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Beginner Road Bike
For those who haven’t ridden a bike since childhood getting back into cycling can be a bit intimidating. First you need to get a good beginner road bike. Figuring out what that is and which one would be good for you with all the choices available can be difficult. Let me assure you that it’s like a lot of other things in life, once you educating yourself on the subject it’s won’t be as bad as you think before you get started.
Cycling is really a fun sport in my opinion. Beyond meeting a bunch of new friends, having fun and a lot of camaraderie, it is a form of exercise that doesn’t put a lot of stress on your body’s joints.
A beginner bike can be a very subjective term I know because it really is based on the user's budget and intended use. For instance in my opinion you won’t find a good new road bike for less than $300. Now I am not saying you can’t find one for under $300 I just wouldn’t buy one. I personally would much rather have a good, higher original priced used bike that of course needs to be checked out by a qualified bike mechanic than a department store special. I say don’t waste your money on them.
Probably the cheapest decent new bike I have seen was a Giant with Sora components. It was around $650 retail. The reason you should spend a little more than maybe what you wanted to is because like a lot of things the price often determines its value. This is because of both the way it is made and the materials used to make it.
Here are the things that give a bike its value.
- The material used in the frame of the bike, typically steel aluminum or carbon fiber.
- Weight is a major factor. People want a light bike because it takes less energy to move down the road and especially to get to go up hills. Weight is certainly part of what the different frame materials are about.
- The components used for the gears and the brakes. Many of those on the market are made by Shimano but there are major differences in their weight and quality and believe my there is a difference to the quality of ride with better components.
- The wheel set is also an important consideration. They are what take all the abuse from the road and so you want them durable but you also want them light like the rest of your bike. Quality rims and rubber will make your rides so much more enjoyable.
So you should be looking for a bike that is lightweight and durable with good quality components and wheels. I also know you will be trying to find all that on a budget if you are like most of us.
Now how you plan to use your bike will also play a role in your decision. For instance, you may only be planning to ride your bike around the block with you family or to the corner store. If that is the case than a lot of things become a lot less important. But if you are thinking of using it for serious exercise or some longer rides then you need to pay attention to this information.
It is not cheap to keep changing your bike. That is why it is important to buy a quality beginner road bike that will meet your needs for a few years instead of buying the cheapest one on the rack.