The Beginner’s Guide to Buying and Owning a Bike

by John Wren
The Beginner's Guide to Buying and Owning a Bike

Bicycles are great for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint, exercise more, or leisurely explore their city or outdoor trails. If you’re new to the cyclist community, explore our beginner’s guide to buying and owning a bike below!

What To Consider When Buying a Bike

Its Purpose

The first thing to consider when shopping for a new bike is how you’ll use it. Will this bike be your new way to commute to work, or will you use it primarily for leisurely weekend rides? Do you want a capable road bike, or do you need a mountain bike best suited for beginners? Once you decide the basic purpose of your future bike, you’ll narrow down your choices significantly.

Your Budget

Of course, whether you’re shopping for a bike, a car, or a house, you’ll want to plan a budget and stick to it as best you can. Knowing the bike’s functionality will also help you set a budget—if this is your primary transportation, you can invest in a more high-quality model than something you plan to ride just for fun. Also, consider the many essentials and ancillary gear cyclists need when setting the budget.

The Beginner’s Guide to Owning a Bike

Cycling Gear Essentials

Now that you own a bike, you’ll need the cyclist’s essentials. This equipment will keep your bicycle operating smoothly, securely, and comfortably. Some of the essentials every cyclist needs include:

  • Bike lock
  • Lights
  • Helmet
  • Spare tire tube
  • Tire levers
  • Multi-tool

Storage Considerations

Now that you’ve got a bike, you’ll have to figure out where to keep it! If you’ll have to store the bike for months in the winter, you’ll want a storage area or garage that’s spacious enough to keep your bike safe but well out of the way of other items, vehcles, or pathways. There are also plenty of vertical bike storage options, so consider whether bike storage hooks or racks will suit your needs. You just need to find the right fit for your bike and situation.

Bestseller No. 1
ROCKBROS Bike/Bicycle Phone Front Frame Bag, Waterproof, Tube Bag,Cycling Pouch, Bike Accessories for Men Compatible Phone Under 6.5”
  • LARGE SPACE: Bike bag has enough inside room for long rides, holds a lot of stuff like iphone X, battery, energy gel, small tire pump, repair kits, keys, wallet etc. Perfect compatible with cellphones...
  • HIGH SENSITIVE TOUCH SCREEN: The bike phone bag has a high sensitive TPU film window which can helps you use cellphone easily while riding, great way to see your activity while using maps on a ride....
  • HUMANIZATION DESIGN: The bike phone mount bag has many humanization designs. A, The hidden earphone hole allows you answer the phone or enjoy music freely while cycling. B, reflective tapes on both...
  • DURABLE & WATER RESISTANT: The bike top tube bag is made of ultralight and stylish carbon fiber material with sealed double zippers closure, which ensures the water doesn't flow into the bag.The sun...
  • EASY TO INSTALL & QUICK RELEASE: 3 straps are firm enough to hold up on the bike, 1 velcro commuter strap on the front + 1 longer commuter strap on the upper bottom( the long strap can fixed the bag...
Bestseller No. 2
Lamicall Bike Phone Holder, Motorcycle Phone Mount - Motorcycle Handlebar Cell Phone Clamp, Scooter Phone Clip for iPhone 15 Pro Max/Plus, 14 Pro Max, S9, S10 and More 4.7" to 6.8" Smartphones
  • Sturdy and Safe: A special shape of this motorcycle & bike phone holder grips each corner of your phone tightly. It ensures the safety of your cell phone attached to the bike handlebar even on a bumpy...
  • Shockproof Protection: This bicycle accessories - adjustable bike phone mount comes with silicone pads that keep your phone from scratches and vibration. The motorcycle phone mount holds your phone...
  • Wide Compatibility: This universal bike accessories cell phone holder suit for 4.7 to 6.8 inches with thickness up to 0.59“ (15mm, including phone case), like iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16...
  • Adjustable Features: This motorcycle accessories easy to adjust the cellphone to horizontal or vertical screen. It is convenient to answer the phone, play music, GPS positioning during the riding.
  • Easy Installation: One hand operation motorcycle phone mount is easy to install without tool. The extra 4 silicone pads make your phone fit better with handlebar, can add or remove the silicone pad...
Bestseller No. 3
MatyKit Bike Repair Kit with Tools Bag + Bicycle Pump + Bike Multitool + Crank Extractor and Wrench + Bone Wrench + Tire Lever + Bike Glueless Patches Set
  • Bike Repair Kit with Tools Bag include Bicycle Pump + Bike Multitool + Crank Extractor and Wrench + Bone Wrench + Tire Lever + Bike Glueless Patches Set.
  • Bike Glueless Patches Set - 12 Pcs Bike Glueless Patches ( 6 Pcs Rectangle and 6 Pcs Circles ) Are Included in the Suit, Simply Apply the Rasp to Roughing The Inner Tube, And Paste The Self Adhesive...
  • Mini Bicycle Pump - This is Made of Plastic, Suitable for Presta and Schrader Compatible, Storage Size 7.9 in, Expansion Size 16.2 in. Suitable For Emergency Tire Pressure Replenishment Outdoors.
  • 16 in 1 Bike Multitool - Allen Key (mm): 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6, Socket Hex Wrench (mm): 8 | 9 | 10 and a Socket Extension Rod, Flat Wrench (mm): 8 | 10 | 15, Spoke 14GE, Slot & Cross Screwdriver.
  • 2 in 1 Crank Extractor and Wrench - Bike Crank Extractor + 16mm Spanner and Auxiliary Wrench, Bicycle Repair Tool for 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 Speed MTB, Mountain Bike, Road Bike.
Bestseller No. 4
Bicycle Repair Bag With Tire Pump, Portable Tool Kit for Camping Travel - Patches, Inflator, Maintenance Essentials All in One Safety Kit
  • Limited product inventory, bike tool kit, bike repair kit, bike kit, bike tire repair kit, bicycle tool kit, bicycle repair kit, bike tire patch kit, mountain bike tool kit, bike patch kit, bike tools...
  • Complete Basic Mountian Compact Professional Accessory, Trike Biking, Cycling Trek Road Survival Assembly Fix Multi-tool Mechanic Parches, Supports The Repair In A Harsh Environment And Immediately...
  • Bike Repair Kit With Pump And Bag, Bicycle Tube Repair Patch Tool Kit, All Accessory Better Than Other Similar Products—compared To The Repair Function Or The Quality Of Accessories.
  • You Can Use A Nylon Velcro To Cling Tightly To The Bicycle Stand And Ride With You Wherever You Want, Without Losing It. Increasing Your Safety Is Our Belief In Our Customers.
  • This Product Is Produced For Experience The Most Convenient Bicycle Indoor And Outdoor Tire Repair, Experience And Suggestions Or Problems, We Agree With All Your Views And Fulfill Commitments.
Bestseller No. 5
Ascher Ultra Bright USB Rechargeable Bike Light Set, Powerful Bicycle Front Headlight and Back Taillight, 4 Light Modes, Easy to Install for Men Women Kids Road Mountain Cycling Black
  • Rechargeable Bike lights: USB rechargeable front and back lights, built in 2000 mAh rechargeable lithium battery for headlight and built in 330 mAh rechargeable lithium battery for taillight
  • Four Light Mode Options: The headlight and taillight feature an one-touch switch with four different lighting modes depending on your preference. Include full brightness, half brightness, slow...
  • Advanced Design: With simple structure and lightweight, our bicycle lights are easy to carry. Rated IPX4 waterproof. The indicator of headlight turns red, when the battery power is too low
  • Easy Installation: The Headlight is equipped with a mounting bracket that can be easily fixed to the handlebar. The silicone mount strap for Headlight and Taillight are designed with four openings...
  • Multifunction: This bike light set is versatile enough for cycling, hiking, camping, or any outdoor activity and can be used as emergency flashlight. This is great for cycling at night or in places...
Bestseller No. 6
Inwa Bluetooth Bicycle Speakers with TF Card Mode, Waterproof Wireless Portable Traveling Bike Speaker, Built in Mic for Bicycle Riding, Showering, Hiking, Pool, Beach, Golfing(Black)
  • [ EXCELLENT SOUND QUALITY ]: The loud sound allows you to fully enjoy every music you like, The preferred mini speaker for cycling, walking and climbing.
  • [ LONG BATTERY LIFE ]: The mini waterproof speaker is fully charged and can be used for 8-12 hours, you can enjoy cycling and hiking without worrying about running out of power.
  • [ EASY TO USE ]: The speaker holder for bike is easy to install and operate, equipped with 2 anti-skid pads, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to grasp the frame.
  • [ BUILT-IN MIC and DIVERSIFIED DESIGN ]: When you get this little bluetooth speaker, you can enjoy hands free phone calls for safe driving, or while doing chores, or even in the shower.at the same...
  • [ OUR PROMISE ]: We offer life time product technical support. If you have any problem (connect, return, replace), Please feel free to contact Customer Service team, we will resolve the issue for you...
Bestseller No. 7
Mimoke Bicycle Adjustable Saw Guide Bike Fork Steerer Seatpost Cut for Mountain Bike Handlebar Cutter for Road Bike (Black-Blue)
  • Enhanced Safety: Our tube clamps are made from high-strength materials to ensure that all components are securely held in place during your ride, providing peace of mind.
  • Easy Installation: With a user-friendly design, our product can be easily installed without the need for professional tools, making it suitable for all cycling enthusiasts.
  • Durable and Long-lasting: Made from corrosion-resistant and rust-proof materials, it can withstand various weather conditions, ensuring long-lasting performance.
  • Versatile Design: Compatible with various types of bicycles, our product offers versatility to meet the needs of different users.
  • Stylish Appearance: With a sleek design, our tube clamp enhances the overall aesthetic of your bike, adding a personal touch to your ride.

We hope our guide on buying and owning a bike makes it easier for beginners to find their ideal bike and take care of it well. Luckily, there are tons of resources for cyclists, beginners, and veterans, from online forums to cyclist clubs, so if you still have questions, it won’t be hard to find answers!

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