With the recent surge in popularity of cycling, many people are finding themselves wanting to buy a bike. Though not as intimidating as buying a diamond ring, a new car, or a house, there are still a lot of different choices to make when it comes to buying a bicycle, and the number of different options can seem daunting. We’ve compiled this guide to help make the process easier to determine which bike is right for you.
Size
Bike sizing can vary on the type of bike and what your height and sex is. Traditional road bikes are typically measured in centimeters, with most frames ranging in size from 49CM for people who are around five foot tall or shorter, up to 60CM for people who are six foot four or so. There are many charts online which show approximate road bike size as it corresponds to height, but everyone will be different based off the length of their torso and legs. Other bikes, such as hybrids or mountain bikes, may come in more simple “small,” “medium,” and “large” sizes, so be sure to check what the manufacturer recommends for various heights. Finally, many bike manufacturers make bikes that are specific for the anatomy of women, from women’s road bikes to special women’s hybrid bikes.
Road Bikes
Road bikes are made to go as quickly as possible on flat surfaces. They typically have “rim brakes” which put pads on the outside rim of the wheel to stop the bike. Most use integrated brake and shifter levers (“brifters”), and can easily reach speeds of 25 miles an hour on a flat surface, or more going down a hill. Road bikes can be fitted to a variety of seating positions, but they tend to be the most aggressive of all bikes, with the rider bending over quite a bit to achieve good aerodynamics. They are also the bikes most commonly used in professional cycling, across Europe, America, and Australia. If you want to go fast and you don’t have to deal with trails, dirt, or lots of potholes, a road bike is for you.
Hybrid Bikes
Hybrid bikes are just that — a hybrid between an off-road bike and an on-road bike. Many hybrid bikes today now also offer electric assist, or are otherwise referred to as “e-bikes.” Hybrid bikes and e-bikes tend to have a more forgiving seating position than a road bike, similar to the sitting position of a mountain bike. However, they have tires which tend to be wider and thicker than road bikes, but offer a smooth surface, unlike the knobby surface of a mountain bike tire. Some hybrids will use rim brakes or linear pull brakes, but many of the e-bike models in particular will use a disc brake, which somewhat mimics the braking action of a car, with a separate braking disc. Hybrid bikes can be found in all price ranges, from off the shelf at Wal-Mart for a couple hundred dollars, up to many thousands for the most fully-featured e-bikes.
Mountain Bikes
Mountain bikes are made to conquer the off-road. There are many different kinds of mountain bikes, including so-called hard-tail bikes, full-suspension bikes, fixed frame bikes, to name a few. Most mountain bikes these days are sold with 27.5 inch wheels, but some still prefer so-called “29’ers”, which are bikes with 29 inch wheels, that tend to roll over things better. Full suspension bikes have a front and rear shock to help absorb bumps, while “hard-tails” have a shock in just the front. Suspension “travel” on some bikes can allow for up to six or seven inches of movement! If you buy a used mountain bike, you may still be able to find a traditional 26-inch wheel, which was the traditional size for mountain bikes.
In Conclusion
There are many different kinds of bikes to choose from when making your purchase. This guide has attempted to point you in the right direction, but is not nearly exhaustive. There are still other kinds of specialized bikes for enthusiasts, such as gravel bikes, which are a more specific blend of road and mountain bikes, and BMX bikes, which are smaller bikes made for skateboard style tricks. Whether you choose to buy a bike at your local bike shop or shop online, be sure to look for a good return policy, in case the choice you make doesn’t work out or fit you.