Are You Looking For That Perfect Bike, But Don't Know Where To Start

Buying your first bicycle for sport can be a serious investment, although maybe not as daunting and important as buying a new car. Just make sure that you are purchasing something that will fit what you are trying to accomplish. With the right bike you will enjoy yourself more and have a real appreciation for the sport as a whole. There are many reasons to take a good amount of time in your first looking for something to purchase. The following are a few tips to start you off in the right direction.

When you first walk into a high end bicycle shop you will be confronted with an incredible amount of options. Once you know what you want and what's best for you, this actually becomes a great thing.

When purchasing your bicycle don't start out by asking which brand is the best. Don't fall into the trap of making a style decision rather than a performance decision by shopping with the brand in mind first. Look for a bicycle that best suits you needs, this can't be stressed enough.

Identify the features you want and need, then how much you want to spend, and finally after you have done all of this, look for the different types of brands and models that meet those needs. This is how you pick a winner.

Is a custom bike right for you?

There is no definitive answer, let me explain. Many agree that one of the greatest places to find custom builders of high end bicycles is in the United States. These builders of custom bike have mastered their techniques and have made themselves experts in their chosen field. With all this knowledge and experience, these master builders can build you exactly what your looking for, so long as there is accurate communication through the entire process. Keep in mind though, that every custom bike builder has there own style and personality.

You can give the same specifications to different companies and the fit as well as the ride quality would come out different. These are just some of the reasons why a custom made bike should not be your first choice. Knowing what questions to ask these builders only comes with time invested in the sport and riding experience. It is after this point that you will have the perfect custom builder on your hands.

Should I be waiting for sales prices before making a purchase?

Bicycles like cars have new models arrive on the sales floor every year. This usually takes place after the main season comes to an end, in the fall. Again just like cars this would be a great time to find the best deals. When those cold, slow, winter months come around, shops don't want old bike cluttering up there shop. The popular and hot models will have sold over the main summer months, but that doesn't mean you can't find some killer deals by doing your homework.

Dramatic design changes don't happen that often, maybe every few years, but minor tweaks can take place more often. This means that something might seem like a great deal on the surface because it's less expensive, but may not have all the newest technologies to go with it. So this could well turn out to be only an OK deal for you. This happens most often when the bikes in question are a few seasons old.

Should I negotiate over the price?

As the old saying goes it doesn't hurt to ask, but don't expect sympathy from dealers on current year models. Bikes have a relatively small profit margin. It's a pretty common practice for bikes to make more money on the equipment they sell, then on the purchase of the bike. This is the main reason dealers and bike shop owners are less than likely to give a discount on a bike purchase, but are more than willing to toss in a piece of equipment for free.

You can be stubborn on your discounts, especially if you purchasing more than one bike and lots of equipment. If you not getting an offer that pleases you, then take your business elsewhere, there is no law in doing that. Keep in mind though that if you're become serious with this sport, having a good local bike shop on your side can only help. This will save you money in the long run with warranty and service issues. Knowing that your turning into a long term customer, bicycle shops will bend over backwards to keep your business.