Choosing the right bike is very important. It doesn’t have to be a complicated task, however, if you understand some basic guidelines. It doesn’t matter if you’re buying an adult bike or a kid’s bike, a bike for a new cyclist or a bike for a serious competitor the basic things that you should look for are the same. No matter what type of bike you are buying there are some general things to look for.

Size matters.  
It can’t be stressed enough that the proper size is crucial to getting the right bike.  If you are just buying a bike for basic fitness and pleasure riding getting an extremely detailed fit analysis isn’t necessary but you should still make sure the bike is comfortable and that you can ride it comfortably, stop, start and steer comfortably.

Materials matter.
You don’t have to pick a bike with a state of the art titanium frame in order to get a high quality bike but make sure that the material that the frame is made from is sturdy and will last.  Try to bend the frame with your hand. If it bends, then the frame is low quality and you should not buy that bike.

Price matters.
Unless you have oodles of money to spend the price of the bike you’re buying will matter in your final calculations.  While it can be tempting to buy the cheapest bike you can find remember that it pays off in the long run to buy a bike that is the highest quality you can comfortably afford.  Once you have decided what style and brand name of bike you want shop around to find the best price on that bike.

Test drive the bike.
Just riding the bike around the store or around the block won’t cut it. In order to know if the bike is really a good fit for you a good test drive is necessary. Most cycle shops will have no problem allowing you to take a lengthy test drive on a bike because they know it’s necessary in order to make an informed decision.