Buying a Bike?
Biking enthusiasts will tell you how exhilarating it is to bike around, either as a hobby or mode of transportation, and they're right! Here's your quick guide to everything you need to know before you invest in a bike.
What to Consider Before Buying a Bike
Your budget: Bikes can cost anything from R700 to R9000 (for road bikes) and R1, 500 to R40, 000 (for mountain bikes). You need to decide how much you want to splurge on your dream bike.
Where to buy: You can buy a bike from your local supermarket, a bike specialty store, a discount shop or on Bob Shop.
Your usage: Determine what your primary usage is going to be (commute, adventure, leisure, exercise etc.) and then go from there. |  |
| Types of Bikes
There are mainly three types of bikes for you to choose from:
Road bikes: Designed for everyday travel on pavements at high speeds, these bikes have a lightweight construction and thin tyres. You'll be slightly bent over when you ride a road bike.
Mountain bikes: Meant for riding through the woods, these bikes feature wide tyres with treads and are built to last. Riders typically ride these in an upright manner.
Hybrid bikes: A blend of features of road and mountain bikes, these are great for short trips around the town. They come with skinny tyres and bigger wheels, are faster than mountain bikes and facilitate an upright riding posture. Top Bike Brands
Before choosing a brand, do your research, list the features that matter to you and then go for cosmetic preferences. Generally speaking, well known bike brands like Trek, Giant, Cannondale, Mongoose, Fuji, Huffy, Klein, GT, Gary Fisher, Cervelo and Rocky Mountain will never let you down. Bike Accessories
Consider buying some of these bike accessories
Floor pumps or mini pumps to inflate your tyres.
Water bottle and bottle holder/cage to keep hydration handy.
Handlebar bags and seat bags for storage (for snacks, maps, spare parts etc.)
Biking shoes for roads and mountains, designed for maximum protection and power transfer.
Clothing such as shorts and jerseys to keep you cool as well as bike raingear, socks and tights.
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| As fun as biking is, there are risks involved, too. You must use proper bike safety equipment to protect yourself. A bright coloured biking helmet is imperative, preferably with safety lights so that motorists can see you clearly. LED taillights and bright head lights are also great accessories. Lastly, consider buying single or double beam lights, reflectors, knee/elbow pads and protective biking gloves. |
