Tips for choosing a bike Automatic translate

The history of the bicycle begins at the end of the 15th century, when Count De Sivak constructed from wood a two-wheeled pedalless vehicle, the “Selarifer,” on which people moved, sitting astride the saddle and pushing off the ground with their feet. Two and a half centuries have passed since then, and now we have a huge variety of bicycles, the popularity of which is increasing every day. Read our article about how to choose the right option and what groups bicycles are divided into.

Children bicycle

Before buying a children’s bicycle, three criteria are important: the child’s height, age and physical development indicator. For the little ones, there are easy-to-use three-wheelers with firmly fixed pedals at the front. They are intended for children from two years old with a height of 95 to 106 cm. An example of a domestic three-wheeler is the “Malysh” bicycle. One of the characteristic advantages is the absence of accessories, adjustment units and bearings that need to be lubricated frequently.

In addition, there are bicycles with two wheels on each side of the rear wheel. This integral part in the learning process forms the correct posture of the child and develops balance. These bicycles are intended for children aged three to seven years. For heights from 105 to 128 centimeters, domestic models have wheel diameters of 12 inches (~30 cm) and 16 inches (~40 cm). When purchasing, please note that the attached wheels should be a few centimeters from the ground, because they only protect against falling. Conversely, they should not be raised too high, otherwise they will no longer function properly and will not be able to protect against falls. The frame size and wheel size differ from each other in all models. Imported bicycles are good because the buyer has the advantage of choosing the most optimal option that matches the child’s height.

We offer five main guidelines:

1. Child’s height = 2.5 d wheels;
2. Frame length is the distance from the child’s elbow to the tips of outstretched fingers;
3. The weight of a cyclist with twelve-inch wheels is seven to nine kilograms;
4. The bicycle base is 65-70 centimeters;
5. The height of the saddle from the ground is 600 millimeters.

Simple bicycles are equipped with a plastic body. Two-inch tires are designed for good cross-country ability and the ability to withstand external influences.

Children’s bicycles are equipped with a hand brake on the handlebars or a rear foot brake. When choosing between “foot” and “manual”, you need to ask your child which type of brake is most convenient for him. You take responsibility for the little cyclist’s braking habits. After all, in the future it will be psychologically difficult for a person to switch from one type of brake to another. All domestic bicycles have only foot brakes.

Teenage bike

They look like a mini copy of the classic “adult” ones. Designed for children from six to thirteen years old. They are more wear-resistant, have a guarantee for long service, normal speed and are adapted to everyday driving.

One popular type is multifunctional cross bikes (intended as sports bikes) for children from eight years old. The wheel size is twenty inches and there are wide high-tech tires. The frame is made of a rigid welded structure. The top tube is beveled and has a plastic gasket on it to prevent injury. Has a foot brake.

"Adult" bike

In this type of bicycle there are branches, subtypes, which we will introduce you to below.

Road bikes. They have the optimal price for everyday cycling and trips on various occasions. They will last for decades. But they are not intended for ultra-high speed and jumping with obstacles. Made from inexpensive materials, unlike used mountain or touring bikes. Steel frames, no gear selector, limited gear range (from three to five) or non-existent. Weight – 15-18 kg.

This type is usually chosen based on the type of frame: “male” straight and “female” curved. “Male” frames are very reliable, since the straight, strong pipes and the entire base as a whole support the load along the longitudinal axis. Before choosing a traditional bicycle with a “male” frame, in order to avoid injury, you should pay attention to the distance between the frame and the cyclist’s crotch: fifteen centimeters is required. Open "female" frames are made from straight or curved pipes, which bear the load in the form of the cyclist’s mass and the overall load of the structure. The curved frame is not so solid, and strong thick-walled pipes are used to make it rigid, as a result of which the entire structure becomes heavier. They are foldable and detachable, which makes transportation and storage in the apartment easier. But this irreversibly affects the reliability and quality of the design. Some frames are created in the form of a circular cross-section and are made of steels, the alloy of which includes several types of metals to give strength. This type of frame will last you a very long time.

The photo below is a Commencal Meta 4X bike.

Modern road bikes are made from an all-welded design, meaning all elements are connected by a welding machine. Look at the welds: on some models they are covered with small waves or bubbles. While in high-quality welded structures, the pipes are smoothly fused, and the joints look neat and tidy. But this does not affect the strength in any way.

Remember that any wheel, regardless of the age group of the bicycle, is capable of moving a stationary object equal to a third of its own radius. Wheel diameter is from twenty to twenty-eight inches. Large wheels have advantages: good shock absorption, high speed parameters, good maneuverability and wear resistance. The smaller the diameter, the lower the speed and the easier it is for a person to ride. Wheels come in narrow (one and a half inches), wide (1.95 to two and a half inches) and universal (1.76 inches). Narrow wheels are designed for comfortable driving on flat surfaces and asphalt. Wide wheels are designed for difficult to pass places (it is not recommended to use them on asphalt roads). If you plan to drive in all kinds of conditions, it is better to purchase universal wheels. On traditional bicycles with many gears, the distance per full pedal rotation (180°) is very vague: from one and a half to ten meters. This wide range plays an important role when trips are carried out in areas with steep ascents and descents.

When choosing, pay attention to the future fit, which can be adjusted using different handlebar shapes. The bicycle must have reflectors and light-repellent devices, and women need a wider seat. Although these accessories can be purchased later, not everyone wants to pay a premium.

Touring bikes. The running characteristics of a dual-suspension bike allow a touring bike to carry heavy loads both in a powerful trunk and in other specially designated areas of the body. Equipped with very durable wheels and a large common base in the form of a long rear triangle; has a fork design that is not similar to the others. The wheel size is usually twenty-eight inches, which means the bike has an excellent ride. The materials from which touring bicycles are made (including the domestic “Tourist”) are chromium + molybdenum and titanium. The most important advantages: the bike has excellent directional stability, ease of riding on flat and pebble roads. Disadvantages include poor maneuverability and average potency. The bike is designed for a quiet bike ride with loaded hiking bags and bike backpacks. 23-28 gears.

Mountain bikes (mountain bikes). The purpose of their use varies. If you want high speed on relatively flat terrain, then a light bicycle with shock absorption on the front wheel is suitable for you. It is best to perform jumps and other tricks on a rigid bike with high-quality brakes. And for going down and up in the mountains, a heavy-duty double-suspension climber with gears from 21 to 27 is suitable.

Sprockets help expand the range of gear ratios. The large one should consist of 50-53 teeth, the small one - 22-28; large posterior - of 28 or more, small posterior - of 12-14 teeth. The dual-suspension models have twenty-eight-inch wheels, a large radius of pipes, a simplified trapezoidal frame and a straight handlebar. The bicycle is fastened with heavy-duty components, which allows you to be less careful when dealing with bumps and slides.

Hybrid bikes. Suitable for all places except difficult to pass. The characteristics of these vehicles coexist with a mixture of characteristics of mountain bikes and touring bicycles. The ratio of the rotational speed of the driven and driven elements in the drive accelerates the bike to the maximum on the highway and mountainous terrain. This is also due to tires with shallow tread. But today there is no standard for the construction of such bicycles, so various changes are possible in future designs. Wheel diameter is 28 inches, tire width is 38-40 millimeters. Hybrids are quite light, the average weight is thirteen to sixteen kilograms. They are available with women’s and men’s frames; when purchasing, experts advise choosing a tube size that is an inch larger than on a mountain bike.

Additional accessories

As practice shows, sooner or later after purchasing a bicycle, a rider will need the following accessories:

• Pump, spare tire tube and a set of patches for it. The whole set costs no more than 1000 rubles;
• Backpack for essentials. You can buy a regular one, the kind that are sold on every corner, or you can look for a special bicycle backpack with a curved back. For example, Deuter, Tatonka, Salewa. Approximate cost 2000 – 3000 rubles;
• Front and rear lights for night cycling. The kit costs from 500 rubles;
• Cycling computer (bicycle speedometer). We advise you to look at brands such as Sigma and Cat Eye. The cheapest costs 300 rubles. You can easily install it yourself, as special instructions are included in the package.
• A small handbag that hangs on a certain place in the structure. Usually on the handlebars, frame or bottom of the saddle. Can be purchased from 100 rubles.
• Tools. A set of hexagons for tightening bolts and cogs. They help when installing the trunk, fenders and horns on the steering wheel.

An individual list has been created for each cyclist; here we present only the most basic ones. In bike shops you will find many more stylish gadgets and useful parts.

Price

And finally, it’s worth considering the pricing policy of bicycle models. Decide on the price. If you are counting on an inexpensive purchase of up to 15,000 rubles, then we recommend models such as Cronus, Merida, Trek, Stels. For this amount, it is more profitable to buy a bicycle with an aluminum frame, front shock absorber, rim brakes and double rims. Bicycles costing over 25,000 rubles must have an oil damper. Spring-oil and air-oil forks, the stroke of which is eight to ten centimeters.

To save money, you should buy a bike in winter, as you will get 20-30% discounts. In summer, the choice of models narrows and increases several times.

Thus, to choose the most suitable bike option, you need to consider many details and parameters. First you need to decide on the age group, correlate the height of the future cyclist to the size of the wheel diameter. Then select the desired type of bicycle in accordance with the operating requirements. We looked at the basic typology, remembering which, when buying in a store, you will not look ridiculous. Have a nice ride! And remember: the decision to buy a bicycle is already the right choice.