In the last couple of decades a major shift has been happening in transportation. Before the car was transport of choice but recently however the use of push bikes has become increasingly popular. Perhaps the trend can be put down to 'green' thinking, or maybe just the prices of gas are starting to get to people. No matter what has caused it, the fact is there are now more cyclists on the road than in a long while. Perhaps you have been giving some thought to getting a bike yourself? If you have then there are several things you should look at when you do.
One thing you can consider when choosing a bike is whether or not your feet can rest flat on the floor while you are sitting so you can stop yourself. There are some people that say this isn't the best way to choose, though. They say that it is better to give yourself a few inches between your feet and the ground to create a more comfortable cycling experience. If your feet are on the ground and your knees are bent when you sit on the seat of the bike, it generally means that the seat is sitting too low for you and too close to the crossbar. If you can bend your knees, your knees will come up too high when you are pedaling.
If you intend to get a road bike then take 9" away from your total inseam. This is because of the size of the tires on your road bike. City riding is done with thin tires, designed to work perfectly with the smooth concrete roads and sidewalks you find in a city. For a mountain bike take away 12 inches from your inseam. Again this is to account for the type of tires you will be using. You will find them to be much bigger and designed to handle rocky terrain. You can of course use a mountain bike for road cycling but this isn't supposed to be their primary use.
Be sure to allow room between the crossbar and yourself. When browsing for a bike try some out, make sure the seat is a few inches above the crossbar. You should be able to still rest your feet flat on the floor. You will want to leave different clearance lengths depending on the type of bicycle you are buying. A touring bike for example will require around 1", perhaps slightly more. If you are buying a mountain bike you’ll want more—three inches or so between you and the crossbar.
How well you fit physically with your bike is what is most important. When deciding upon using a bike for transportation you need to keep this in mind. Comfort and saftey are the two most important aspects go to this site of riding a bike.