Purchasing a bike can be a wise investment for both your health, wallet and the environment. While burning calories, a rider saves money on gasoline and reduces their carbon footprint. However, deciding on buying a bike is the easy step. Here are a few things you need to know before putting your money down on two wheels.

Find out what kind of bike you want to buy

There are many kinds to choose from but most will like under the following 3 categories; a mountain bike, a utility bike or a racing bike.

To figure out the answer to this question, ask yourself where you plan to ride, how long you will ride, do you plan to ride by yourself or with a group, how athletic you plan on being and what size is appropriate.

If you plan to do most of your riding for fitness on dirt paths, a mountain bike would be a good option.

If you are looking to get into triathlons or other races like the Pan Mass Challenge, a racing bike would be a better suit.

If you want a bike to commute or run errands, a utility is the way to go.

Most professional bike shops like The Cycle Loft in Burlington, Massachusetts will have staff that will help you go through the decision making process. They will also be able to better customize your needs as most riders are not as cookie cutter as discussed above.

Once you have chosen a bike, the fitting process usually can take up 3 hours. The Cycle Loft includes this in their services if you buy a bike from their store, but if you decide to pick one up off Craigslist, be prepared to pay up for their worthwhile helpful fine tuning to get the right fit.

The racing bikes are going to be the most expensive, with the utility at the lower end. The lowest priced bike is going to be around $200-400. Buying on Craigslist may be cheaper, but a bike not fit to your body can be torturous.

For more tips on finding the right bike, watch this video featuring VP and GM Anthony Laskaris of The Cycle Loft in Burlington, MA.