Why Investing in a High-Quality Bike Saves You Money

When it comes to buying a bike, many people are tempted to go for the cheapest option available. However, this is often a mistake, as low-quality bikes tend to need frequent repairs and replacements. In the long run, investing in a high-quality bike saves you money.

To illustrate this point, let's compare the cost of a low-quality bike from a department store with a high-quality bike from ReCycles Bikes. The department store bike might cost $200, but let's say it needs $100 worth of repairs in the first year and another $150 worth of repairs in the second year. That brings the total cost to $450 in just two years.

On the other hand, the high-quality bike from ReCycles Bikes might cost $350. However, it may not need any repairs for several years. In that case, the total cost of the high-quality bike would be $350, compared to $450 for the department store bike.

We see this reality unfold everyday in our service department. Major functional issues requiring costly repairs on department store bikes that are less than 6 months old, meanwhile the bikes we sell are not coming back in need of service.

Crazy, right? This example does not even take into account longevity. I’ve personally had my fair share of department store bikes growing up (Not going to name names, but you know where these bike came from) Ah’ the days of getting that new bike feeling once every 2 years once the old one fell apart. It’s fun when you are a kid, not so fun when you are footing the bill as an adult.

Quality brands such as Trek, Giant and Specialized will have long term performance with minimal maintenance. Imagine passing your bike down to your child once they are an adult. We have seen this in our service department time and time again. Our regulars for repairs have department store bikes, while people who purchase from us are back for service so seldom we sometimes forget their faces!

At ReCycles Bikes, we carefully vet all of the bikes we carry for quality brands and components, model year, and wear and tear. We only offer bikes that we would trust for our own family members, so you can be confident that you're getting a high-quality bike when you shop with us. Plus, we offer a comprehensive 30-day warranty on all of our bikes, so you can have peace of mind that your purchase is protected.

So, as you can see, investing in a high-quality bike from a reputable shop saves you money in the long run. Not only will you avoid the cost and hassle of frequent repairs, but you'll also enjoy a better riding experience on a bike that's built to last.

Don't be tempted by low prices – invest in a high-quality bike and enjoy the benefits for years to come.

Getting the Perfect Bicycle Fit

What goes into a well fitted bike?

The tailoring of any bike is an important first step to enjoying your ride. Many are surprised to discover just how customizable modern bikes are. While a certain frame size may be appropriate for a 3”-4” range of riders heights, other adjustments are specific to each individual. All contact points (saddle, handlebars and grips) can be adjusted for personal preference. Bicycle purchases from ReCycles Bikes come with a complementary comfort fitting. So what does this include, specifically?

Matching Proper Frame Size

The first step when getting a bike fitted is frame size. We include specific frame sizes in inches for all our bikes. No guesswork with the “Small, Medium, Large” method that many manufactures use. We find this a little too general, plus there is not always consistency between manufactures. We measure every bike from the center of the bottom bracket up to the seat collar, include this measurement front and center with each listing, and provide a Frame Size Guide to ensure you are only browsing appropriately sized bikes.

Leg Extension

Once you have the right frame size, the fine tuning begins. This starts with your saddle height, which is adjusted by pulling the quick release on your seatpost collar, or loosening the allen bolt if you do not have a quick release. Your saddle height should be such that, when sitting stationary on the seat, your toes are what support your balance. Your heals should hover 2 inches or more off the ground.

When you are riding, your legs should be just about straight at the bottom of your pedal stroke. Not so straight that your knee is locked out, but pretty close.

Balance

For some who are new to cycling and haven’t quite achieved balance in mounting/dismounting, it may feel better to have your saddle lower so that you are closer to flat footed when sitting stationary. This can be okay in the short term while you get accustomed to riding, however, your knees are likely coming up high at the top of your pedal stroke, which equals out to not only more strain on your knees, but a significant loss in pedaling efficiency.

Upper Body angle

Now that we’ve optimized your leg extension, its time to get your upper body in check. This is done by adjusting the space between you and your handlebars. The first way to adjust this is again with your saddle. This time, we adjust the saddle position forward or backward on the support rails under the seat. Not only does this move you closer to/further from the bars, it also adjusts whether your hips are closer to directly over the cranks or not, which plays a role in comfort and pedaling efficiency.

Headset Adjustments

The final stage of a comfort fitting is adjusting your hand position. Most stems have some adjustability for rising or lowering the handlebars, and rotating the bar back or forward on the stem can change your grip angle. Bikes with fully adjustable stems can offer a wide range of possibilities without changing out any components, however there is always the option of adding stem risers or swapping out handlebars entirely. (Please not that while all of our bikes come with a custom fitting, adding stem risers or swapping handlebars would be subject to regular shop service fees.)

A custom comfort fitting is complementary with every bike purchased at ReCycles. The process takes just 5-10 minutes

ReCycles Bikes

125 South Carroll Street Frederick Maryland

301-606-8613

Keep Your Ride Smooth and Fun

Bike maintenance 101

Unlike cars, bicycles are relatively simple and inexpensive to maintain. All you need is to check off a few things on regular intervals. This guide provides that checklist. As the saying goes, an once of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Before each ride

Tire Pressure-Just like with your vehicle, tires naturally lose pressure over time. Low pressure increases rolling resistance and wears down tread faster. In addition to being a less enjoyable ride, this can also pose a safety issue. Tires with low pressure are prone to pinch flats or issues cornering turns. Recommended PSI for your bike with be stamped along the sidewall of the tire. A good Floor Pump with a gauge is a must have at home.

Once a month

Chain Lubrication- Lubricant plays an important roll in wear and tear on your drivetrain (your chain and gears). Cleaning and re-lubing your chain significantly increases the longevity of your bike and also makes for a quieter ride. Simply wrap a damp cloth around the chain and rotate the pedals backwards 5-10 times with your other hand. Then apply a dropper lubricant such as Finish Line Dry Lube directly onto the chain, again while turning the pedals backwards 5-10 revolutions with your other hand.

For casual riders, once a month during season is a good interval for this maintenance. For more serious cyclists, clean and lube your chain once every 300-400 miles.

Every 1500 Miles

This may seem like a huge distance, but if you ride 30 miles a week (1 casual ride, 2 commutes to work and a trip to the grocery store), you’ll cover this distance in one year. If you want your ride to last for years to come, the following maintenance is a must.

Chain replacement and professional tuning- Most bicycle chains will stretch out enough to be in need of replacement every 1500-1800 miles, if chains are not replaced they will begin to cause havoc on your drivetrain, wearing down the teeth on your cassette and front chainrings.

In addition to this, it would be a good time to inspect brake pads, cable stretch and spoke tension after this mileage, as it’s likely some level of tuning/replacement will be necessary.

Every 5-10 Years

After this interval, your bike will likely be in need of a higher level tune-up. While basic tune up packages cover adjustments for gears, brakes, rims and cleaning, Higher lever tune ups address dried out bearings in need of adjustment/regreasing. After 5-10 years of use, it’s highly likely your bike is not rolling as efficiently as it used to due to these issues.

Been too long since your last maintenance? Check out our Service Department