I’ll never forget that Christmas morning when my brothers and I turned the corner to our living room, and to our amazement, gazed upon three brand new bikes gleaming in the early morning light. After a whole lot of hooping, hollering and jumping up and down, we took them out and rode our new bicycles to our hearts’ content.   It’s that time of year, the perfect opportunity to buy a bike for a loved one or yourself.

The whole process of buying a bike can be intimidating, but the rewards are oh so sweet. The first step is to ask yourself ‘what kind of bike is best for me?’. Are you more interested in fitness or fun? How about a commuter bike to get you to work more efficiently? Or maybe all three combined? Be true to yourself to figure out what type of bicycle would best fit your life. For example, if you don’t plan on racing, a ‘carbon fiber uber light racing bike’ would not be the best choice. If you will seldom leave the pavement, full suspension would be overkill. The main types of bicycles are: Road, Mountain, Hybrid (Road/ Mountain mix), Commuter, Comfort and Cruiser. Think about what type of bicycle you will get the most use out of and therefore your money’s worth. A little Internet research won’t hurt.

The next step is to go down to a local bike shop and talk to them about bikes. Tell them your price range and what you want to get out of a bike. Don’t be afraid to shop around, visit a couple local bike stores to see what everybody has. After you figure out what type of bike is best, start test riding. A bike that fits and feels comfortable will be priceless in the long run.

A saying that sums up buying a bike is ‘you get what pay for’. A bike sold at a department store may seem like a screaming deal, but in the long run you will have wished you spent a little more money. Most of the department store bikes have low quality components and are not assembled by bike mechanics so they can often be malfunctioning and dangerous. On the other hand, if you buy at a local shop the bikes are professionally assembled and tuned. You usually get a free tune up after the bike is broken in and they can help you find the right accessories like helmets, fenders and lights. They can also help fit you for the bike to provide the most comfortable and efficient ride that prevents you from acquiring an achy back and knees.

A nice well fitting bicycle can provide you or a loved one with endless miles of fun and utility. Pick a bike that you will get the most use out of and remember a little more money spent will go a long way.