The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Type of Bike for You
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Loading... - Regina Aguirre
- 20 Jul 2022
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There’s nothing better and more exciting than buying a new bike—and now is the perfect time to do so. With advances in technology and designers creating bikes with every kind of cyclist in mind, bikes have become more functional, reliable, and even more fun to ride. That’s partly because the variety has bloomed from a few basic styles (e.g. road, mountain, city) to now include all manner of niches and categories-within-categories, as bike makers diversify their offerings to appeal to the many ways that people enjoy riding.
But that profusion of options presents you, the eager buyer, with a challenge: How do you know which type of bike is right for you and the riding you’ll do? Well, that’s what this guide is for.
What are the different types of bikes to choose from?
Road Bikes
Lightweight, efficient bikes with drop handlebars and narrow tires, for recreational riding mostly (but not exclusively) on paved surfaces. Styles include aero, ultralight, endurance, touring, and all-road.
Gravel/Adventure Bikes
Drop-bar bikes with clearance for multiple tire sizes for a range of riding experiences on- and off-road. Styles include gravel, bikepacking, and cyclocross.
Mountain Bikes
Rugged machines with flat handlebars and wide, knobby tires for riding narrow dirt trails. Styles include hardtail, full-suspension cross-country, full-suspension trail, and full-suspension enduro.
E-Bikes
Electronic bicycles can be bikes from almost any of the other categories covered here and, designed with a small, lightweight electric motor to assist the rider. Styles include commuter, cargo, mountain, and road.
Utility Bikes
Bikes designed for practical cycling while commuting or running errands, including tasks that involve carrying family members or cargo. Styles include commuter, fixie, folding, and cargo.
Comfort/Fitness Bikes
Everything from beach cruisers to flat-bar bikes for weekend spins on multi-use paths. Styles include hybrid, fitness, comfort, and cruiser.
Fat Bikes
These head-turning bikes feature 3.8-inch wide or wider tires for flotation and traction, often for use in sand, snow, or on the trail. Styles include mountain (hardtail and full suspension) and cruiser.
Triathlon Bikes
Road-style bikes built to optimize aerodynamics a with wing-shaped frame, wheel cross-sections, and aggressive rider positions.
Tandem Bikes
Tandems are bicycles built for two (or more) riders, and thus are often built with reinforced frames and components to handle the extra weight. The rider in front is called the pilot; the rear is referred to as the stoker. Tandem bikes come in several styles, including road, mountain, and cruiser, but road is the most common. Read More...
