bike for what he calls "old man riding". Many years ago he had a road bike when they only came in the 10 speed variety. Due to the thin tires on this puppy, he slid on some sand taking a corner fell and sufferred severe road rash and probably a slight laceration or two. He lost a lot of blood and passed out on the front steps. The hybrid is perfect for him because he isn't going to take it on heavy trails and he doesn't have to worry about road grip with the tires. He can still get better speed out of it than I can on my mountain bike on the road and unlike a strict road bike he can sit up straight for a pretty comfortable ride.

bmx- these bikes aren't really for adults unless your a stunt rider. They are small, have no gears, and are used for doing tricks, jumping things and breaking various parts of your body. By themselves they aren't dangerous. In fact I used to ride one. They look similar to a regular bike you'd see any kid riding puchased from a toy store except they are built far more durably and engineered with specific purpose in mind. I included this only to complete the circle of knowledge when defining different bikes and their purposes.

Fixed gear bikes- It took me a while to understand exactly what this was. I began to see them a lot in the city and had no idea what they were for. Basicially, this is a bike that has had the gears removed and a fixed hub placed on the rear wheels. Most bikes have a freewheel in the back which allows the rider to coast with his or her feet on the pedals. A fixed gear bike does not allow coasting but as the wheels turn, the pedals turn. The faster one rides, the faster the pedals turn. To slow the bike you must slow the pedals by pushing on them and meeting their force with your own resistance. You may wonder how these are helpful but in the city they are a great asset to bike messangers and commuters alike. They allow the rider to have complete control and balance of the bike at all times. To stay still at a stoplight you just stop pedaling and turn the front wheel a bit from side to side while balancing. To go in between cars in traffic is a breeze and there is no danger of scratching them. Another advantage is that since there is no gears on this bike, they usually never break down. You can even use an old crappy frame and bike parts to make one and nobody will want it because its not worth much. A perfect solution to bike theft. I almost converted a broken moutainbike into one of these but decided against it on account of my achy knees. I may still remove the gears that don't shift and use it with the freewheel and brakes though. Sick of paying the bike shop to tune it.

Some extra things you can obtain that will be useful are water bottle, taillight, headlight, gloves, shades, citrus degreaser, extra tire tube, tire levers, packpack. helmet, Suncreen, bug spray. trail mix. Compass, map, dog mace. I'll explain what some of these are and their necessity below.

tire tubes- on long rides, it is always a good idea to bring an extra one of these. If you pop your tire and can't pump it back up your walking your bike for miles.

tire levers- Two of these inexpensive plastic gadgets are very useful to aid in removing a tire tube that needs replacing.

bike lock- Everything I have read tells me that the u lock is the best. Because your tires must be secured as well as the bike frame so no one can steal them its best to get one big enough to fit around your rear tire, seatpost and the pole your using. This is almost impenetrable if you get an expensive lock. If you don't want someone to come by and hit the lever on your expensive front tire thus stealing it, you can use a second smaller u-lock or a cable lock to secure it.

wd-40- this is not to be used for greasing your bike chain. Wd-40 displaces water but doesn't protect moving parts. Use bike chain lube for that. The WD-40 is for coating your bike frame and parts with minus anything in the drive train. You should only do this if you have to store your bike in a damp area and it is beginning to rust. The best solution is to store it in a moisture free environment. My good bike is in my living room in my appt and my old one is on the deck coated in wd-40.

citrus degreaser- this is an adult chemical. Highly corrosive, harmful to skin, eye lethal, but the best thing you can use to remove dirty bike chain and gear grease. Put on rubber gloves and goggles because this stuff got on my skin and I had to wash it off, felt like I was boiling from the inside. If you don't have good luck with harmful chemicals try something a bit less awful. If your a kid, don't touch!!! This stuff goes on a brush and then on your chain and cogs while scrubbng. After a few minutes its rinsed off with water. There is no warning on the can about getting it on bike paint but if you do thats gone as well. Yes my new bike was a victim!!!

Riding in the woods- Backpack. helmet, Suncreen, bug spray. trail mix. Compass, map, dog mace. You may think me paranoid after reading this but all of these are useful if you get lost or have a bad day in the woods. Its happened to me before and I carry all but the mace now. Backpack and helmet are obvious. Compass and map prevent getting lost and it does happen!!! Sunscreen and bugspray will keep you far more comfy than you can imagine the bugs in the woods are worse than anywhere you could imagine somewhere due to the stagnant ponds they breed in. Trail mix you will want if you get lost as a backup meal. It contains a high amount of natural fats to keep you going strong. The dog mace I understand is a tough topic. I love dogs, I love them more than people! If I had the choice of living with either I'd choose the dogs any day. The fact is, people walk their dogs in the woods. Mean dogs, no leashes. On 3 occasions I've been surrounded by a few big, angry, snarling dogs whose owners were substantially back aways and mean themselves. I've had to turn back on my bike when I asked one lady will he bite and she told me, "you better hope not" Needless to say there were a few choice expletives she got from me as I rode away and spent 3 hours circumventing her rabid pack. The point is, something bad could have happened and then what? Use my safely practiced dog karate methods to take them down and talk them into being good pups. I'll get the mace and use it if I get bit, just insurance.

Bike maintenance

tire tube replacement- Simply take off the wheel by either removing the nut or spinning the lever attached to the axle and deflate the tire completely by holding down the tiny bar inside the valve until the air stops coming out. Then push the sidewall of the rubber tire in and feed one of these plastic levers in between it and the metal rim. Position the other tire lever in the same place and then use just one to move around the metal rim to disengage one side of the rubber tire completely from it. This will allow you to reach in and remove the damaged rubber tube. To put a new one in, take the undamaged tube and feed the spigot throught the hole on the inside of the rim. You removed the old spigot from it so it shouldn't be hard to find. When this is done feed the rest of the tube into the rim and make sure it isn't twisted in any way. After this, you will be able to retuck the side of the tire that you have removed back into the metal rim. This part of the tire is called the bead for future reference. Take care that no part of the tube is sticking out of the rim or it will explode when you pump it up. Look on the sidewall of the tire and see how much air you are supposed to put into the tire. There will be something that says 35psi or up to 80 psi. If your unsure 35psi is usually a good number for a mountain bike. Less air means squishier more shock absorbant tires, more air means harder tires better for road riding. Just feel the tire as you pump it up and if its getting too hard back off a bit. It is possible to blow up the tube and you'll probably hurt yourself or a have a heart attack from the explosion. I did it once when pinching a tube when I was about twelve. I almost, $$##@ my pants. All thats left to do after this is to put the tire back on the bike.

The trick here is this. As is true with many things, if you take care of a good quality bike, it can last forever. I know people that have been riding the same one for 25 years or more because they maintain them properly. If you keep sand out of the gears and dirt out of the chain things won't wear out as fast. I myself am lazy when it comes to cleaning my bike, its a pain. I started however when all of a sudden I couldn't shift properly. In other words the sand in the cassette (cogs attached to the rear wheel) were preventing the chain from switching form one to the other. When you can't shift gears, going up hills is harder, increasing speed is more difficult, you will have to get a tune up more often and you'll probably end up spitting your chain off and then you'll really have fun on your ride!

Health

One last thing that I feel I must mention about biking is that it is can be a great way to get exercise without damaging your knees further than you may have already. I used to jog and as most know jogging is bad for your knees because your entire weight is getting slapped down on your knee with each jarring hop. When your on a bike your whole body weight isn't putting stress on the joint your just pushing to transfer power from your muscles into the wheels and create momentum. I'm not going to say that you don't use your knees or put some strain on them because it just isn't true but I believe there is far less of it. One reason for this is because you can shift to a lower gear. Shifting to a lower gear is like using leverage to move something instead of lifting it off the floor. You use a larger gear to reduce the amount of exertion needed to transfer power to the wheels from your legs thus causing you to push less with your knee and reduce strain. You will of course slow down but thats ok, because you can always up shift again if you want to. With bad knees, slow can be a good thing. Mine started getting sore in the winter, thats when I knew to stop jogging. Since I started this they've been better and I like it much more. You can exert yourself as much or a as little as you'd like, cover more ground, and actually use it as a viable source of transportation for reasonable distances.

Thats all I've got for now guys, hope you enjoyed my ranting and raving. Now get out from behind that desk throw on that track suit from the 80's and ride your bike!!!