So you want to buy a bike? Who wouldn’t want to get a new bike?! Actually, now is the best time of year to purchase a new road bike or mountain bike because this year’s bikes are on sale and we’re clearing the way for next year’s models. With so many bike choices available, there are quite a few questions to dial in when considering purchasing a new bike. In fact, we’ve written about many of those questions in the following blog posts and you can check them out here: - What to Know Before Buying a Hybrid Bike
- What to Look for When Buying a New Bike
- What Mountain Bike Should You Buy?
- You Know You Want It! Here’s How to Buy a New Bike
But, what about the uncommon questions? You know, the ones you might be a bit shy to ask the salesperson. No need to hesitate with your questions, we’ve got you covered.
Question #1 Let’s get the first question out of the way. Do you need to buy your bike at a bike shop? You can buy anything on the internet these days including bike parts, cycling accessories, and complete bicycles from us at BikeParts.com. However, we do encourage you to purchase your bicycle at a bike shop. Here’s why. Bicycle Magazine sums it up best, “When you buy a bike from an authorized retailer, you know that the bike was assembled by a professional mechanic, and you begin to build a rapport with that shop—a great way to find out about new routes or group rides or maintenance clinics and events. You also ensure you’re not getting a counterfeit product, which is a continuing problem in the bike industry.”
Question # 2 How do you know if a bike fits you? Test ride it! Bring your cycling apparel with you, including your cycling shoes and helmet, when test riding a bike. Before heading out on your test ride, take time to visit with your salesperson about shifting, brakes, and any particular feature of the bike you are testing out. A bike that feels good and is comfortable to ride is one you will ride often. So, go with feel. And then, after your purchase, schedule a bike fit with us to dial in the specific bike parts you may need to achieve optimum comfort, power, cadence, and fit for you.
Question #3. Do I have to dress like a cyclist like the riders you see on the Tour de France? Well, you can if you want to! At Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we have a wide variety of cycling apparel to match your style. Some prefer jerseys and lycra shorts and other prefer a more casual ride style. Again, go with what is comfortable to you. We have cycling apparel on sale and new items coming in for the winter months. Stop by and see what works best for you.
Question #4 Should I use clipless or flat pedals? Note, clipless pedals are the ones you clip into with cycling shoes with cleats on the bottom. Flat pedals are simply pedals, like you would have on a BMX or kids bike. They are not popular with many racers or road riders because clipless pedals help improve your performance in racing, especially for road disciplines. But don’t rush to use clipless or exclude flat pedals from your practice completely. Start with what you are most comfortable and make changes as you see fit.
Question #5 How do I maintain my bike? Bike maintenance may seem overwhelming to the new rider and even to veteran riders too. Some cyclist really enjoy doing their own bike maintenance and others prefer for our shop mechanics to do it for them. Again, do what is best in your comfort zone. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want to follow some of these guidelines that we’ve written about in our post, 4 Essential Bike Maintenance Tips to Get Your Bike on the Road.
What other questions might you have that we missed? Don’t be shy! Stop by Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop to test ride a bike, check out our winter cycling apparel, and get all of your questions answered.
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