A bike is one of the best ways to stay fit. You can get a good workout while enjoying the outdoors, exploring your area, bonding with fellow bikers, or ‘getting away’ and enjoying some much-needed me time.
But how do you find the right bike? Just like a good pair of running shoes, a bike should be suited to the kind of biking you plan to do, and your own body type. Here are some tips to get you started.
What kind of terrain will I be facing?
Choose between a road bike or a mountain bike. A road bike, which is designed for paved areas, will give you workout that is based on speed and will generte a good cardio workout. Road bikes also tend to be much lighter.
A mountain bike is built for rough terrain, and is best if you plan to do a lot of adventuring on different kinds of areas. The frame, brakes, wheels and drive trains are all designed to withstand a lot of wear an tear. This helps you when you’re navigating a rocky hill, but it wil slow you down on paths and roads.
Factoring balance and position
You want a bike to be comfortable, but most importantly it must be safe. You must be able to maintain the optimum posture and balance while you’re riding. For a mountain bike, the biggest challenge is to help you manouver well and hold you traction even at sharp turns or going uphill, even when you’re riding on rock or sand. For a road bike, the challenge is to help you turn a sharp turner or overcome wind resistance when you are biking at a very fast speed.
But if you know that you’re not going to be doing any major
adventuring or racing, and realistically, you’ll be using the bike at a moderate speed—say, while doing errands around town or biking with your kids. In that case, pick a bike that minimizes strain on your neck and hands by helping you maintain an upright position.
Finding the right fit
A poor bike feat can lead to pain and even injury in the neck, shoulders, knees and lower back. Go to a good bike store where they can have you professionally fitted.
Photo from voga.org
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