FAMILY OF
BIKE
Designed for high-speed travel on paved surfaces, road bikes feature narrow tires, a short wheelbase, and a lightweight frame. They’re not designed to be ridden on rugged, unpaved surfaces—hence the name “road” bike. It’s particularly important to make sure your road bike is fit properly, as a poor fit can lead to discomfort and pain. Road bikes can be fitted with cargo racks, lighting systems, and fenders for commuting or touring.
Race bike handlebars typically come in one of two styles. Drop-bar handlebars give you many options for hand positioning, which can really make longer rides more enjoyable and less fatiguing. They allow you to change positions, not just of your hands but of your entire upper body. They also provide an aerodynamic position that decreases wind resistance, allowing you to go faster with less energy expended. However, the more streamlined riding position may put a strain on your back. Flat-bar handlebars can offer a more upright position, which for commuting or shorter distance recreational riding might be more appropriate.
A cross between road bikes and mountain bikes, hybrids offer a nice blend of comfort, speed, and durability. Good for short trips on paved roads— they make an excellent choice for commuting to work, exploring your city, or taking a leisurely ride through your local park. Hybrids offer the upright handlebar position that many people favor, and many come with suspension forks for an even smoother ride.
They feature slimmer frames than mountain bikes, but are typically sturdier than road bikes. Hybrids also have narrower tires than mountain bikes, allowing them to travel faster on paved roads. However, they are generally not as fast as road bikes, and they lack the gear range of most mountain bikes.
Mountain bikes are typically ridden on mountain trails, fire roads, logging roads, and other unpaved environments. These types of terrain commonly include rocks, washouts, ruts, loose sand, loose gravel, roots, and steep grades (both inclines and declines). Mountain bikes are built to handle this terrain and the obstacles that are found in it like logs, vertical drop offs, and smaller boulders.
Downhill bikes are designed specifically for traversing downhill sections of trail, as their name suggests. This sport involves a lot of technical skill and is often centered around racing; the ability of the rider allows him to push higher speeds on downhill sections. Downhill bikes are built to withstand a lot of punishment, with heavy-duty rims that won’t lose true under the stress of drop-offs and errant boulders.
If you’re looking to travel long distances and carry extra clothing and gear, consider a touring bike. Built for sustained comfort on the open road, these bikes feature sturdier components, a smoother ride, and lower gears than the average road bike. The lower gears make it possible to pedal heavy loads up steep inclines. Touring bikes have drop-bar handlebars, but they typically put you in a more upright position than road bikes. Touring bikes also include mounts for racks and fender attachments. Ideal bike for long distances over road and mild off road conditions.
Great for commuters who don’t want to arrive to work sweaty and out of breath, electric assist bikes feature battery-powered motors to help make climbing hills and travelling long distances a little easier. You can adjust the amount of assistance you receive from the motor—built-in sensors monitor how much pressure you’re putting on the pedals and apply battery power accordingly. These bikes are heavier than most bikes, making them a little harder to ride when the motor is turned off.
Fixed-gear bikes, or fixies, lack the freewheel mechanism that allows riders to coast. They have only one gear. Traditionally associated with track cycling, fixed-gear bikes have gained popularity with urban biking enthusiasts for their light weight, low maintenance, and simple riding style.
BMX bikes are made for competition biking on trails and courses. These single-gear bikes feature a lower profile than most bikes and include knobby tires with cable-operated caliper brakes on the front and rear. While they are great for street riding, dirt racing, and jumping ramps, the low seat position is generally uncomfortable for commuting over any distance. Drawing inspiration from motocross racing in the early 1970s, the term “BMX� is now used to encompass BMX race bikes, frestyle bike for tricks and stunts and dirt jumpers, a fusion of BMX bikes and freestyle bikes. Key to their design are knobby tires, smaller frames and upright handlebars.
Designed to emphasize comfort and ease of handling, comfort bikes provide an excellent option for riding around flat neighborhoods and bike paths. Rider positioned upright for good visability and to be seen by motorists. Most come with ergonomic seats that put the rider in a relaxed, upright sitting position. Many comfort bikes have large tires, allowing riders to traverse gravel and dirt roads, as well as pavement. Some styles also feature bigger wheels and front suspension forks for an extra-smooth ride.
The comfort bike is a more comfortable variation of a mountain bike. These bikes are built mainly for leisurely, recreational riding and short distance jaunts on bike paths or paved roads with flat terrain. They can be used for easy dirt trails but are best for errands, rides around town or family outings.
Designed with urban streets in mind, commuter bikes feature sturdy frames and an upright riding position that lets you make better eye contact with motorists. Many include racks, lighting systems, and fenders. Commuting especially lends itself to areas with relatively flat terrain and arrangements to keep riders relatively safe from the hazards of accidents with motorized traffic, e.g. separated bicycle lanes and a general acceptance of cyclists as traffic participants.
Bicycle features that enhance commuting include racks or panniers for storage, battery or dynamo-powered lights for increased visibility, mudguards or fenders to minimize the impact of inclement weather, a chain guard to protect clothing, and an upright sitting position for increased visibility.
Designed for uneven terrain and the surprises the countryside may hold. Cyclocross racing involves taking laps around a course that includes a variety of surface types such as pavement, dirt, gravel, and grass. Along the way, riders must dismount and carry their bikes around obstacles in the course. Cyclocross bikes are relatively lightweight, yet tough enough to handle extreme conditions. They feature knobby tires that can provide traction in various types of terrain.
Perfect for hauling groceries, camping gear, and other items—utility and cargo bikes feature a sturdy, elongated frame with heavy-duty storage racks over the rear tires. A variety of accessories can be hooked onto the rear rack, such as baskets, child seats, and panniers to hold your gear. The upright seating position gives you a good view of the road, the rims have extra spokes for additional strength, and the wider tires offer a more stable ride.
Recumbent bikes place you in a reclined position with the pedals forward. Some find these bikes to be more comfortable than their upright counterparts, as the natural position requires less flexibility and your weight is more evenly distributed across both the back and buttocks. They can be fitted with windshields to handle headwinds and improve aerodynamic performance.
Tandem bikes feature an extra seat and a second set of pedals, allowing two people to ride together. These bikes offer a fun way for families and couples to get around—especially when one rider is weaker than the other. Designed to be ridden by more than one person, the term “tandem� refers to the seating arrangement (front to back, not side by side), not the number of rides. there are even tandem bikes for 10 riders
When you’re traveling and storage space is limited, folding bikes make an excellent option. These lightweight yet sturdy bikes fold up for easy storage on planes, trains, and automobiles. Folding bikes also make a good choice for commuters with limited storage space at home or in the office.
Folding mechanisms vary, with each offering a distinct combination of folding speed, folding ease, compactness, ride, weight, durability and price. Distinguished by the complexities of their folding mechanism, more demanding structural requirements, greater number of parts, and more specialized market appeal, folding bikes may be more expensive than comparable non-folding models. The choice of model, apart from cost considerations, is a matter of resolving the various practical requirements: a quick easy fold, compact folded size, or a faster but less compact model.
If you’re looking for a comfortable bike with a classic look, consider a cruiser. The bicycle standard from the 1930s through 1950s, cruisers feature wide tires and padded seats for a more comfortable riding experience. Curved, upright handlebars put the rider in a better position to view the world around them.
Cruisers typically have heavier frames, but some newer models use lightweight aluminum frames. The traditional cruiser has just one gear, but more modern cruisers come with three to seven speeds. Also called beach bikes or boulevardiers, these classic bikes work best on flat terrain.
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