When you are looking for a product that best suits your needs, considering everything from your budget, to the quality of the product, can help you make a sound purchase. And when it comes to bikes, giving your undivided attention to detail is absolutely crucial, as the process requires proportionate considerations. Bikes need to complement your anatomy in order for you to be comfortable and maneuver easily. From size to price, and everything in between here is our ultimate guide to help you through this entire process of finding the perfect bike while staying within your budget.
First off, before you move forward with anything else, you must be able to distinguish the differences between the different types of bikes. On top of that, you will have to know every feature that each type provides so that you can choose appropriately and accordingly.
More or less self-explanatory, a road bike is the most common type of bike in the market. It is designed specifically for smooth terrains, with your everyday typical road being the ideal model of the terrain. With smooth and dainty tires, a road bike’s design is intended for fast rides in the city or any other place that offers well-paved roads. The handlebars hang rather low, which does a great job of achieving high speeds. These bikes are not made to carry cargo – at least not heavy cargo – and are your go-to bike for areas with unpaved trails, as they can be extremely uncomfortable for its user without a road bike.
To say that they are unique does not begin to cover it. Cyclocross bikes are a special kind of bikes that are designed for all types of terrains. This includes all types of pavements, unpaved trails, and even gravel and grass. The handlebars hang low, similar to most types of bikes; however, the tires are wider than your average bike. This makes for a good off-road traction riding experience, which makes this bike exceptional for amateur and professional racers. Naturally, a bike with this many unique features will carry out this sort of distinction to all aspects, going as far as the brake system, which operates differently to other bikes by employing a number of styles. This helps prevent mud build-up in the bike’s frame. They also may require a special bike pump which you’ll need to buy as well.
Branching out of the Road Bike tree comes this special type of bike. However, unlike your typical road bike, a touring bike can actually carry cargo, as it supports a mounting bolt, as well as fenders that serve this purpose specifically. It has a low hanging handlebar; however, a touring bike’s handlebar is usually more relaxed, making it suitable for a much more enjoyable riding experience. Bringing comfort to your long-distance travels, a touring bike is perfect for commuting on any kind of paved trail. They also come with lower shifting gears for steep hill inclines. Touring bikes are known to be durable, making them a great value-for-money investment.
Perhaps one of the most, if not the most, efficient type of bike for pavements, a fitness bike brings most of the advantages of a road bike. With lightweight frames and skinny tires, fitness bikes are exceptional at providing high performances for users that do not have a liking for drop-handlebars, and instead prefer a higher hanging handlebar. With their ability to carry cargo and with wider tires for unpaved trails, the commonly referred to “performance hybrid bikes” are ideal for almost every use there is for a bike.
The famous mountain bikes are, as the name refers, bikes for mountain use. Made specifically for rough terrain and off-road trails, a typical mountain bike supports shock absorbers and features a low-gear range for your steeper trails. The handlebars hang higher than most bikes, which in return give better stability to the user. There are mountain bikes that come with only front suspension, while others feature both front and rear suspension, each goes by different names. They are known as Hardtrails and Full Suspension Bikes respectively. However, the ones that offer zero suspension are called rigid bikes. Due to their physical features, they are not the most efficient for long commuting or traditional touring, as they are not at all light bikes.
Bringing together the best of both worlds, hybrid bikes were originally designed for those that want to relish the perks of road and mountain bikes. With upright handlebars and comfortable padded seats, stability and comfort make this bike a compelling option. They are known to be perfect for a nice ride around the neighborhood, whether it be on a sunny or a cloudy day. The tires are usually of medium size, which means that they work for all trails, although they are not the most efficient for paved roads due to their weight. Some hybrid bikes are fully rigid, although there is a prevalent amount of them that support front suspension.
A cruiser bike shares with a hybrid bike both comfort and stability features, which makes it perfect for running errands. They can support 3 speeds and come with your traditional brake system. A cruiser bike is perfect for commuting short-distances on paved trails, with the experience accredited to its balloon-like tires.
There are numerous other types of bikes; however, most are designed for professional use. These types of bikes are the most common, and the ones you will want to focus on when picking your perfect bike. So, the question you will have to ask yourself is, “Where will I ride?”
Now, when you are picking out your low budget bike, you must be aware of one simple fact, and that is that you will be sacrificing quality for a good price. However, that does not mean that your bike will be inferior to a standard set quality; but rather, it means that it will not share the abundance of pleasurable and more luxurious features that other alternatives may offer. Price will differ depending on the type of materials that are used, as well as the manufacturer’s popularity. So in order to find the best low budget bike that will also stand to prove its durability, you must be absolutely familiar with the intentions of your use of it.
Quality adult bikes will usually fall within a range of $300-$400. However, you can find others that cost considerably less, steeping as low as $100, which is an incredibly attractive price tag. But these bikes may be devoid of durability, making them poor investments. For this reason, it is important that the bike you choose is somewhat sturdy and rigid, so that you can make sure that it lasts. As for bikes for children, the price tag will usually lie somewhere in between $100-$300. This depends on the quality of the materials and of course the size.
Part of a bike’s essential purpose is to give joy to its users, seeing as biking is a leisure activity. For that to withhold and deliver this promise, picking the right size must be amply considered. A size that is too small will rob the user of the joys of riding a bike and instead replace it with struggle. As for a bike that is too large to handle, falling and injuring yourself will be fairly easy, and the dangers do not come to an end. And so, size does matter.
When you are looking for the right bike size, it is usually best that you try the bike before purchasing it, as sometimes advertisements do not hold promise. However, if you are going to purchase a bike online, it is best that you compare it to a size chart. You will have to compare your height with that of the bikes. That said, there is a trick that works well for both adults and kids. The trick is to use the inseam in tandem with the bike’s seat. In the blog post, Kids Bike Sizes Guide – a New Trick to Finding the Best Fit, sports enthusiasts from Two Wheeling Tots remind buyers looking for a bike for kids is that the size of the tire and the frame of the bike are the determining factors that will help you figure out the correct height at which the seat should be. This is basically what you should work off of- ensuring that the ratio of the size of the frame along with the tire as well, will help you work out how high the seat should be, and by doing this, you’ll be able to get the perfect bike size. This ratio method holds true when you’re picking one for yourself too! So be sure to utilize it if you’re considering getting one for yourself.
As well as the physical size of the bike compared to whoever is riding, another thing that is important to think about when purchasing a bike is where you are going to store it whilst not in use. If you have garage space that will be the perfect fit for any type of bike, or even in your back garden. However, when you are limited on space, it automatically makes purchasing a bike a little harder. If you only have a small space that could be allocated to a bike, in order to keep it safe it may be worth looking into a folding bike shop singapore (or a quick Google search to amend this to your local area). Folding Bikes do exactly what they state, fold! So if you have limited space, this could be a great option for you as you will be halving the surface area of the bike to store it.
Now that you have filtered down the bikes to a list that agrees with your budget and height, the next thing you want to do is make sure that it is durable for the usage it is intended for. A bike that is durable will have to be made out of sturdy and quality material. The features that you will have to consider are brake systems, gearing, wheels, suspension systems (if the bike supports this feature), handlebars and overall materials.
First, you must keep in mind the use you have for your bike. Are you going to use it for commuting? Will you need to carry cargo? Or are you just going to cruise casually on your bike? These are all the questions that you have to ask yourself, as some bikes are not made for versatile purposes, while others are. The frame material that is known to be durable and relatively inexpensive is aluminum. After it has undergone improvements and upgrades, this material has become more and more popular among amateurs and professionals.
Another material that goes a long way when it comes to durability is carbon fiber. This special heavy-duty material brings together a combination of two or more materials, making it relatively unbreakable. However, they can be expensive and are mostly found on mountain bikes.
Titanium is another durable material that is often used in bikes. This material is synonymous with muscular, heavy-duty, sturdy and downright durable. They are also great at shock absorption and are resistant to impact.
Then, of course, you have steel, although it is less popular than its other durable material alternatives. They usually come in two forms: carbon steel and Chromoly steel. Carbon steel is remarkably strong and incredibly stiff, although they are not popularly manufactured. On the other hand, Chromoly steel is more lightweight and used on bikes that have little suspension and gearing systems. Both are sturdy; however, both are also unpopular.
Apart from the frame material, you will also want to make sure that the other features of your soon-to-be bike are equally durable. For instance, the front suspension helps with your bike’s longevity, and it does not come at a high price. Of course, you will want to make sure that the wheels suit the trail you will be driving on; otherwise, you will find yourself replacing your wheels more often than you would like. Your gearing and braking system are both deserving of your attention, too, as they each play a vital role in having your bike last. Some bikes will offer a single-gear performance, while others will offer more.
Making the considerable and appropriate considerations prior to your bike’s purchase is imperative to ensure that you receive the best of the best in accordance with your budget. Once you have figured out the right size that best suits the rider, which you can do by following our simple guide, make sure that the bike is durable, and that the bike’s price lies within your low budget. That said, always give it a test ride before you decide on your purchase. This will have you know the pros and cons of the bike first-hand, and will determine whether it fits your uses. Anything that is under the price tag of $500 will definitely be considered as a low budget bike. It is advised that you go for the bike that offers quality, as opposed to going for the cheapest, for the obvious reason that the former is more durable.
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