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I have always loved riding bike, always roaming the neighborhood as a kid. Really not that much difference now. Bicycle riding is a great way to spend time with the family and to get exercise. I actually like reading alone almost like meditation, you are working hard, breathing and sweating. I like to end up at a peaceful destination, like the lake or a park. I can sit quietly for a few minutes and rest before I return home.

Here are five helpful tips for choosing the perfect bike for you.

Once you learn how to choose a bike, buying subsequent bikes is a piece of cake. You can’t just see a bike that is shiny and new and say that it is for you. Most important of all is the fact that the shiny bike will stay in the garage until it tarnishes if you don’t like how it handles.

1. Where will you be riding your bike? This question gets the ball rolling. There are bike shops, fitness stores and department stores carrying bikes but just a few main types of bikes: mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, cruising bikes and road bikes. How often you will ride and the route that you choose determines the best type of bicycle for you.

2. How tall are you? This factor is important because a short person doesn’t want to have a bike that will cause them to hit the crossbar every time they try to stop the bike. Ouch! A bike that is the wrong size for you can mean cramped legs and sore knees or stretched muscles. For the answer to this question, you’ll actually have to sit on a bike or at least stand next to one.

3. Ride a bike. Don’t let the first bike you ride be the one you purchase from the store. Ask a friend for their bike to “test drive” in advance.

4. Buy the best bike you can the first time. In a recession especially, people have the tendency to stay on the cheap side. Listen; there are some things that don’t pair well with “cheap.” A bike and a car fall into that category. You will be riding this bike alone or with a carrier for your child. You want to know that you can depend on your bike to keep you safe while you ride. You don’t have to spend 300 bucks but get the features you need for the best price.

5. Visit a bike shop for advice. When you want to know something you go to the experts. Those who sell bikes for a living know about bikes. Go here first to get sized for a bike, learn the type of bike you need and find out all the nuances of bike riding. You might decide not to buy a bike from a specialty shop because of the price but you will now be armed with the knowledge to choose a bike from another store without being taken for a ride.

There is more to bike riding than just riding. That’s the easy part. Choose your bike wisely to get the best for your money.