213 – Buying a Bicycle
I went to the bike shop on Saturday morning to buy a bicycle.
Clerk: What kind of bike are you looking for?
Lance: I’m really not sure.
Clerk: Well, let me show you what we have. We carry road bikes, mountain bikes, beach cruisers, and racing bikes.
Lance: I’m going to start biking to work. I’ll be riding mainly on the road, but I want something versatile enough for anything.
Clerk: Well, the road bikes are for everyday use. They have heavy frames and tires. The seats are comfortable and so are the handlebars. The mountain bikes are very sturdy for off-road cycling and have wider tires. Beach cruisers have just one speed, so you won’t be shifting any gears.
Lance: Okay. Are the brakes hard to handle?
Clerk: No. You either have foot brakes, like on the beach cruisers, or you have hand brakes. They’re very easy to get used to. If you want to keep it simple, I would either go for a road bike or a mountain bike. Those are the most popular.
Lance: If I get a bike, what other things do I need?
Clerk: I usually recommend an air pump, a bike lock, and a helmet.
Lance: Okay, I’ll take a look around.
Clerk: Sure. Just let me know if you have other questions.