Choosing the right bike
Choosing the right bike can be difficult with so much choice available, but it can make the difference between cycling being a comfortable, enjoyable pastime and it being an uncomfortable, off-putting experience that you may not want to repeat.
You'll find lots more advice below, and it's probably worth reading before you spend your money, especially if you are hoping to enjoy your purchase.
Whatever bicycle you end up with, the most important things are to make sure that it fits you, that it's well maintained and is safe to ride. As long as you do this, you will always be able to find a way to enjoy your cycling. People throughout the world enjoy riding all kinds of bikes, and before bikes had gears, suspension or any other innovations, people just got out there to enjoy the freedom that comes with cycling.....
Thousands of bikes are sold in Scotland every year. Many of these, however, get ridden rarely, if ever. Why? One of the main things that stops people from regularly using their bicycles and enjoying the benefits of cycling is that they are using the wrong bike for the purpose. Don't be intimidated by the range of bikes available. Follow some simple rules and the process will be much simpler.
1/ How much to spend.
The answer is "Enough that the bicycle will allow me to do what I need it to in comfort and safety." If you are looking to buy a first bike, or a bike to enjoy gentle leisure or fitness riding, then you should expect to spend around £200. If you will be using your bike regularly, such as for commuting, or will need performance or load carrying capacity such as for mountain biking on rugged terrain, club cycling or cycle-touring you will need to spend more to ensure the reliability, strength or light weight required. As with all sporting equipment, bicycles can cost many thousands of pounds, but unless you require cutting edge performance they don't have to. And unlike, say a set of skis or a tennis racquet, a bicycle can be used much more widely than just for sport or recreation.
2/ What type of bicycle do I need?
Bicycles vary in design because different styles of cycling require different features. In the same way as a formula 1 racing car would be useless for a family holiday and a 4x4 may not be the best thing for city commuting, choosing the right bike will ensure you get the most for your money and your efforts. One of the first decisions you will probably need to make would be between speed and comfort.
Comfort. Bicycles with comfortable, upright riding positions and large, shock absorbing tyres will be a better choice for short journeys (under 3 or 4 miles at a time for most people). Some manufacturers now make bikes specifically oriented towards comfort. While they are slower to ride and the upright position is less efficient for longer distances, they are extremely easy to ride, especially for beginners and returning cyclists.
Speed and distance. For fitness cycling, covering longer distances and sport cycling, issues such as aerodynamics and rolling resistance become more important. If you will be commuting to work or college and want to cover your journey quickly or with minimum effort, if you will be riding primarilly for fitness or just want to feel the thrill of speeding along under your own power, then a road bike or road oriented hybrid will probably suit best. Hybrids combine wider tyres and mountain bike style handlebars and levers with road bike sized wheels that roll easier. They can be designed to favour either road riding or off-road trails. Road bikes have narrower tyres and drop handlebars that allow a range of hand positions for comfort, aerodynamics, power transfer and efficiency. Most road bikes have gear shifters on the handlebars, usually combined with the brake levers. This means that you can take benefit of a wide range of gears without having to take your hands off the handlebars, and has made using gears much easier to learn.
The off-road option. Off-road cycling can mean easy, unsurfaced routes such as canal towpaths or challenging, exciting mountain trails. For the smoother terrain, hybrids provide limited off-road capabilities and enough tyre clearance to cope with muddy puddles and poor drainage. If you don't need full off-road capabilities then bikes like this will roll easier on tarmac sections and hard, smooth paths, making the most of your energy and allowing you to cover more ground in a given space of time. If you think you'll be riding on the likes of rough forest roads, muddy tracks or areas where extra traction, braking or steering control are required, a mountain bike will be the best choice. These bikes have revolutionised cycling with many user-friendly features now available on other styles of bike. Although slower than road bikes or hybrids their versatility and ease of use make them very popular. Mountain bikes with road tyres can be a good compromise between the advantages of a comfort bike, a hybrid and a machine with off-road capability.
3/ Where do I buy?
Many companies sell bicycles. Unfortunately many bicycles are sold by companies who look on bicycles as a short term way to make money. They have no expertise or interest in keeping you cycling. They know that many people will be swayed by a low price tag and a smart paint job. Many bikes sold in this way sit unused in sheds and hallways all over Scotland. What seemed like a bargain at the time has proved to be a waste of money. By buying through a specialist cycle shop with a range of quality brands, you can be assured that the staff are more likely to understand your needs and advise accordingly. If you can use a local shop, getting back for your bike's free service or routine maintenance will become easier. Try to buy from a shop which stocks expensive bikes as well as the more mainstream products. This usually means that they will be able to offer advice and support to a wider range of people, and will have an interest in keeping you cycling.
To sum up.... Buy your bike from a reputable manufacturer with a history of building high-end bikes, even if the model you choose is cheaper. Preferably, use a local bike shop, again with a choice of quality brands and high end bikes. Expect to spend a minimum of around £200 for an adult bike that will be enjoyable to use. If you want more comfort, less weight or more durability then it may be worth spending more. If you stay clear of gimmicks, the extra investment will translate into more enjoyable cycling. Decide on the type of cycling you will be doing, and make this clear to the staff. They should be able to advise accurately and ensure that you have the right size. Make sure you have also decided what types of cycling you won't be doing so that you are not tempted to buy versatility you don't need. Make sure you get suitable clothing for comfort and visiblity as this can make a huge difference to your enjoyment of cycling. Finally, when you get home, make sure you use your bike. It's very easy to be intimidated by traffic, hills or the weather, but remember that it's usually easy to find a quiet park, country lane or even a car park to get comfortable with your bicycle. A bit of practice will make a huge difference to your confidence. If you need help, Cycling Scotland has trainers available to assist individuals and groups in cycle control skills, journey planning, basic maintenance etc. Please visit our section on training for further information.
CHOOSING A BIKE. ADVICE IN MORE DETAIL.
So, how do you choose the right bike? Well the first thing to do is to work out how much you realistically have to spend. No-one wants to spend more than they need to, but with so many good looking bicycles being built down to a price rather than with the rider's comfort in mind it is very easy to fall into the trap of buying something that you will not want to keep using, even though it seemed like good value at the time. Let's face it, your bike is going to do you no good lying idle in the garden shed or getting in the way in your hall, and the money you spent will have been wasted. Remember that it's very easy to believe false claims about inferior products if you are being told that you will be able to spend less, but this is rarely if ever the case.
Bicycles have, if anything, got cheaper over the years, but the bottom line for buying an adult bicycle that will be enjoyable to use is about £200. In return for this, if you buy from a reputable manufacturer, you will get a bike that is right for its purpose, with gears and brakes that are effective and easy to use. An appropriate riding position, less maintenance and longer lifespan will also mean that you will get a lot more for your money. This doesn't necessarily mean performance, but remember that comfort and safety are important considerations. If you do not want to spend that much, you are very often better buying secondhand than ending up with a bike that is uncomfortable and inefficient.
Wherever possible, buy from a local bike shop that has a selection of quality brands. It is better to find a shop near enough that it will convenient to take advantage of after sales service, but it may also be worth travelling to get the right choice from a shop which will understand your needs and have access to a range of the most suitable products. Don't be put off by the high price tags of some of the bikes they display. Unlike car showrooms, bike shops sell to customers looking for cutting edge technology, often for competition, right alongside regular products for the man in the street. Just because you see expensive bikes in a shop doesn't mean that the shop is expensive, and as long as the high-end bikes stocked are from a reputable manufacturer rather than just flashy window dressing, this can be a good indication of the shop's commitment to and understanding of vaious customers' needs.
If you do find a good bike shop, you are more likely to get good advice and ride away on the best bike for you. Shops that sell only low price bikes will not have the same interest in keeping you cycling. Getting a bike that fits you and suits the kind of riding you are really going to do will help you to enjoy your cycling and allow you to develop skills and fitness as you ride. A bad choice will not be as much fun, be harder and less comfortable to ride, and will often limit the kinds of journeys you can make.
Even if you only want a low-end bike to give cycling a try, it is usually better to buy your bike from a brand that also makes bikes for serious cycling. That way, even their cheapest models will be made well enough that their reputation won't be spoiled by bad products.
Companies such as Trek, Scott, Specialized, Gary Fisher and Giant all make kids' bikes and beginners' bikes of a good quality, but also design and make bikes for their racing teams. This means that they can use the knowledge that trickles down from sport cycling to give you a light, strong, efficient bicycle at the cheapest price. Remember that companies who build high end bikes want you to enjoy cycling, even on their cheapest models, so that as you ride more, you'll hopefully recommend your choice to friends or even, in time, upgrade to their more serious bicycles. It is also worth considering companies who specialise in a certain style of bicycle. Ridgeback and Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative both produce good ranges of commuting bikes, and if you are thinking about cycling specific holidays, Dawes are worth considering for their excellent tourers.
Bicycles are built to fulfil a huge number of roles, and in the same way as David Coulthard wouldn't arrive on a Grand Prix starting grid driving a Land Rover, choosing an appropriate style of bicycle to suit the riding you'll be doing is crucial. Again, getting advice from a specialist cycle shop with a good range of quality brands can be of great value.
Decide if you will be spending time riding off-road on unsurfaced trails. If you are not, you can buy a bicycle that will run smoothly and efficiently on roads and hard cycle paths. This is especially relevant if you would like to start cycling to work, as your journey can be made more quickly and with less effort. Road tyres do not need blocks of rubber to bite into softer ground, so they don't rob energy by "squishing" as you ride along. Road bikes and hybrids (which are a cross between road bikes and mountain bikes) have larger wheels and narrower tyres to roll easily, but while hybrids are often suitable for canal towpaths and well groomed forest trails, they are not a good choice for rough, steep or very muddy terrain. Road bikes are designed to cover ground in the fastest, most efficient manner. For this reason they are light and easy to pedal but this can be at the expense of a relaxed riding position, and also the cushioning that comes from fatter tyres. As they are designed for more serious riding they are not often sold as budget bikes. For this reason, prices tend to start a little higher with a budget road bike costing around £350.
If you are looking to enjoy leisure cycling at an easy pace, some companies have recently launched ranges of "comfort bikes". These have relaxed, upright riding positions, wide comfortable seats, and a broad range of gears. If you are not in a hurry to get anywhere, and don't need to cover longer distances these bicycles are an excellent choice. Bear in mind that sitting upright, while it is comfortable for short journeys, puts almost all of your weight on the saddle, so if you are planning to be on your bike for longer periods, distributing your weight between seat and handlebars is far more effective.
As many people like the idea of at least trying some off-road riding, mountain bikes are a very popular choice for new and returning cyclists. Even if never ridden off-road, they have a stable riding position, good brakes and a wide range of gears that mean you can change down and climb fairly steep hills without walking or having to exert too much effort. With road tyres and mudguards they can be a good compromise for people who don't really know what type of cycling they will enjoy, or for people who need one bike to fulfil as many roles as possible.
Stay clear of unnecessary gimmicks. They tend to add weight, reduce reliability and cost more to make. Cheap suspension and poor quality disc brakes are currently two of the worst culprits of showroom friendly gadgets that may look great but can't be made to work well unless you spend a lot of money.
Cheap disc brakes don't work nearly as well as "V-Brakes" that use high leverage to pinch the wheel rims. They are much heavier and the parts are more expensive if they need replaced. As proper disc brakes are designed to meet the demands of extremely high speeds and very muddy race conditions, they should have no place on low priced bikes.
Suspension on budget bikes will often add a lot of weight, but not provide the function that comes with systems of an appropriate quality. Bad suspension systems will suck the energy from your pedal stroke, but often won't work well enough to make a real difference on rough ground. Cross-country racers need to ride quickly over a variety of terrains, and, even on courses where the ground is rough, most do not use rear suspension. Where they do, they are on bikes worth hundreds or more often thousands of pounds which give effective suspension, efficient pedalling and relatively low weight.
Most cheap full suspension bikes are modelled on the look of "downhill" bikes which are designed to use gravity to get down challenging, rough courses at speeds approaching sixty miles per hour. As they don't need to be pedalled uphill, or even on the flat, their weight and long suspension travel do a good job keeping the rider in control, but these bikes often cost over £3000 and the way they are ridden bears no relevance to regular cycling trips.
The quest for comfort is the main reason people mistakenly buy unsuitable suspension bikes. There is a much cheaper and easier way to beat the dreaded saddle sore. The mention of cycling shorts may conjure up some negative stereotypes, but be reassured, the days of lycra bulging in all the right (or wrong) places are behind us. Padded shorts liners that fit under regular clothes, casual cycling shorts and cycling trousers looking like regular streetwear mean that you can ride in comfort without looking like a Tour de France wannabee.
Companies such as Endura (a Scottish company specialising in cycle clothes to look good and suit our climate), Gore Bike wear, Altura and Vaude all make casual bike specific clothing with features such as reflective piping that is almost invisible under normal conditions but reflects car headlights vividly when riding at night. Such clothing is versatile as it can be used to keep you comfortable during other outdoor pursuits, and often means you don't need to change into different clothes if you ride a short distance to work.
The difference in comfort that comes from wearing the right clothing can not be understated. Even the most hardened cyclist wouldn't ride any distance without appropriate legwear, so it's no wonder that new cyclists without padded shorts of some description complain about uncomfortable saddles!
Wearing the wrong clothes can make cycling uncomfortable or even dangerous. To make life as comfortable as possible, different types of cycling have various types of purpose made clothes, but even if you are riding in clothing that is not cycling specific, you should make sure that you don't wear anything loose enough to get caught in the chain or wheels, and if you are riding on the road, it is a good idea to wear bright colours to enhance your visibility.
Proper bike clothes are designed to keep you comfortable during your ride. They are made to be light, comfortable and pack up small so that they'll be easy to carry. Cycling tops tend to have zips at the neck to help you to keep heat in or let it out. Arms and backs are made longer to keep you covered even when bending forward or extending your arms to the handlebars. Cycle clothing is normally made quite close fitting so that it won't flap in the wind and slow you down, and to make it easy to put on or take off layers for warmth or waterproofing.
