There is a misconception that picking the right bike is easy. They think that all they have to do is pick out which bicycle looks the prettiest to them and allows them to sit comfortably. Wrong, there is more to it these days than simply looks and comfort. Cycling is very popular at the moment, be it for sports, fun, transportation etc. With all these uses there are many different bikes to go with each. It is popular in modern times to use a bike as a serious mode of transport. Lots of families have taken up cycling as a family hobby. The following will explain how you choose the best bike for whatever it is you aim to use it for.
The basic key to choosing a bicycle is to buy a bicycle that you can sit on and rest your feet flat on the floor so that you can stop yourself. There are those who say that this isn't the best way, though. It is their belief, that your time on your bicycle will be much more comfortable, if you allow your feet to remain several inches off the ground. If your feet are on the ground and your knees are bent when you sit on the seat of the bike, it generally means that the seat is this contact form sitting too low for you and too close to the crossbar. If this is happening, when you start to pedal the bike then your knees are going to come up too high. You shouldn't ever sit the seat at the lowest setting, which means sitting on the crossbar. You want to adjust it up a few inches and take those inches into account when you are choosing your bike. You want to have the comfort of the seat being higher up than the crossbar on the bike, because if the seat is sitting on the crossbar, you will not be comfortable. The goal here is to create a height with your seat so that when your pedal is at its lowest position your leg should be almost (but not quite) fully extended.
You also want to make sure you leave some room between you and the crossbar of your bike. When choosing a bike move the seat so it is a couple of inches above the crossbar. Make sure you can place both feet on the ground if need be. Different bikes will need differing clearance amounts. As an example, with a touring bike you will only require around 1". However for a mountain bike you will need 3" between the crossbar and yourself.
You should keep these things in mind when you go out and buy a bicycle, especially if you want to find the one that is right for you. It can become a bit overwhelming when going shopping for a bike and accessories because there is just so much to choose from. As long as you go prepared and know what you need and are looking for, you can shed some of that frustration and find the perfect bike.