Once you know what type of riding you want to be doing, buying the right bike will be much easier. If you are buying a bike to ride with your friends who are all into Gravel riding, you will probably be best off buying a gravel bike. You be a novice and soon become an N+1 kinda person ( While the minimum number of bikes one should own is three, the correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned. This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner. ) 

Don’t buy a bike that’s the wrong size because the color or price are desirable. Like walking around with shoes that are too small and give you blisters, a wrong size bike will rub you in all the wrong places. Also, avoid assuming that if you are size X in a brand like Specialized that you will be size X in another brand like Pinarello. Different brands of bicycles, like brands of shoes, fit very differently. 

Here’s how to make sure you are buying the right size:

Option 1

Nowadays all manufacturers have recommended height guides for their different model bikes. Ask us to show you! 

Are you between two sizes? Go with the smaller size. 

Option 2

Rather than adjusting a bike to fit to you, a more optimal experience is to fit you to a correctly sized bike. We often suggest a fit-first approach. This is like getting a suit tailored and results in a bike that feels like a part of you. At Mack Cycle we use the GURU DYNAMIC FIT UNIT (DFU™, which is the world’s most advanced fit system. It enables cyclists of all ages and riding levels to find the perfect bike and riding position to match their preferences and body proportions.

Build a relationship with your local bike store. There’s many questions to be asked when entering a new sport and we are happy to share our knowledge with you. Our customers have become some of our best friends and we wouldn’t have it any other way! We try very hard to be as welcoming as possible to new and veteran cyclists. We are on this journey with you and plan to be here for you when you need us. 

Accessory: 

1. a thing which can be added to something else in order to make it more useful, versatile, or personalized.

Many new riders budget X dollar amount for a bike, and decide to ignore the accessories.  At the very least, new riders should budget for a helmet, quality shorts ( with a nice chamois) , a floor pump, bottle cages, and bike lights. A flat kit ( even if you don’t know how to use it at first ) Spare tubes, tire levers, and either a small pump or CO2 inflator and cartridges are also must-haves for a beginner rider. Try not to stretch your budget to get the absolute best bike you can afford by disregarding the real fun stuff to get you going happily. 

There’s lots of different information online and much of it conflicting. Sometimes this can be paralyzing. At the end of the day, it’s a bicycle, not life insurance! You’re here to have fun and enjoy the ride. We hope you get to experience many new bike days to come.