Are you planning to buy your first bicycle? If you have already decided then congratulations because you’re going green. Being a cyclist I know that it might look overwhelming and confusing to decide which specific bicycle to buy right?

 The reason behind all this is very simple and the reason for this is the cycle market itself. There is a wide market for bicycles in the cities and they have different types of cycle brands for different types of users, they may also offer different types of components with the cycles they are offering in their outlets and this whole scenario creates confusion for people like us who are about to buy a bicycle.

But don’t worry about it because I am here to help you with some basic and professional advice on how to buy your first bicycle. 

Through this article, I will let you know what to consider whenever you invest in a bicycle.

1. Identify the usage.

I would strongly recommend you never buy a bicycle impulsively, bicycles are very sophisticated machines that need your attention. First and foremost you have to make sure that you identify your usage, your usage includes many things but first, understand for what reason you’re buying a bicycle. Do you want to commute on a bicycle or do you just want a bicycle for recreational purposes, it could be anything like you may buy a bicycle just to keep yourself fit. You can also ask yourself some questions like where are you going to ride. The terrain you will be riding on and most importantly how much you’re planning to ride with your bicycle.

2. Analysis of your budget.

Before you start looking to purchase a bicycle you have to make sure How much money you will spend on the bike? That should be the foremost priority because your pocket matters a lot. You have to analyze your budget and once you do that everything will fall into place.

3. Choosing the right category of bicycle.

Primarily there are Three types of Bikes.

(I) HYBRID BIKES | CITY BIKES

A hybrid bike blends the characteristics of a mountain bike & a road bike, 

Hybrid bikes are suitable for riding over a variety of terrains, & these bikes are also known as city bikes. 

Hybrid bikes have greater comfort than any other type of bicycle, hybrid bikes have a higher stack and a shorter reach to the handlebar and due to this reason, the bike 

feels more upright to the rider and gives an excellent level of comfort while riding.

Stack is a vertical measurement from the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube & similarly, reach is also the same measurement but horizontally.

The longer the stack the more upright your riding position will be, A shorter reach to the handlebar means that you won’t be pulled forward much and a flat handlebar will provide you extra comfort. Since hybrid bikes offer great comfort they are considered to be the most comfortable bikes. 

If you’re a beginner or a senior citizen and looking for a comfortable & easy-to-handle bike then a hybrid bike is the right option for you. This bike makes commuting easy. This bike makes commuting easy.

(ii) MOUNTAIN BIKES

 Mountains bikes are very sturdy bikes as the name suggests these bikes are concocted to ride on rough terrains. A sturdy frame, knobby tyres, and strong wheels make a mountain bike more durable. That’s why a mountain bike is an ideal choice for off-road riding.

A mountain bike offers :

• Knobby tyres for good traction
• Suspensions
• Sturdy Wheels
• Robust breaks with an excellent level of precision
• Extra wide handlebars for finer manoeuvring
• Intricate groupset

If you’re a guy who wants to have some adventure on trails and would like to do some action with your bike then you should undoubtedly check out mountain bikes. In case you’re a neophyte and still not assured about riding on trails then I would request you to gain some skills before hitting the actual trails.

Note:- There are certain types of mountain bikes. Here I am providing you with a brief introduction to each discipline.

(iii) Road bikes

Road bikes are fast and efficient, and the frame of road bikes are lightweight they are made up of distinct grades of materials and the speciality of these materials depends on the price of a road bike.

Entry-level road bikes are made up of aluminium alloy, and Expensive road bikes are made up of carbon fibre, whereas more expensive road bikes are made up of carbon composite frames.

The frame of a road bike offers smoothness, and sleek tyres roll quickly and efficiently and increase the speed of a rider.

A road bike comes with a lower stack and a longer reach and this altogether forms an aerodynamic geometry, and this makes a road bike more aggressive in terms of pace. A road is all about speed, agility, and riding quickly. Road bikes cover protracted distances quickly.

If you’re a guy who wants to cover lengthier distances quickly and you are looking for something light and aerodynamic then road bikes are the ideal choice for you. 

4. Choosing the right components, material and frame.

While choosing your bike you need to evaluate the components that go into it,

Components play a tremendous role in the all-around performance of the bike.

Settling on the right components will aid you in the long run, this means that you need to choose components that match your biking needs.

Brakes, gears and the assemblage of interconnected components form a group set.

A groupset is a very important part of a bike.

There are leading groupset manufacturers in the world:-

Campagnolo, SRAM, Microshift, Shimano

There are certain tiers of groupsets:

• Top End
• Mid range
• Entry level

If you’re a novice I would recommend you to go for entry-level and mid-range groupsets don’t be baffled about it. 

Again identify your usage because if you are the one who requires a bike for just normal training and doesn’t have any plans to push your limits with the bike then don’t go for the performance group set.

Similarly, if you’re looking for something competitive then you must go for performance group sets.

5. Get the perfect size.

Your bike size will play a major role in riding comfort, it becomes a crucial responsibility to choose the perfect size. Choose the size according to your height.

The chances of mishap and injury are higher if you buy the wrong size.