A beginner’s guide to buying a Bicycle, by a beginner!

While I do not consider myself an authority on the subject of cycling by any stretch of the imagination, I definitely feel I have a fair amount of insight when it comes to considering buying a new bicycle.

How, you may wonder?

Buying a new bicycle can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience, especially for those new to the world of cycling. With a plethora of options available, it’s crucial to make informed decisions to ensure you find the perfect bike that suits your needs and preferences. As a passionate cycling enthusiast (LOL! Read: someone inclined to do absolute dumb shit on two wheels) who has immersed himself in the subject for several years, I’ve gained valuable insights that I’m excited to share. I have spent many afternoons and late nights watching, browsing, understanding, and assimilating the finer details to be considered while buying your first bicycle. And guess what? I did manage to get myself what I thought would make an appropriate purchase and work for my application. (We may discuss my application a little later in this article or in another one altogether.)

For now, here are some tips to help you buy your first bike. –

WHY? –

Before diving into the purchasing process, take some time to figure out your riding goals. Are you interested in leisurely rides, commuting, off-road adventures, or competitive racing? Think about how you plan to use the bicycle. Will you primarily ride on roads, trails, or a mix of both? Knowing why you want a bike will influence the kind of bike you finally purchase.

HOW MUCH?

I am going to get the money talk out of the way up top. Once you know what your application is, figure out what kind of money you want to put down. I did not even know something that needed me to pedal to get ahead could cost upwards of six figures if I could indulge.

That said, it’s not just indulgence that costs so much, but the quality of the build (welds, joints, and components used), the material itself (steel, alloy, carbon fibre), brand, availability, and configuration (frame size, gear sets, and tyres) all affect how much a bike could potentially cost.

Pro-tip: You’ll have to find a sweet spot between the budget you have and the configuration you desire. I promise you, you’ll find something in the budgets you have set forth.

WHAT? –

Once you have the why and a certain number you can toy with in your head, start looking at what’s available. The choice you’ll have to make will be broadly between a road bike and an MTB. Then there are specific trail bikes, BMX, hybrids, e-bikes, and commuters(?). I don’t know if the last one is a category in itself, though.

Road bikes are extremely committed where posture is concerned, have those drop bars, thin tyres, are extremely agile, and look really slick.

MTBs are a broader category, I reckon. They have a thicker frame, thicker tyres, and usually wide handle bars, so they can double up as XCs (cross-country tourers). The build makes them a tad more durable and forgiving of rash usage. Not to say that those (“Top gear, Sanju!”) road bikes are not or cannot be used for longer road trips. It totally depends on what fits you and is a comfortable form factor for your application.

Now we get into specifics:

Frame Type:

Frame type impacts the bike’s weight, comfort, and durability. A steel frame and an alloy frame will last you a lifetime, but the aluminium alloy frame will obviously be lighter than the steel frame and slightly costlier as an effect. Carbon fibre frames are self-explanatory, I guess. All categories of bikes come with almost all frame types and materials.

Components –

You’d want to read up on gear sets, suspensions, brakes, tyres, and the brands that manufacture them. Like cars and motorcycle OEMs, a lot of these parts are manufactured by companies that exclusively make gears, derailleurs, suspensions, tyres, etc. A good starting point would be to look for names like Shimano (Gear sets and Brakes), Maxxis, Wanda, Hartex (Tyres) and RMX (Entry level Suspensions).

Choose from among these component manufacturers what level of hardware and consumables you’d like to have, and you’ll most definitely find a bike that has them with minor compromises.

Components will affect your riding experience and ride quality. They can also be swapped out for better or worse once you get a little more comfortable with the bike and know exactly what you want. So do not fret if you do not get the exact configuration for the amount you’ve set aside. The idea here is to get a bike and figure things out as you pedal.

Seek Advice:

Talk to people who have already been pedalling and getting nowhere. Pssst! The community (online and offline) is very helpful in most parts. Also, I feel there is a certain cult-like approach to getting people into cycling, and it absolutely helps. It’s only good for you.

You know how you can tell if someone cycles? They’ll tell you! (See what I did there?)

Test Ride:

The internet and YouTube can get overwhelming when you’re trying to decide what bike you want or should have. Step up to your friendly neighbourhood bicycle dealer. They’ll be happy to help you make a choice (and make a sale). Go in with some information so that they know not to take you for a ride (ufff!) and be open to them telling you what they think you should buy. You might just spot something and feel like it works for you.

Test rides are also crucial, as you have to get yourself the correct wheel size and frame size corresponding to your body type (there are charts on the internet that will help you choose frame and wheel sizes) for optimal riding regardless of whether you’re riding for leisure, fitness, or sport. A wrong frame or wheel size and a badly adjusted saddle height can injure you really quickly.

Maintenance & Aftersales

I’d highly recommend you get handsy with your bike and get greasy. Unlike most complex vehicles, a bicycle is pretty basic when it comes to fixing or maintaining it. You’ll need a basic set of tools (that will mostly come in the box) and the will to tinker.

The gear sets and derailleurs are pretty complicated to align if things go wrong, but there is enough documentation and literature on the internet to guide you through the process. The Global Cycling Network, Park Tool, and Berm Peak channels on YouTube should have you covered. Should you absolutely screw things up, you can always resort to your bike dealership. That said, most cycles will come set up and ready to ride out of the box. So, you have little to worry about.

In conclusion, if you’re anything like me, you know how much joy two wheels bring along with them, other than the yada-yada about cardio and wellness benefits. So I hope this blog post equips you in some way to make informed decisions, find a bike that works for you, and bring you the same joy I feel when I look at my bike parked pretty in my living room. Remember, the right (or best?) bike is the one in your garage, just like a motorcycle or a car.

Ride Safe!

Lastly, if you’re lazy and want to skip this whole process, hit me up, leave me a comment here, or find me on some Twittergram, and I’ll try to help you make a choice. I feel like I have taken one for everyone who hates doing research.

• Sigmund Q