How to choose a bike that does not regret buying

I go out alone on the road

I go out alone on the road;
Through the fog flinty path glitters ...

M. YU. Lermontov

In the world of everything is cyclical: exchange rates, The tides, fashion trends. Events and things, one after another in an endless cycle, go to one day come back again. Is no exception and the fashion on the vehicle. Nowadays, the bicycle becomes wildly popular.

When I was about eight or ten years old, all-around (as I thought) pedaled. The boys in the yard, participants of the "Tour de France" flashed in the news on TV "Ruby", lean on pensioners'tourists"- in other words, we went on two wheels all those who, as they say, not laziness.

Ask probably anyone who today has thirty or early thirties, some bikes were in the days of our childhood, and I'm pretty sure that the answer is not long in coming. I think you will hear the painfully familiar names: "Kama», «Cross», «Schoolboy», «Salute" 'Vela', 'sura"," Ural "and actually"Tourist"- the legendary roadies that era. Tell me, I have not missed?

As you can see, the problem is not the selection was particularly acute: it was on display the city's shops, and then buy. The trouble has always been a presence.

What about today? Without hesitation, you can visit your nearest mall from which doors you will have to travel on horseback. I hasten to warn his readers not yet happened disaster: it is the cheapest way, resorted to except that guest workers with the aim of all of the same economy.

Personally, I have witnessed at least two cases, when the "Auchan-bike" is literally falling apart in half by his negligent owner, could not stand just a trip cross-country.

So, if you do not want to become a victim of his own imprudence miser, go to a specialist sports shop. We know for certain that the popular network of resellers of products for outdoor activities are present in the Most large cities in Russia, so do not hesitate for a second and go straight there.

Our great poet-countryman as if foresaw a problem that today you may encounter when buying a "steel horse". Despite the wide range of models and types of vehicle, represented in the networks of sports shops, the problem of choice still holds the top spot of the charts: find in all this variety of "freedom and rest "is not easy.

If a dealer is more or less clear, with modifications and complexity of the proposed retail two-wheeled technology are worse things: the choice is huge, something to start when making a decision - unclear. When I, having decided to buy himself a large machine, instead of a year ago, he found himself among the ranks smelling of engine oil bikes, then confused and, as a consequence, left empty-handed.

At that time, the problem was resolved somehow by itself: the next day, going to visit one of my friends, I saw a shining kantriynik in which love at first sight. And I ordered exactly the same on the same day (as it turned out, I still miscalculated, and soon you will find out why).

Miser pays twice, stupid - three times

If your plans include more than sigh over the coveted technology in the showroom, then let's find out about The main point you have to consider, not to make silly mistakes, albeit at a relatively bargain-basement price.

1. Decide to purchase goals. In order to stay awake even at this stage, start with himself, or rather, with his character, to understand what you are rider. Consider where and how you ride, as counselor to share their thoughts Store much easier than to kill a few hours to study the functionality of a particular type bike.

Speaking of types. Bicycles are divided into four categories:

• mountain. Two main varieties of this group - bicycles with one (hardtail) and two (dvuhpodves) shock absorbers, allowing the rider to travel on the road in relative comfort.
• Road. This is the bike for a quiet ride around the city. Suitable, for example, to get to your favorite bakery for croissants or show off on the waterfront sunny summer day. For boasting, by the way, the best option would be buying Cruiser (aka Chopper), got its name from the resemblance to the biker motorcycle.
• highways (Here, in principle, can be attributed, and track bikes are designed to ride on special routes - cycle track). Such bikes are no shock absorbers, allowing the muscle to relieve the rider's hands and score high enough speed on a flat road. This is probably one of the best options for moving to the big city, where the motion is on the asphalt.
• Hybrid. Yet they are called touring bike. The design of such bikes is midway between the mountain and highways embodiments. Typically, the hybrid has a considerable number of speeds, combining ability Nakatu passable straight and offers a comfortable travel over rough terrain.

2. Think about the budget, on which you expect. It is important to understand that the bike initial price range is able to bring the owner no less joy than the device, at a cost comparable to a motorcycle.

If your goal - to unwind after a hard working day, and not to conquer the jumps on a forest road, then you are most likely a bike suitable for the discipline Cross Country. In people it is called the "hardtail" (from the English. hard - "hard" and tail - "rear end", literally - the "tail"), or "kantriynik".

3. Select store. This is important, as some specialize in any particular type of bike, offering its customers additional services, such as repair, setup units and so on.

4. Determine the number of speeds. As a general rule, to cheerfully rolling downhill or uphill in an urban environment, you will be more than enough speeds 20-27 - just as there are on an average hardtail. By the way, due to the possibility of fixing the front fork damper this type of bike is perfectly suitable urban residents: drive will equally fun both in the city and outside it outside.

5. Choose the size of the frame. This will help you in any specialty store, but just in case I inform if your height is less than 180 cm - your size M. If about 180 cm, L (my height - 179 cm, frame L). And if 190 cm and higher, XL, respectively.

6. Look for opportunities to test-drive. Generally, it is essential. It can be shoveled a mountain of literature, and any special climbs of online communities and forums devoted to this or that bike discipline. But the best option, although some overhead, will ride on each bike to understand their perceptions of the trip. The owner is one of a certain type will almost certainly entice you in the direction of their own preferences, which in our situation is unacceptable.

Let me give a personal example, which briefly told in the beginning of this article. Let me remind you: a year ago, I was fascinated by the view kantriynika, seen from one of my friends. Bike really turned out to be quite good, with powerful hydraulic brakes, the average "a premium" components and pleasant color.

Skated on it and the courage and some of skills, I started actively jump nearly three months with borders and stop off at small tramplinchik, gets in my way. Gradually my bike started to break down, leading to repeated repairs on the little things, as well as the replacement of multiple nodes, dilapidated. Share your grief with the employee bike shop, I realized that a year ago made the wrong choice.

With this in mind, I encourage our readers to learn from others' mistakes and start from the end: do not be lazy to walk to the bike shop and talk to the sales assistant. Most likely, you will not give up and in the driving experience: nowadays it is absolutely normal practice.

Exercise, pedal and remember: safety - above all!