Last updated on 2. July 2016.
When I started cycling I had engagement problems, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted, so I searched the internet for cheap racing bikes and made some purchases. It was a red 14-speed fire truck, even though it did not always go through all the gears. I thought I’d found a good deal and gotten cheap, so I don’t regret the purchase.
But it was a big mistake.
First of all, it was difficult to assemble the engine. The service was always unstable, and a few times I was almost stopped at the side of the road. It was monstrous, and because of my overweight I always felt slow and out of shape. I had it about a year before I finally quit because of the frequent knee pain, which, as it turned out later, was due to the fact that the bike didn’t fit me very well.
With this bike I soon noticed that on a bike you get what you put in it. You can either buy an unreliable car but save a little money, or you can spend a little more on a safe and explosively driven vehicle. Cycling is no different.
Cheap racing bikes: What are they and why avoid them?
Everyone has their own definition of honesty. In this case I use it to describe something of low quality. Here is a story about the characteristics of cheap racing bikes.
- Made from inferior materials with inferior paint. The quality of riding or cycling may be affected. They’re also excessively heavy.
- Poorly assembled equipment undergoes virtually no quality control prior to shipment, increasing the risk of equipment failure or installation problems by the user.
- It consists of the lower parts. Every bike is subject to wear and tear, but if you start with cheaper parts, you’ll probably have to keep replacing them, which over time can lead to some hidden costs and frequent maintenance, so you pay the mechanic of the bike to try to fix the original defects of the bike.
- Assembly with parts that are difficult and expensive to replace. Many cheap road bikes depend on spare parts to reduce their cost, but when they break down it is much harder and often more expensive to find a replacement part than if you replace the parts on a better bike first.
- Barely covered by the limited warranty. The Mass Warranty for Pacific Cycle, Schwinn’s parent company, requires the purchaser to pay for the return, which is often higher than the original cost of the bicycle, and provides a limited warranty. Most brands offer a limited lifetime warranty and replacement rules in the event of an accident.
So what are you looking for on a road bike? Here are some guidelines to make sure you get the most out of your dollar while making a good investment.
Checklist for quality bikes
How many gears does it have?
Current racing bike technology has 11 gears, which indicates the number of gears in the rear cassette. The higher the speed, the smaller the speed jump when changing gears. Many cheap racing bikes have a seven-speed cassette at the rear (this bike is on the 14-speed list, i.e. it has two rings on the crank and a rear car with seven rings).
The disadvantage of the seven gears is that it is difficult to find spare parts for the gearbox of this technology, because it is considered quite outdated. Ideally, I would aim for an eight or nine-speed bike. This saves you hassle and makes future updates much easier.
Buyer’s guide for bicycle parts
Is it a recognizable brand?
Yes, most bicycles are made in the same factories, but the testing standards are different. An article in Cycling Councils explains that you simply don’t know the process, materials and quality control that these cheap and anonymous bikes have undergone. If the worst happens and your frame breaks in half on the way down, you have nothing to notice. Renowned bicycle brands have to go through an approval procedure for import and sale.
Is it available in different sizes?
If your bike is the same size or if the size is indicated by the size of the bike, continue. Bicycles exist for the same reason as trousers of different sizes. You probably can’t wear your neighbour’s pants, so you shouldn’t take his bike either (okay, let’s leave it at that). Each person is different in size, flexibility and departure, and therefore has to adapt to a bike that is unique to him or her.
How to determine the size of a bike and how to use a do-it-yourself bike correctly
Bicycle assembly word Sam
If it is a safety problem or if you do not know the difference between a flat screwdriver and a Phillips screwdriver, you will have to pay at your local bike workshop for the assembly.
What for?
Because you’re not a bicycle mechanic. You may have picked up a few seats from Target on the day of your visit, but you don’t risk damaging them at 30km/h. When a news station in Orlando researched pre-assembled bikes from local big box stores, they found something surprising: brakes that didn’t work properly, bars that were loose. It was a trial and a trip to the E.R. waiting to happen.
The shop ensures that the rim brakes do not rub, that the cables are fitted correctly and that all screws are tightened according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This set of little things really seems to extend the life of the engine and improve the ride comfort.
It is also advisable to contact your local shop, who can carry out regular maintenance and help you make simple adjustments, such as B. in the case of the cable that occurs when riding your new bike.
Bottom row
A bicycle is actually a rather complex system of interconnected parts. Do it right and you will undoubtedly enjoy the ride, and only from time to time will you experience mechanical sensations. Cheap racing bikes are another story, they are often heavy, uncomfortable and require constant repairs and new equipment. If installed incorrectly, they can also pose a safety risk or wear out prematurely.
If properly maintained, a good bike should last a lifetime. Invest in a decent environment and you can slowly adapt to your needs.
Top 5 Tips for buying a new bike
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Photo rental: riversidebicycleclub.com
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