How do you choose the perfect bike?

You see all those great bikes on our website or stores, but you don't know immediately what to look for when choosing a bike? Then we would like to give you some tips to find the perfect bike for you!

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1: What are you going to use the bike for?

This is the most important question you should ask yourself. For example, are you looking more for a bike for short trips around town, are you going to use the bike for your commute or do you also want to be able to use it for long bike rides on dirt roads, for example?  

Additional questions to ask are whether you will use the bike to make purchases, and whether you will store the bike indoors or outdoors.  

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Robust simple city bike:

If you will use your bike to make short trips around town and transport purchases, you can opt for a sturdy simple city bike. These bikes are sturdy and can take a beating. So you can also leave them outside without much trouble. These bikes are a bit heavier, but that is not so important for the kind of use they are made for. You often find these bikes with a basket or front carrier, which is very useful for carrying groceries. Robust city bikes have no or a limited number of gears. Because they are so simple, they also require little maintenance. Because of this, this type of bike is often the cheapest option as well.

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Luxury city bike:

If you are more likely to use your bike for commuting and travel slightly longer distances on it, then it is best to choose a luxury city bike. These bikes are much more comfortable and have a lighter frame. Thus, they are made to comfortably cover longer distances than a robust city bike. You can expect 3 to 8 gears on a luxury city bike, good lighting, disc brakes and suspensions. Because they have fragile parts like gears and cables, it's best to store these bikes indoors. With a little more maintenance (suspensions wear out after prolonged use, for example), you can get years of reliable enjoyment from these bikes.

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Sporty bike:

If you want to cycle longer distances or take more sporty or adventurous bike rides, you should choose a sporty bike. Sports bikes are equipped with many more gears; often 3x7 or 3x8 gears, and are significantly lighter than city bikes, with aluminum or carbon frames. If you like cycling on gravel and are not afraid of forests and fields, then a mountain bike with their wider tires is perfect for you. However, if you prefer to pedal along Flemish roads like a real cyclist, then a road bike with thin tires and an ultra-light frame is the option for you. Sports bikes have many fragile components such as derailleur gears. This makes it a good idea to store these bikes indoors. Also, fragile parts naturally require a bit more maintenance.

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2: perfectly tuned to you!

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Once you have chosen what kind of bike best suits your needs, it is of course also important that the bike is perfectly adjusted to your body. The saddle and handlebars must be at the right height for you to ride smoothly and without discomfort. A saddle that is adjusted too low or too high can lead to back pain, saddle pain or knee pain, for example. It is also not safe if you have difficulty getting off the bike because the saddle is too high.

But the best way to feel this is to test the bike yourself! At de Wielredders we are always ready with advice, and you can test ride the bikes that have caught your eye. This way we can make sure you will definitely be happy with the perfect bike for you.

So feel free to step into one of our stores!

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