Choosing a Bicycle Guide: Buying to Suit Your Needs
Over the years I have owned all sorts of bicycles each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Here is a guide to selecting the right bike for your needs.
What are your needs?
The first thing that you need to do when choosing a bicycle is to think about what your needs are. Using the list below score each need from 1 to 10.
- Light weight (for easier hill climbing)
- Suitable for rough terrain, off road
- Less vulnerable to being stolen (think about crime levels in your area)
- Energy efficient pedal power - less effort to cycle
- Good posture - to avoid bad backs, shoulders, arms...etc
- Visual Appeal - how the bike looks
- Build quality - less rattle and a "nice feeling" ride & will last longer
- Affordable
- Suitable to take on public transport
- Folds up small for storage
The perfect bicycle would cater for all these needs, but such a wonder bike has yet to be invented. In fact what most people do is trade off these needs against each other.
Below are some bicycles that I have scored according to how they meet different needs.
Mainstream Price Range
Mountain Bike - £130
 |
Suitable for hill
climbing Suitable for off road |
●●●●● |
Town & Country Bike- £150
 |
Suitable for hill climbing
Suitable for off road |
●●●●● |
Mainstream Road Bike - £280
 |
Suitable for hill climbing
Suitable for off road |
●●●●●●●● |
Bargain Basement Bikes
15 year old so called "Racer" - £40
www.ebay.co.uk
(www.gumtree.com)
 |
Suitable for hill
climbing Suitable for off road |
●●●●● |
The Trusty Old Mountain Bike - £35
www.ebay.co.uk
(www.gumtree.com)
 |
Suitable for hill
climbing Suitable for off road |
●●●● |
High-End Price Range
High-End Light Weight Road Bike £500
 |
Suitable for hill
climbing |
●●●●●●●●●● |
High-End Aluminium Mountain Bike £400
 |
Suitable for hill
climbing |
●●●●●●●●● |
High-End Full Suspension Mountain Bike £1500
 |
Suitable for hill
climbing |
●●●●●●● |
Fold Up Bikes
Brompton £400+
 |
Suitable for hill
climbing |
●●●●● |
Strida £220+
www.strida.com
 |
Suitable for hill
climbing |
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