While National Bike Month is waning, the ideal time for cruising Atlanta-area roads and trails is heating up. Whether you want to glide through the Silver Comet or meander the boardwalk of the Noon Day Creek in Woodstock, you'll find plenty of trails to bike. And if your bicycle is your means of commuting, or how you make your way up mountains, well, you're not alone since Atlanta is becoming pretty bike savvy.
However, the ride is going to be far more pleasant and effective if you have the right bike for your needs. Look, you're not going to attempt to run a 5K in dress shoes, so don't buy a beach cruiser if you're harboring dreams of off-road riding.
Before you hit the bike shop, it's important to ask yourself what kind of riding you'll be doing; at least try to figure out how and where you want to ride. It's not unusual to find 20 or so variants when it comes to bicycle styles.
"The most common mistake is buying on budget and not on need," says Peter Wicker, owner of Outback Bikes, which has been in the same Little Five Points location for more than 30 years.
Another common error that Wicker sees is that some novice riders shop for a bike style that they'll only use occasionally, rather than focusing on one that they'll ride on a regular basis. For instance, looking at a mountain bike for city riding. Mountain bikes tend to be heavier and slower than a road hybrid, and if you're using the bicycle to commute, it makes more sense to prioritize your daily ride over the occasional one.
Along with style, finding the correct size also comes into play.
"Bike size is based on height and inseam, but there are other variables that factor into the size and sizing of a bike," he says.
For women, there are specific bikes that have a slightly wider saddle and a shorter top tube.
"Of course, everyone is different, and really tall women tend to ride a unisex bike, but most manufacturers have increased the range of sizes for women based on the fact that women now make up more than 50 percent of new bicycle sales," Wicker says.
The most practical piece of advice he has to offer, though, is simply to go out and try a variety of bike styles to determine which is best suited to your needs and desires.
"We let customers take short test rides to see how the bike handles. In the end, you want to buy a bike you love to ride," he says.
Wicker's motto?
"Ride what you dig!"
Check out these local bike shops where you'll find a wide selection of bicycles -- and the pros who'll guide you in your search for the perfect ride.
Outback Bikes, 1125 Euclid Ave., Atlanta, 404-688-4878, http://outback-bikes.com.
Intown Bicycles, 1035 Monroe Dr., Atlanta, 404-872-1736, www.intownbicycles.com.
Bicycle South, 2098 N. Decatur Road, Decatur, 404-636-4444, www.bicyclesouth.com.
Roswell Bicycles, 670 Houze Way, Roswell, 770-642-4057, www.roswellbicycles.com.
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