Video:How to Buy a Bike

SHARE ON                

Transcript:How to Buy a Bike

Hey, I'm Bob Copeland with Bike Source in Denver, Colorado and BikeSourceOnline.com. Today, I'm going to share some tips on buying bikes.

Determine Your Rider Profile to Buy a Bike

First of all, let's talk about your profile -– what it is that makes you as a rider. Are you, first of all, a little kid? Are you an adult who's looking to do some mountain biking, or an adult who's looking to go out and do some road biking? Are you commuting to work? Are you going to get groceries?

These are very important questions that you need to ask. Consider how long you're going to be on your bike. Hours? Miles? These are all really relevant to the type that you're going to get.

Learn the Different Styles to Buy a Bike

Behind me, I've got really a cool quiver of bikes. We've got mountain bikes made for going off road. We've got little kid's bikes that, of course, are going to be made for the little wee ones -– juveniles. We've got our sweet hybrids and cruiser-type bikes, road bikes that are awesome for going on the pavement, and then hybrids that are going to be made for more fitness =-oriented sports. So getting the right bike is really important.

Select the Right Shop to Buy a Bike

Other things that are important include making sure you get a shop that has someone who will help you out and give you test rides. They're going to set you up on your bike to make sure you've got the right size and the right elements that fit your static sizing position.

Also, if it's a mountain bike, make sure that your suspension is set up. You don't want to be going around on a bike with a suspension that's all flat. Having a shop that's going to back you up with warranties and service plans is really important too.

Consider the Right Accessories When Buying a Bike

Here's another thing that's really important: a bike is just half the picture. You'll want to make sure to get the right clothing that will allow you to enjoy your bike time, helmets for your safety, possibly shoes to enable you to go riding, and all the other really important accessories like a pump to make sure that your tires are aired up. It's not good when you're riding around with flat tires out there.

That's about it for tips on buying a bike. To learn more about this, join us on About.com.