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Purchasing a New Bike - Bicycle Buyers Guide

Table of Contents

1. Meeting your needs - Cost, availability of parts, servicing, new or second hand

2. Purchase location - Supermarkets, private, internet, bike shops

3. Bike categories and history - BMX, Mountain Bike, Hybrid, Touring Bike, Folding Bikes, Road Bikes

4. Clothing - Shoes, shorts, helmets, gloves, sunglasses, wet weather

5. Cycling Equipment - Pumps, puncture kits, tyre levers, lights, water bottles, hydration systems, speedometers, rear view mirrors

6. Tips from experienced riders - Contact with local riding groups

Meeting your cycling needs

Bicycles can cost anywhere from a few hundred to many thousands dollars. Clients often visit me who have purchased their bicycle second hand, from supermarkets, or via the internet and newspapers.

Many were unhappy with their initial purchase. They found that parts couldn't be obtained for their bicycle because of its age, or the bike was purchased from a supermarket with no backup repair facilities.

Some said the bicycle was incomplete or had parts mixed with those from another model.

After taking the second hand bicycle home they discovered after the first couple of rides that the tyres cracked because of hardening through lack of use. There was wear in the wheel, headset and bottom bracket bearings which required considerable expenditure to replace.

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Purchase location

Lets assume you wish to make a purchase. Your options are to purchase from a bike shop, a supermarket or look for a good second hand machine on the Internet or in the newspapers.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Below you will find comparisons between the sources:

• Supermarket purchases - their machines are very cheap costing little more than a couple of hundred dollars. The problems we have faced in the past is that the supermarket bikes are often incomplete with parts missing. The front forks have been fitted the wrong way round affecting the steering. Brakes haven't worked.
  The store doesn't carry parts nor trained staff so we see their clients here at the Pushbike Factory.
  We are then left with the dilemma of replacing a complete gear system or brake because we cannot obtain the correct parts
  

• Second hand purchases - Unless you know exactly what you are doing these machines can be costly with great looking machines requiring an overhaul because their headset and bottom bracket bearings may be worn out.
  Wheel assemblies and rims may have been damaged. Tyres which look good have hardened through lack of use by the previous owner and have lost their elasticity and crack. Saddles have often lost their tension and the surface is worn. It may be cheaper to replace a complete derailleur or chain wheel set than repair the existing one.

• Bike shop purchases - The machines are under warranty. The bikes should be checked for roadworthiness prior to purchase by a trained, competent mechanic. All bike shops offer at least one free service. Bikes parts are available from a bike shop within a couple of days if the bike shop doesn't have the parts when required.
  The bike shops carry a range of accessories which will fit your bicycle and in many cases can be fitted on the spot.
  New bikes carry a one years warranty and some have a life guarantee for the frame.
  They are a mine of information and know their product.
  The Pushbike Factory offers two free services with a new bike because cables initially stretch after riding and parts may need adjusting. These services are not available with a supermarket or second hand purchase. A bike shop purchase will be roughly A$100 more than a supermarket but the bike will be repairable. It will fit your child for a good length of time. It will be fitted with recognised parts which are easily available .
  Any warranty work will be fixed at the time of service unless needed earlier.
  In the long term the cheap supermarket / second hand purchase may not be the great deal you thought it was. .

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Bike categories and their history

• BMX bikes- Very popular amongst children and competition riders, the BMX bike is not designed for distance or comfort but solely for acrobatics. They are of a robust design and capable of absorbing the shock caused by acrobatics at skate parks etc. Most children would have owned a BMXx bike at one time or another.
  The BMX market is very large with many manufacturers and accessory suppliers. BMX bikes can cost as much as $2500 for a competition quality machine. The Pushbike Factory has a large BMX clientele, many using custom built machines, we sponsor competition riders.

• MTB / Mountain Bikes - were heavily promoted by cycling magazines and journalists in the past at the expense of other types of bikes.
  The MTB has lower gearing for the bush and off-track riding for which it is designed. It also is equipped with lower pressure fat tyres plus shock absorbers at the front (hard tails), many have them at the rear (soft tails). They also have 27 gears to handle the terrain it is designed to operate in.
  The riding position on an MTB is more upright because of the use of straight handlebars and a shorter wheelbase. The shorter wheelbase can cause problems if the rider intends to carry panniers with the riders heels catching the pannier.
  MTB's are fitted with "Vee" brakes, the more expensive models coming with disc brakes both cable and hydraulic which offer better braking overall, particularly in wet conditions.
  The MTB has certain disadvantages on the road especially when the rider is riding with a cycling group on road. The MTB tyres offer more rolling resistance, some riders will change to more suitable tyres and even obtain a spare set of wheels to make the change over easier. The top speed of an MTB is lower than its road bike counterpart because of lower gearing.
  Energy is lost through the softer tyres and suspension units when pedaling making it more tiring to ride on group or longer rides. It is very noticeable to riders accompanying an MTB rider that there is a lot of suspension movement even on flat roads. The MTB rider rocks backward and forward as they ride. This lost energy to the MTB rider will increase the riders fatigue throughout the day compared to the road bike / hybrid bike. The more expensive MTB's can lock out their shock absorbers but they are generally in the $1200 class upward.
  Some MTB riders using cycleways and roads frequently purchase a second bike more suitable for touring and day rides and reserve their MTB for fire trail and off-track rides.

• Hybrid bikes - are generally made of aluminium, for lightness. Have 27 gears, a suspension saddle or saddle post, larger diameter wheels and come with higher pressure cross over tyres which reduce rolling resistance. These tyres can be ridden on both road and fire trails if desired.
  Hybrid bikes have fittings for a tyre pump, water bottles, panniers, saddle bags, adjustable stems and straight bars for comfort. Hybrids can be fitted with, shopping baskets, bags to carry lap top computers, shopping trailers, child seats and so on. They can be ridden to work, on social rides and events, participate in family rides, even carrying the picnic and bottle of wine.
  Hybrids often have front shock absorbers with limited movement to iron out the bumps as you ride along. They can be fitted with tyres more suitable to fire trails if required because of their wider forks.
  The Hybrid bike is the general purpose bike which does everything that you would want to do except race and ride off road like an MTB. The Hybrid is easily customised to suit its rider

• Touring bikes - share all of the attributes of the Hybrid bike and more. They are generally made out of a high quality steel for strength, have a longer wheel base to help iron out the bumps and are designed for long distance touring.
  The touring bike is designed to carry panniers both on the front and rear forks. Can pull a trailer with little modification. Has comfortable seat and seating position, they come with at least 27 gears. The touring bike may also be capable of carrying as many as three water bottles.
  The touring bike tyres are generally more robust and may have Kevlar walls to reduce punctures which can be used for both road and fire trail. Touring bikes are not as popular as Hybrids because of poor promotion over the years by the bicycle industry.
  The touring bike is very easily customised to suit its rider like the Hybrid and generally has a long life.

• Folding bikes - slip into the category of both Hybrid and Touring bikes. At one time they were regarded as toys by the cycling world but now they are coming into their own.
  Quality is at least as good as many of the top bike brands. Many folding bikes these days have the features's of both hybrid and touring bikes with the advantage of being able to fold them and put them in the back of the car and even take them on a plane. Of course there is a price increase for these additional feature.
  Some folding bikes can be customised to meet the riders physical dimensions ensuring maximum comfort. They also have a vast range of components to choose from and may give you a range of colours to choose from.
  The smaller wheels of the folding bike make them easier to fold and pack. They are also stronger than the larger wheels and take less energy to turn them giving them quick acceleration and more sensitive steering. The gearing is worked out to give the same results as bicycles with larger wheels.

• Gear trains - The Hybrid, Touring and Folding categories of bicycle come with a tremendous choice of gears. One can have 27 ratios with two derailleur's gears, one on the front and one on the rear with variations of that.
  Another variation is the SRAM Dual Drive which utilises a 3 speed hub and a 8 speed derailleur at the rear. The SRAM Dual Drive is very easy to use and has 24 evenly spaced gears which can "all be used" plus a single chain wheel and one combined changer control on the handlebars which gives simplicity of use. The conventional front / rear 27 speed derailleur set up has about 14 / 15 useable combinations only.
  Rohloff manufacture a 14 speed hub which was originally designed for Mountain Bikes, this hub operated like the SRAM 3 speed hub and gives 14 evenly spaced gears without the additional derailleur's hanging down from the bike frame to act as chain tensioner and changer. The disadvantage of the Rohloff hub is the price of A$1500. Both Rohloff and SRAM hubs have reputations of simplicity of operation, reliability and trouble free running.
  The SRAM Dual Drive can be found on a number of models these days with the Rohloff being more specialised because of price restrictions.

• Road / racing bikes - heavily promoted in the past by magazines and journalists with an elitist outlook, the road bike is highly Specialised and utilised by riders and clubs for racing and long rides. The thoroughbred of the bicycle world, this machine is light and very technical. If you wish to jump on a bike and simply ride long distance day rides whilst traveling light this is your machine. It will not carry your bottle of wine, camera and binoculars for a leisurely day out with friends.
  You can however carry your money, energy bar and mobile phone in the back pockets of your Lycra cycling shirt. You will also be returning on the home bound leg via Stanwell Park on the Sydney to Wollongong ride passing the hybrid and touring bike riders as they travel through Stanwell Park on the outward journey.
  The road bikes are utilising carbon fibre in their frames and components, plus top of the range running gear from SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo.

• Women - At one time womens bikes almost disappeared from the market.
  One can still buy the womens bike with the low crossbar to accommodate a skirt as they did in the past. Bike manufacturers now cater specifically for women with their designs. So place womens design on your list of non-negotiable requirements if you are a woman.
  There are stores which cater solely for women in all aspects of cycling, particularly in the US. They cater for shape, colour, comfort, design and ideas men just don't think of. Delivery time for clothing and other equipment is a matter of days (visit Team Estrogen).

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Cycling clothing

• Shoes - Cycling shoes position the feet in the appropriate place on the pedals for maximum comfort and efficiency. The pedals are designed to fit the shoe and accommodate the clip which is attached to the sole of the shoe by screws. A quick movement of the foot releases the shoe and foot from the pedal when stopping. The sole of the shoe is toughened to protect the ball of the foot from the pressure imposed by the pedal as the foot forces it down. There is a variety of shoes on the market for the road, mtb and touring fraternity, one can even purchase a sandal capable of taking clips.
  By far the greatest range of shoes and pedals is from Shimano with closed in shoes to protect the foot from the elements, rough soles shoes for walking as well as riding and the pure riding shoe of the road fraternity.
  These shoes can also be fitted with an over boot made out of the same material as wet suits for wet and cold weather.

• Lycra shirts and shorts - are designed to reduce wind drag, wick away perspiration keeping the rider dry, protect the rider from the sun, make the rider obvious to the motorist with the bright colours and carry items in the rear pockets. Shorts are often padded to provide comfort around the perineum where the riders weight is imposed by the saddle. A must on longer rides.

• Helmets - it is law to use a helmet in Australia and NSW. All helmets meet the Australian Standard which is a minimum requirement. There are many helmets on the market, some range up to $250 or more. The more expensive the helmet the more high tech it is and the better materials are used providing more protection.

• Gloves - are used by many cyclist to protect the hands from vibration and numbness as they ride. There are summer and winter gloves which contain a "gel" to reduce vibration from the handlebars. They also protect the hands in the rare event of one falling off the bike.

• Sunglasses - protect the eyes from the sun and if close fitting protect the eyes from the wind and insects and objects carried by the wind. The cool looking sunglasses which fit the face are designed for the protection previously mentioned.

• Wet weather jackets - their are a variety of jackets available. Some are shower proof and some protect from the rain. The full protection jackets are more expensive but worth the money. It pays to shop around, one of the better clothing suppliers is Groundeffect, a New Zealand company.

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Cycling equipment

• Tyres / Pump - every bike needs to carry a pump for those unfortunate times when you get a puncture. There is a tremendous range of pumps. Some do it quickly, some easily, it is a good idea to have a foot pump too and carry it in the car to make life easier. Bicycle tyres deflate quickly so check them before each ride. Some pumps come with a pressure gauge fitted or a separate pressure gauge can be purchased for your saddle bag.
  Puncture resistant tyres and thorn resistant tubes are available. Tyres come with Kevlar walls to protect them from sharp objects.

• Puncture repairs - most cyclist carry a repair kit and many carry a spare tube. Tubes are cheap and so are repair kits. Don't get into the habit of borrowing, carry your own.

• Multi-tool - comprises a range of Allen keys, screwdrivers and even a chin splitter. This tool fits everything on your bike and allows you to make minor adjustments and repairs whilst out on a ride. They are a good investment.

• Tyre levers - a must for repairing a puncture. There are metal and plastic levers, and even long handled ones for women. A set of three levers costs very little.

• Lights - are used during the day, particularly the rear lights. They should flash and be easily seen. Some can be fitted to the helmet, some have several flash modes. Along with bright clothes they make you easily seen by the motorist.
  Lights fall into the category of "to see" or "be seen by" the motorist. The be seen by lights are much cheaper and should flash to attract the motorists attention.

• Water bottles - are a must for the cyclist. Any participant in any energetic sport perspires, they lose body fluids which must be replaced in order to function. In addition they lose body salts which must also be replaced to avoid cramps and dehydration. This is controlled on a ride by drinking water, energy drinks and consuming appropriate foods. One option is a small backpack with a built in hydration system which can carry up to 3 litres of water plus personal items like phone, food, money etc.

• Hydration systems - make it easier to drink whilst riding because the mouth piece is close to the mouth and the liquid is under pressure from the pack compression straps. therefore the user has a tendency to drink more often which is preferable. Hydration systems in backpacks are used mainly with mountain bikes where it is often difficult to reach and hold a bottle whilst riding because of the rough terrain and the need to constantly change gear and brake.

• Speedometers - help work out your daily kilometres, overall distance, with navigation and when to service your bike. More sophisticated instruments help with fitness by counting pedal revolution (cadence).

• Rear view mirrors - are a great comfort to cyclists when riding on roads. There are many varieties which clip on to your sunglasses, onto the helmet or both. They can be fitted to handlebars or even bike frames. The helmet / sunglasses type do not vibrate with the bike and give an unrestricted, clear view of the complete road width behind with a quick glance and slight movement of the head.

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Tips from experienced cyclists

Much can be learned from experienced riders. The local bicycle users group from Macarthur is MacBUG (Macarthur Bicycle Users Group).
Prior to purchasing your bike it might be a good idea to borrow a bike and ride with such a group. They would be happy to show you the ropes, discuss purchasing a bicycle and your cycling needs. What they purchased and would they purchase it again.
More importantly you would determine if you liked cycling enough to commit yourself to buying a bicycle.

Did you know

1. that a wrongly adjusted seat can damage the knees?
   Too high a seat can damage the back of the knee. Too low a seat can damage the front of the knee. Yet this adjustment only takes a few seconds.

2. that the riders position on a bike is dictated by the seat height?
   Get this setting wrong and everything else is wrong.

3. that a correctly adjusted seat rarely allows the rider to place both feet flat on the ground as was taught in the past?
   It allows the rider to get the best leg extension and use the leg muscles properly thus protecting the knees.

4. that a cyclist has as much right on the road as any other road user, it's in the Road Rules?
   The cyclist must follow the road rules, but is more vulnerable always needing to be on the alert, courteous and easily seen. it's pointless being in the right as you lay under a truck or car.

5. that by law the cyclist isn't required to signal a left turn, this allows them to use the left (rear) brake exercising better control whilst making the turn?
   Communication between driver and rider is important so it helps to signal prior to the left turn.

6. that cyclist can legally ride two abreast on the road?
   They must be no more than .5 metre apart and it may be safer in single file on busy narrow roads.

7. that almost all beginners cycling with a group for the first time "didn't know how to use their gears or brakes properly".

8. many riders carry cycling insurance, don't create emissions, don't damage roads, reduce parking demands, reduce the demand for petrol and are environmentally friendly.

9. cycling is good for the heart, weight loss, diabetes, life expectancy, overall fitness, stress reduction, the environment and your social life.

10. it is illegal to not have a bell and reflectors on your bike. At night lights must be fitted.

11. that beginners riding for the first time with MacBUG did not know all or most of the ten "Do Not Knows" listed above.

This page was developed with the aid of the Macarthur Bicycle Users Group (MacBUG) -
Website: Macarthur Bicycle Users Group - MacBUG - Contact:  or phone 02 4628 2528

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