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~ Buying a Bike #1 ~

By Darrell Stone

You must decide how you want to use the bike. Will it only be ridden on bitumen surfaces, or only off road or a combination of both? Bitumen surfaces only are best for road bikes with mountain bikes catering for all types of off road or rough road riding. Cross bikes, also known as hybrids, cater for both off road and road riding within some limitations.

You then need to determine how much you are prepared to spend on the bike. Once this has been done, you may find that you are in the market for a new bike, or you would prefer a bike from the second hand market.

If you intend purchasing a new bike, NCM recommends that you go to a reputable specialist bike shop. They have experienced sales staff who are usually cyclists as well, and they provide after sales service. You should discuss your needs with them and let them know how much you are prepared to spend. They can then show you the bikes that will best suit your needs, your pocket and your body size. Once you have decided on the bike that you want, ask them to set it up to fit you correctly. It's all a part of the service.

Many parents buy big bikes for their kids to "grow into". A big bike is a dangerous bike and a kid riding a big bike might develop a poor attitude towards cycling simply because they cannot enjoy it as much as they can on a bike that fits them. In buying a bike the right size, realise that you will be buying more bikes for your child to accommodate their rate of growth. In this case buying a new bike is expensive, so keep a look-out for second hand bikes. A child must be able to touch the ground with their toes while they are sitting on the seat. (I have heard of bikes being purchased for kids who cannot even reach the pedals). Once they have bought their child a bike, parents have a responsibility to their children and the community to teach their child how to ride that bike properly and safely.

A rough guide as to bike fit for an adult is that you must be able to stand over the bike with both feet flat on the ground and be able to clear the cross bar by less than about 5 cm. Fitting for the length from the saddle to the handlebars is determined by placing your elbow at the front of the seat snout. With your arm in line with the top bar and your fingers extended, your finger tips should be roughly in line with where you will normally ride with your hands on the handlebars. Saddles are usually mounted so that the top is horizontal or tilted slightly forward, and the saddle height is determined approximately by having the leg almost straight when your heel is on the pedal at its lowest point.

You may have decided to purchase a second hand bike. It's normal for a used bike to need some repairs; however, don't buy one that has a damaged frame. It could be expensive to fix and potentially dangerous to ride. The following points could be taken as a guide on some of the things to check:

• Check the frame and fork for cracks, bends, rust or paint wrinkles near tube intersections.



• Sight the frame and forks from the sides to see whether they have been crash damaged.



• Check for scratches that indicate crashes. Minor marks should not concern you; however, deep gouges on items such as the brake levers, pedals, handlebars, rear derailleur or saddle, could mean that they have been damaged and the frame bent.



• Shift the chain onto the large chain ring at the pedals and try to lift it away from the front of the ring. If you can expose most of a tooth, the chain and probably several of the rear gears are worn and should be replaced. If the chain barely stays on the ring, the entire drive train may need to be replaced, and this can be expensive.



• Spin each wheel and watch for rim buckles. Lateral movement of about 5 mm can be corrected. If there is more, or if the rim has a noticeable vertical movement, it may be bent.



• Check bearings for roughness that could mean parts need to be replaced.