Unless you plan to buy a cheap bike at Walmart or your local sporting goods store, buying a new bike can be a tedious process. If you’re looking for a high-end road or mountain bike for serious recreational use, there are several things to consider before purchasing: price, quality, components, weight, and warranty. There are tons of resources online, including manufacturers’ websites, where this information can be found. Another good way to understand this information is to visit your local bike shop and speak with an expert.
When it comes down to it, you need to create a budget and price range first. When it comes to bikes, you usually get what you pay for. However, there are certain cases where you will pay a bit more for certain brands, such as Trek or Specialized. For example, let’s say your budget is $ 2,000 and you are looking for a new road bike. You’ve been shopping for weeks looking at every bike imaginable until your face is blue. Eventually, you find a Trek that you really like and notice the level of quality of the components (aka groupset) that it comes with. Remember a smaller company bike you were looking at last week equipped with top-of-the-line components where the Trek in front of you is mid-level. What surprises you is that they are the same price. This is common when it comes to bike companies. After all, Trek is a well established company and people know the name, so they are willing to pay more. You may get better quality and better warranty with the brand, but you may not get the high-end components on a bike in your price range. But in the end, does it really not matter? What I used to tell my clients is that what feels best and is in your budget is what you should get.
As I mentioned before, you get what you pay for. If you are looking to buy a good bike that moves amazing, be prepared to shell out some money. A decent bike can cost anywhere from $ 900 to $ 1,300 depending on whether it is a mountain or road bike, full suspension or hardtail, or made of aluminum or carbon. The lighter the bike, the more expensive it will be. This is due to the materials the frame is made of and the technology used to design the frame. Also, the quality of the components and the wheels that the bike comes with influences the overall price.
Bicycles in the $ 1,500 to $ 2,500 range are probably the most common among those who ride regularly. The bikes in this range are ideal for those who are going to ride a lot and are looking for the durability, comfort and efficiency of a bike that will be used several times a week. These bikes typically have an aluminum frame with mid-tier components and should last a long time if properly maintained. Components can be easily upgraded when parts wear or break and are a joy to drive.
Plus, bikes that cost $ 2,500 and up will generally feel amazing … much like how a luxury car drives versus a cheap compact car. These are probably race-ready machines with top-of-the-line components and made of carbon. They will be very light and more efficient on ascents, descents and fast driving on flat terrain. The frames will feel stiff and there will be very little power loss when pedaling, especially uphill. The bikes in this range will likely come with a high-end wheelset and drivetrain to provide a nice smooth feel. This is even more prevalent on bikes that cost more than $ 4,500.
The most important thing when buying a good bike is doing your homework. Whether it’s your first time to buy a bike over $ 1000 or you’re looking for your fifth top-of-the-line bike, always be sure to try the bike and several others in its price range. Talk to the bike shop experts, read online reviews, and visit various company websites to see how they design and build their bikes. Also, compare the different warranties offered by bike manufacturers. Some offer an additional guarantee that you pay a bit more for, so be sure to research that as well. Taking the time to do your homework and research will ensure that you are confident with your purchase. Bicycles can cost a lot of money, and your new bike should be something that fits you and is happy with, not what a salesperson thinks you will be happy with.
After purchasing the bike, make sure it fits you. Most bike shops have expert bike installers who will be more than happy to make sure your new bike fits you well and is comfortable. If you buy the bike from a store that doesn’t fit you, they will generally be more than happy to spend 30-60 minutes making any necessary adjustments to ensure proper fit. After all, if the bike is not comfortable, how motivated do you think you will be to ride it?