Bikes

Choosing the Right Bike for you.

At R&R Sport we have a large range of bicycles to meet everyone’s need. Now that you have started looking at buying a bike there are a few questions you should think about which will make your decision and eventual riding pleasure more enjoyable.

Some of the basic questions include:

• Where do I want to ride and how often?
• Do I want to ride off-road on forest trails and gravel roads or will I stick to the pavement?
• How much do I want to spend?

Depending upon your answer to these questions you may have already narrowed down the selection of possible bikes that are suitable for you. The next step involves getting to know these bikes in more detail, to find the perfect match.

One of the most important factors in determining the perfect fit is the size of frame that you choose. Once you get this right the other parts can be changed or adjusted to customize the bike to what you feel comfortable with.

How to choose the right frame size

A good ballpark indicator of how a frame fits, is your stand over height. This is the clearance between your crotch and the top frame tube, when you're straddling the bike. On bicycles designed for road use, you usually want about 25mm to 75mm of clearance (depending on the size and design of the bike). On off-road models, which usually have sloping top tubes and long seat posts, more clearance is needed. Look for 75mm to 150mm (depending on size and design).

This is a guide only and although there are a variety of other ways for calculating the correct frame size, in our opinion the best way to ensure the correct fit is to ask our experts at any of the R&R Sport’s stores nationwide. When you visit us, we will get you to stand over a few different frame sizes and models so we can determine the correct size for your body dimensions. When we find a frame size that's right, we raise the seat to provide the proper leg reach for pedaling and then ensure that the reach to the handlebars is right for your arm and torso lengths. With a few small adjustments it is often possible to find a bike that fits your perfectly.

How to set the bike up correctly.

At R&R Sport we are committed to making sure that the bike you choose is not only the correct size for you but that your riding position on the bike is also correct. To assist us with this we make use of leading edge technology in the form of the Dialed in Motion software.*Not available in all stores

Dialed in Motion is a dynamic bike fitting system that allows us to accurately measure critical body angles and advises us of the optimal adjustments that need to be made to ensure a perfect fit.

What else do I need to go riding?

Now that you have your bike sorted the next thing you will need before you go riding is a helmet !

R&R Sport recommends that you always wear a helmet every time you ride. (In New Zealand this is a legal requirement!) You may think they don't look cool or that they're too cumbersome, but they're cooler and less cumbersome than memory loss from an accident.

Your helmet should fit you comfortably and correctly. So, how do you choose the right helmet?

Choosing the Right Fit

The biggest key to choosing the right bike helmet is finding one that fits you. Helmets come in several sizes (typically sized in inches) and most are designed to fit a small range of head sizes. To find the right size, use a tape measure to measure around the largest portion of your head. This will be about 2-3 cms above your eyebrows. Look for a helmet that matches that measurement. If you're between sizes, order the smaller size.

Many helmets have a fitting system that includes sizing pads and adjustable straps. A good-fitting helmet will be snug, but not tight. It should sit level on your head (not tilted back) with the front edge no more than about 2 or 3 cms above your eyebrows. Push the helmet from side to side and back to front. If the helmet shifts in any direction, use the sizing pads provided with the helmet to snug up the fit. Next, buckle and tighten the chinstrap. Push up on the front edge of the helmet, then up on the back edge. If the helmet moves significantly in either direction, tighten the chinstrap and try again. Finally, with the strap buckled, open your mouth. If the helmet doesn't press firmly down against your forehead as you do so, tighten further and repeat.

Replacing Your Helmet

Any time your helmet is involved in an accident, it's likely to get damaged. Since damage isn't always easy to spot visually, replace the helmet after any significant impact, even if everything "looks" okay. You should also replace any helmet after 5 years, even if it hasn't been involved in a crash, since pollution, UV light and weathering can weaken its component parts over time.

Other Essentials

Other things you may also want to consider, and which R&R Sports highly recommend you invest in are a basic repair kit. This should include as a minimum the following:

• A pump. These are small and easily attach to the frame of your bike.
• Tire levers.
• A spare tube or puncture repair kit (and know how to use! – if you are unsure pop in and ask any of our friendly staff. They are only to happy to assist)
• Seat pack to carry the tube and levers.