Cycling Around Singapore - How to Buy a Bike
It is all about feeling comfortable on your machine.
It happens to a lot of us, usually around July each year. We catch highlights of the Tour de France on television and, inspired by the sight of super-fit, lycra-clad cyclists tearing up the mountains of Europe, we rush out to get a bicycle.
But to avoid buying a white elephant, it is important to do some research first.
The first question that any first-time bicycle buyer should ask himself is the kind of cycling he will be doing.
Potential professional cyclists will want a super-light road bike, while those who enjoy going off-road could opt for sturdier mountain bikes.
State-of-the-art road bikes can weigh as little as 6kg while more robust mountain bikes can be two or three times that.
Mountain bikes can also be fitted with suspension shocks to enable riders to handle rough, off-road terrain but these inevitably add to the bike's weight, which becomes a drawback when the road heads upwards.
Hybrids, which combine the lightweight frames of road bikes with sturdier, wider tyres for greater stability, offer a more comfortable alternative for recreational cyclists.
Once you have identified the category of bicycle that will suit you best, the choice of your new machine will then largely be dictated by your budget.
Top-of-the-range bikes made of space-age materials such as titanium and carbon fibre can come with astronomical prices of up to $20,000, so it is important to decide early on how much you want to spend.
Anything between $200 and $2,000 should get you a decent machine, but the old adage of getting what you pay for is true.
Cycling snobs will turn up their noses at any machine not made in the traditional bike-making strongholds of Europe or the United States.
But countries such as Taiwan are emerging as makers of durable, high-quality bicycles and many established bike brands have outsourced their manufacturing facilities there.
Besides these basic tenets, experts say that comfort on your machine is one of the most important aspects to consider.
Bicycles come in different frame sizes, often measured by the length of the down-tube, which runs from the seat to the base of the frame.
Choose a correct frame size so you are neither cramped nor too stretched out while in a riding position. Frame size is determined by your height and leg length.
When buying a bike, do not forget basic items such as lights and a good helmet, which are essential for safety.