Bike-buying 101

It doesn’t take too many beautiful weekend afternoons to get local residents who don’t already own a bike to think about purchasing one.

But, with all the choices now available, it’s more important than ever to understand all the customization options available before making that purchase.

Mike Gladwin, an employee at West Orange Trail Bikes and Blades Co. for 10 years with nearly 30 years of experience being around cycling, said it is of the utmost importance for a would-be buyer to know what he or she wants to use the bike for and which style of bike best fits that need before breaking out the checkbook.

“There’s a whole lot of really nice bikes that hang in garages and never get off the hook,” Gladwin said. “They buy them, they think, ‘Oh, this is the greatest ever, and I’m going to ride it every day’ — and they ride for two weeks, and it hangs up in the garage and the tires go flat. … It’s really important to have a bike that you like riding and is going to suit what you’re going to do.”

In addition to one simply not completing enough research before making a purchase, one of the most common mistakes made by eager buyers purchasing a bicycle is what Gladwin refers to as “overbuying.”

“Like with comfort bikes; you can get those with 21 speeds, you can get them with front and rear shocks and people are like, ‘Oh, I need all that stuff,’” Gladwin explained. “But, you’re riding on an absolutely smooth trail — if (the West Orange Trail) is where you’re going to ride, you’ll never need a shock. You’re not hitting any bumps.”

Beyond that impulse to get all the bells and whistles, Gladwin also recommends first-time buyers resist the temptation to purchase a bargain-priced bicycle from a big-box store in favor of a bike shop, where an employee can help that person make the best possible decision — and give the prospective bike a test drive.

“You can buy (an affordable) bike from Walmart or Target, or whoever it is, but there’s one size,” he said. “Generally, the components on (an affordable) bike are not going to last you very long. Within two years, you’re probably going to be buying another bike. They just don’t last.”

Finally, perhaps one of the most important considerations that sometimes is ignored is the fit of a bike to a person.

“It’s the most important part of the bike; you’ve got the handlebar height, you’ve got the seat height,” Gladwin said. “If you get one that fits right, you’ll be able to ride, comfortably.”

Choose most any bench located along the West Orange Trail on a Saturday or Sunday, and it won’t be long before you see a cyclist, or a group of cyclists, zip by on a road bike — perhaps in one of those snazzy lycra outfits.

The important thing to note about these bikes, which are usually a significant purchase when bought retail, is that they are not for everyone and their unique features cater to specific riders.

“If you want to do longer rides and faster rides, and you think you’re going to be serious about riding and join a club or something like that; most of those riders are going to get a road bike,” Gladwin said. “And if you’re going to ride mainly on the road, as opposed to a trail, I would highly recommend a road bike.”

The term comfort bikes is, as Gladwin tells it, a general term that includes a variety of bikes — such as beachcruisers — that are more comfortable to ride.

In general, these bikes tend to have wider seats and are oriented with a more upright seating position. Such features make for a more comfortable ride, and although popular among older riders, for instance, Gladwin said they can also be a benefit for families who want to ride together.

“A lot of times (parents) will get a comfort bike because they have little kids and little kids are going to be riding a little tiny bike,” Gladwin said. “(And) they can’t go fast.”

HYBRID BIKES

Halfway between a road bike and a comfort bike is an emerging genre of bikes known as hybrids, said Gladwin. 

The bicycles tend to have skinny tires, like a road bike, and flat handle bars. They are, generally, a little more upright than a road bike though and, in some cases, will have a fatter tire than a regular road bike that can be good for brick roads.

Choosing a hybrid, as the name suggests, is a valuable middle ground depending on what one wants to get out of his or her bicycle.

A popular style of bicycle for younger riders, mountain bikes tend to be more affordable and feature fatter tires. From a performance standpoint, though, Gladwin said this genre of bike is really only valuable to adult riders who are looking to enjoy a particular niche of cycling.

“I would get a true mountain bike only if I was going to be serious about riding off-road,” Gladwin said, adding, “Central Florida doesn’t have a lot of places to ride off-road.”

FIXED-GEAR BIKES

Increasingly popular in more urban areas, including nearby Orlando and among a young adults, are fixed-gear bicycles. These bicycles often look like — or previously were — road bikes, featuring more of a bare-bones look and with just one gear. 

Additionally, these bikes, while often easy on the eyes with their minimalist look, are unique to ride as one has to pedal the entire time he or she is moving; coasting is not possible.

When asked who might best benefit from such bicycles, Gladwin is candid.

“Nobody,” he said with a laugh. “Bike couriers like them a lot, but you don’t have bike couriers, generally, in Orlando. … They’re not real practical. A lot of them don’t even have brakes. … When you’re moving, your feet are moving. You can’t coast.”

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].