General thoughts on shopping for a bike:
1. First, give some thought to what kind of riding you want to do, your level of experience, and your overall approach to cycling. Why do you want to ride? For fitness? Just for fun? Casually, or seriously? Where do you want to ride? Street, bike trail or off-road? How frequently do you plan to ride? The more you know what you want, the easier it will be to select a bicycle which will best suit your needs.
2. Professional bicycle retailers like Global Bikes can fit you properly to a bike, assemble it professionally, and give you the kind of advice and continuing service you need to ride safely and comfortably. Beware of retailers who do not have on-site service departments, or do not offer these kinds of services. They may not meet your needs. Remember we offer Life time FREE service on all bicycle we sell.
3. At most bike stores, you'll probably be seeing these kinds of bicycles:
Comfort bikes. These are specialized mountain bikes or hybrids with more upright riding positions, softer saddles and lower gearing. They’re built for, as the name implies, comfort, but are also designed to perform well. Great for canal bank riding or for cruising the neighborhoods. This is the most popular type of bike that Global Bikes sells. The price of a good comfort bike will range from $279.95 to $650.00
Mountain bikes. These are rugged bikes for off-road use, but many people ride them on pavement as well. Mountain bikes feature fat knobby tires for comfort and traction, flat bars for great control, and low gears for easier hill climbing. Mountain bike will either come with a front shock or front and rear shocks. You can spend as much as $5,0000.00 or as little as $219.95 for a mountain bike. The more you spend the lighter they get and the better the components will be.
Road bikes. These are meant for pavement riding, and are built for speed. They have narrower tires and drop bars for a more aerodynamic position. This is what Lance rides to win the tour. Road bikes are a great way to knock off a 100 mile ride on a Saturday. Road bike will start in the $500.00 range and go up from there.
Hybrid bikes. These are a cross between mountain bikes and road bikes -- for the rider who wants to do a little of everything. Hybrids generally have treaded tires which are narrower than mountain bike tires, flat bars, and higher gearing than mountain bikes. They're not quite as fast as road bikes on pavement, and not quite as rugged as mountain bikes on the road. They're good for commuting, and offer a compromise which appeals to a lot of people.
Cruisers. One-speed or multi-speed, cruisers are for the casual rider who wants to, well, cruise.
Juvenile bikes. These come in many varieties, from one-speed cruisers, to performance BMX bikes, to multi-speed mountain and road bikes.
Recumbent's/tandems/electric assist bikes.
There are numerous "niche" bicycles available today. Recumbent's allow people to ride in a "recliner-chair" position with feet forward. Tandems allow two riders on a bike. Also, a number of companies are offering bicycles with electric-assist motors.
4. The size of the bicycle is critical for comfortable riding. Some bicycle models have eight or more sizes. The length of your inseam determines the correct frame size, in terms of stand-over height. The reach to the bars is also critical for comfort. Ask us to recommend a proper fit for you based on the kind of riding you'll be doing. What's comfortable for one style of rider may not be for another. Like a shirt, fit is very important for comfort and security.
5. Buy what you like. Feel good about what you're buying, how it looks, how it rides. Ask to take a test ride to compare bikes. If you haven't ridden a dealer-quality bicycle before, be prepared to be surprised at the exceptional value and quality available today. We also advise that if you're in doubt, buy the slightly better bike. There's a lot of value in bicycles these days, and a little more money spent can equal significantly improved performance and resale value.
6. Ask us for advice on things you may not understand, such as quick-release operation, shifting, braking, maintenance, etc. If you want to find other local cyclists in your area to ride with, ask us for references to clubs or organized rides.
7. Ask for advice on other equipment you may need or want. Buy a helmet first, and wear it. There are many other products which can enhance the riding experience. There are numerous books and magazines available to help you educate yourself about the nuances of cycling. Also please note that when you buy a bicycle from Global Bikes you nor only get free life time service, but 20% off all parts and accessories for a full 30 days after the bike purchase.
8. Have fun
