Mens Bicycle - 3 Essential Expert Tips to Know When Buying a Mens Bicycle

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One of the most important steps is to conduct a needs analysis-of yourself. What type of cycling do you plan to do? Which features and components would best suit your biking needs? Do you plan bike short, moderate, or lengthy distances? These are all important considerations, to ensure that you find the best mens bicycle for your particular needs. Starting your search for a men's bike based on your own needs, will help to narrow down your search.

Secondly, you can conduct your search either online or offline. The main benefit of searching online is that it's either to compare different bikes and features. You also can avoid traffic jams, long lines in stores, and pushy salespeople. However, there are also some benefits of shopping offline. There are no shipping costs, and you can test ride different cycles. This latter benefit is particularly useful, as making a final decision about which bike to buy will be much easier.

The third and final important step is to determine which bike and features best meets your needs. Road bikes are excellent for racing on roads and for lengthy distances. The frames are usually comprised of lightweight aluminum or steel, and are available with 24-30 speeds.

Meanwhile, front-suspension mountain bikes are ideal for smooth or somewhat rugged terrain. They're perfect for dirt jumping and need less upkeep than other types of bikes. These bikes tend to be fairly lightweight and less bulky than other all-terrain bikes.

If you want a more rugged cycle, then consider a full-suspension mountain bike. These are perfect for off-road biking and particularly up steep inclines and on rugged terrain. They feature robust frames and huge, chunky tires.

Then there's a hybrid bike, which is ideal for roads or level dirt. If you need a cycle for ride of moderate lengths then this is the perfect bike for you. Features of this type of cycle include a large frame and somewhat narrow tires. As with the physical features of this bike, the price is also moderate.

Finally, the comfort bike is another common mens bicycle variety. This is also ideal for casual rides on roads or dirt surfaces. Typically, this variety of two-wheeler has roughly 18 speeds and an affordable price tag.

When shopping for men's cycles, it's important to know what to look for. While the crossbar on a man's bike is parallel to the ground, those for women's bikes are slanted downwards. However, some women whose bodies aren't "standard" often choose men's bicycles.

The essence of a bike is the frame. While "standard" bikes tend to be composed of steel or aluminum, high-end bicycles include titanium or carbon fiber. It's important to consider the pros and cons of each material type. The main features that you should consider are the weight, sturdiness, and flexibility of the materials. The best material is the one that best accommodates your riding needs.

Another important component of a mens bicycle is the handlebars. The main options you have are a straight handlebar and a dropbar. You can usually find straight handlebars on mountain bikes, comfort bikes, and hybrids. Meanwhile, dropbars are common for road bikes and racing bikes.

Then there are the gears and brakes. Typically, the more gears you have, the easier it will be to ride on a variety of terrains. While road bikes tend to have a caliper-style brakes, mountain bicycles usually have disc brakes.

Another important matter to consider is the mobility of the cycle. Many of today's bikes include a quick-release axle that allows you to easily remove the back tire. Then you can mount it onto a bike rack, or place it inside your vehicle.

Following these tips will help you to choose the best men's bicycle for your cycling needs. While using this methodical approach will take more time, it will ultimately be worthwhile. Be a man with a plan and an outstanding bike!

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Bicycle Racks For Cars - Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Car Bike Racks

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The trend of buying bicycle racks for cars has been increasing quite dramatically in recent months. This is not only to do with the high cost of gas but, the growing popularity of a very family orientated sport. The problem is that there are also a lot of returns of bike racks because people buy the wrong bike carrier and end up with scratches or loose racks and are generally unhappy with their purchase.

So if you are thinking of getting car bike racks anytime soon, read through this article to find out what common mistakes you can avoid when buying a bike carrier.

1. Choose The Correct Bike Rack for Your Car
There are 5 main types of bicycle racks for cars and trucks. They are the roof mount, hitch mount, trunk mount, tire mount, and truck bed mount. The type of rack you buy will depend on the type of car you have among a few other things.

If you have a car with a hatch back and no hitch receiver, your choice would be narrowed down to a trunk mount bike rack or the roof top bike rack. Now, you need to check that the model you are going with, will fit the car you drive. Also make sure that the rack includes all the extra's like locks, extra bars or straps if you need them. More expensive racks often have good padding for protection, life time guarantees and good customer support, but they don't always include all the parts you need.

The fine print and reviews of most products will soon let you know.

If you have a hatch back, but want a hitch mount bike rack, because of the reason that you need access to the trunk, then all you need to do is get a hitch receiver fitted. Before you rush out and buy a hitch receiver make sure you know how many inches it should be so that your rack fits it. Also be sure to get the hitch mount bike rack that is as swing away type or can be lowered. Some models are fixed so you won't be able to open your trunk anyway!

2. What Type of Bike Do You Have?
A 4 bike rack will carry 3 bikes comfortably but you often find the 4th will only just squeeze in if not at all. This is because the carrier is designed for general frames and not for ladies bikes, kid's bikes, a tandem and so on. Be sure to ensure that your bike frame and size will be best suited to the rack you choose.

3. Choose a bigger rather than a smaller rack
Bikers get so into their riding that they often rope the whole family in. So if you are planning on only getting a bicycle carrier for one or two bikes, maybe think of getting one for 3 bicycles. They are not that much more expensive and you will most likely find yourself inviting a friend or family member along because you have the extra space for friends.

4. Be Careful of Damaging the Paint Work on Your Car
This happens to those people who buy the trunk mount bike rack that come with straps. This doesn't imply that this type of rack is a bad one, just takes the necessary precautions to prevent scratches. You can buy some cheap rubber padding and put it between the frame and car for extra care. Also make sure the car is clean and dust free when you attach the rack to avoid the sandpapering effect. Lastly choose a rack that is going to fit your car properly. A bad fit will mean it will be a tad loose and end up rubbing badly. If you do have to get a trunk style bike rack, then choose one that doesn't rest on the back bumper. That will help you out a lot.

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