Anyone know about bicycles?
 

Hello all!

Here is the deal: As far fetched as it may seem, I am 23 years old and I have never ridden a bicycle. The weather is nice out and soon I will be waking up early to get to work and need a reliable form of transit that isn't my chevro-legs...

I know absolutely nothing about bikes.

I guess the frames and tires come in different sizes. I am 5'3" and proportionate in limb to my height. Anyone have any idea what size bike I ought to be looking at? I found one on CL that is 50 cm and totally adorable. My kind of bike but, is that too tall?

I would say your best bet for finding out what size of bike you need would be to go to a sports store and find one where you can touch the ground while still sitting on the bike. Then, measure said bike, and if you want to buy a used one online, find one that measures the same height. Just keep in mind that the ones you see online could be in alot worse condition than the one in the picture(my brother fell for that one once).

Okay. I just learned that your inseam is very important. I measured my inseam the way this bike site tells me to and it's 29 inches...

well, i guess you best bet is to go to a shop at sells bikes and ask them. you can also consult experts either online or at the shop, considering there will be those who are willing to help.

as for the bike itself, i guess the biggest criterion would be how/what are you going to use it for.

the best bet would be to sit on it and test it out, if it feals wrong then it probably is! also do you know how to ride a bike? you might wanna make sure there is someone who can teach you before you go off buying one!

just find a store and test out wich bike feels the best you should be ablle to just touch the ground while sitting on the bike and remember that most bikes (almost all bikes) have an adjustable seat so most bikes fit for most persons <.< i´ve been using mine for god knows how long

I got the bike and it fits. :D I find bike seats uncomfortable. Is this just something you get used to?

Find something you like, then sit on all the ones that catch your eye. If you can touch the ground with the balls of your feet, that's just about right. Most bike seats are adjustable. I personally prefer male bikes though I am female. The way to tell the difference is if there is a bar right in front of the seat.

The easiest way to pick a bike is through trial and error though.
Some bikes are lighter than others. (the frames are made of different stuff) Would you need a bike that you can lift easily? Keep that in mind.
Some bikes have handlebars that are not suited to holding a bike basket(I didn't check this and was later dissapointed) Do you need a basket?
How large do you want the seat to be? Most bikes come with average sized seats, but bigger seats or seats with gelly pads are also sold. Do you even care about the seat?
Are you going to need a lock? What kind would you prefer, the kind that you use a passcode or the kind that you use a key?
What about price? Do you want a top of the line bike or will an old huffy from a thrift store suit you fine? (older bikes are heavier generally(think old banana seats))
What color do you like? Could you spray paint it if you needed to?
How many buttons/levers does it have? Will you really need a bike with all those levers or will a simple ten speed suit you more?
Do you want a bell/horn? This may not fit on the handle bars if you don't check first.

Okay, that's how I look for a bike in a nutshell... though I usually just pick bikes up at yard sales and put them together in the way I prefer.

Goodluck!

My family and I all ride our bikes to work/school in snow and shine. We started doing it when our car broke down when I was younger and my dad just threw me in a basket. I've grown into loving it. Biking is something I know a thing or two about.

You will learn to like the seats. My friends laugh at me because I had the smallest seat in the world, but I can't stand a fat, spongey one. You need a hard place to sit. But if your body hurts, you should go into a BikeWorld and see if they can change it for you.

That is very thorough, Aki.

I already bought the bike. It's a '70s lady's Raleigh 3 Speed. I do stand on the balls of my feet when I am on the bike but this is not ideal for learning. I am going to see if I can find smaller rims and wheels for the bike so it'll be easier to learn. Or I might just go out and get some training wheels and lift them up a bit so that they are only on the ground when I start to fall.

I have not yet gotten a bike lock though I am going to need one. I think I want one with a key just because I like to have keys on my key chain.

I ride my bike to school rain or shine, so does my family. I've been using the same bike for years, and its way to small for me, but ive adjusted and i dont feel like wasting money buying a new one :P