Choosing the bike that’s best for you
Walk into your local bike shop, and chances are you might be quickly overwhelmed with all of the choices in front of you. However, bike experts say that you simply need to know what you are going to use the bike for to get a better idea of which bike will be best for you.
“There are comfort bikes and fitness bikes that range from $ 380 to $ 540 and then there are endurance road bikes that range in price from $ 380 to $ 800,” explains Joanne McSweeney, owner of On the Route Bicycles on Lincoln Avenue. “If you are looking to sit upright on the seat and enjoy a wider seat, a comfort bike will be for you. If you are looking to bike distances longer than 15 miles and want to ride in a bit of a slanted position, you go for a fitness bike. And if you are looking to utilize a drop bar in a more Tour De France sort of style, an endurance road bike is going to be for you.”
And luckily for you, there are many events coming up this summer where serious cyclists and adventurous newbies can put that bike to use, such as:
Ride for Aids Chicago — July 8- 9 ( Chicago)
Venus de Miles— July 22 ( Lake Forest)
Two Rivers Century— August 6 ( Kankakee)
Ride Like an Egyptian — Aug. 19 ( DeKalb)
Bicycle Illinois— Aug. 19- 25 ( Cairo to Chicago)
North Shore Triathlon — Sept. 17 ( Wilmette)
Of course, there are 200 miles of Cook County Forest Preserve trails and Chicago Park District trails/ paths to enjoy via bicycles, not to mention the lakefront and miles of bike lanes throughout Chicago. And even closer to home, you can always rediscover your own neighborhood via bicycles, too.
So get out those bikes, don a proper helmet, don’t forget the sunscreen, and get out and enjoy the summer via pedal power. You just might feel a whole lot better, too.