Page 16 - Bike City Visitors Guide

Bike buying tips

By Peter Bourke,
Bicycle Industries Australia
uying a bike online is all very well if
Byou want to save money, but there’s
nothing like heading to a bike shop to
test ride a bike and get it fitted.
Road bikes
If you’re after a bike for on-road Some considerations before you rush out
fitness, long distance and to buy a new bike. Photo: Shutterstock
competitions a road bike is your Hybrid ticket. Easy to manoeuvre,
best option. Frames range in price Popular hybrid bikes offer a mix of lightweight, easy to maintain and
from light (and expensive) carbon mountain bike stylings with road bike reliable, a fixie is best for flat terrain
to aluminium. Brakes, gears and flexibility. They are a good option for as it has no gears and a fixed wheel.
tyres cost affect performance.
commuting and social riding. Cruiser bike
Cycle cross/gravel BMX bikes Fully equipped for comfort,
While it’s a combination of a road and Built for fun, BMX bikes are suitable including a comfy seat, relaxed
a mountain bike, the flat bar looks for all ages and all terrain. They handlebars and relaxed-shape
more like a road bike. It’s a good have a strong light frame and are frame, the cruiser is perfect for a
choice for commuting because of the designed for tricks and jumps. They leisurely ride.
comfortable seat and handlebars.
have great brakes, a single gear Folding bike
Mountain bikes and accessories. A folding bike is easy for
Getting the right forks (the bit that Touring bikes transportation and storage.
connects the wheel to the frame) Comfortable, reliable with lots of
are crucial for mountain biking with capacity for storing your sleeping e-bike
two types - coil/oil and air. Bikes that bag and good for travelling on most An electric bike, or e-bike, is a
have front and rear shocks are terrains. bicycle equipped with an electric
called full-suspension or dual motor to assist you when you’re
suspension. There are the Cross Fixed or single speed bike pedalling. The motor will get its
Country (XC), Downhill (DH), If you’re after a city bike, a fixie or power from a rechargeable battery
Freeride and Dirt Jump bikes. single speed might be just the mounted on the bike.

EXPLORE WOLLONGONG See and learn about Wollongong History

STEEL MAKING TOURS BLUE MILE HISTORYTOUR
Your ticket to the amazing spectacle of Enjoy a guided walking tour of the many
Wollongong’s operating steelworks! historical sites along this much-loved
Visit Port Kembla Steelworks where you will section of Wollongong’s coastline, including
See everything from monster machinery, Wollongong Harbour, the Forts (Flagstaff Hill
giant buildings, locomotives and huge and Smiths Hill), the Old Courthouse, the
stockpiles of raw materials Tramway, the Pools and Northbeach.
Along the way our experienced guides relay
Visit the colossal Basic Oxygen the stories of the foreshore – including its
Steelmaking (BOS) plant and the Indigenous history, sea bathing, coal, salt
continuous slab caster to get the best making, trading and the start of industry in
vantage point of steel production – a truly Wollongong.
unique and sensory experience.
Duration: 2.5 - 3 hours with a
Duration: 3 hours 30-min refreshment break.
Prices: Adult: $42 | Senior/Concession/Student: $33 Prices: Adult: $25 | Senior/Concession/Student: $18
Family (2 x Adults & 2 x Students): $130 Children (5-12 years): $12 Family (2 x Adults & 2 x Children): $60
* Tour Participants must be 10 years or older * Children under 5yrs free of charge
AW7258094
Book online at insideindustry.org.au use code UCI22 for a discount on your tour.

16 ILLAWARRA MERCURY VISITOR GUIDE