For example, if you're going to be riding mainly in the city you might not want a mountain bike. Likewise, a road racer might not be the best pick if you just want to ride to the shops on the weekend. For cycling newbies, we recommend an upright bike style. It's more comfortable and gives you more awareness on the road. While it's common to see riders with speedy drop-handlebar road bikes on the commute, they're not designed for stopping and starting. Their low riding position also makes it much harder to keep an eye on the traffic.
You will often see the label "hybrid bike" applied to the various types below. They are hybrids in the sense that they are part road bike and part cruiser, or part commuter and part casual.
But the hybrid term is used rather loosely and one store's hybrid might be another store's cruiser, or flat bar, or even a drop-handle road bike. Often come with accessories such as a rack, mud guards and lights. Similar to a drop-handlebar road bike, but with flat handlebars, these are suited to a longer, speedier commute.
Also sometimes called "urban" or "sit up and beg" bikes, these are good for relatively short, relaxed rides. These are good if you're commuting by train and only want to ride part of the way. See more in our folding bikes buying guide. These usually have shock absorbers and fatter tyres to handle off-road riding, from dirt tracks to hardcore downhill trails. However they can be quite good for casual and city riding too, and their robust design makes them good at handling bumps such as kerbs and potholes.
Some riders might prefer them to the usual urban bikes listed above. These are either pedal assist helps the rider pedal or throttle-powered no pedalling required. If you're likely to be slogging up hills or travelling longer distances this may be the option for you. This allows you to ride with the seat low enough so that you can place your feet flat on the ground when you are stopped, but you still get the full extension of your legs while pedaling.
All Electra Bicycle Company bikes have the flat-foot technology; some other manufacturers have created their own flat-foot designs. The term "city bike" doesn't really refer to a specific category of bikes; it's more of a general descriptive term. They might also be called "commuter" or "urban" bikes, although many of the bikes listed on this page can be used quite well for riding and commuting in a city. However, there is a certain type of bike that some people have in mind when they use the term "city bike.
A city bike might also have some or all of these features that make it more amenable to riding in regular clothes, as opposed to cycling-specific clothing:. A city bike might also have an internally-geared rear hub for ease of use and maintenance, and a built-in generator and lights for safety when riding after dark.
These bikes are also sometimes called "Dutch bikes," because of their resemblance to the everyday bikes used in Amsterdam and other bike-friendly European cities. BMX Bicycles are popular with kids because of their small size, but they are used by adults and kids alike for various styles of trick and stunt riding.
Folding Bicycles are ideal for those who need to travel with their bike, want a bike to keep on their boat or plane, or who live in small apartments and don't have a lot of storage space. They're also good for commuters who need to take their bike on a bus or train for part of their commute, or who don't have a safe place to park their bike at work.
Most folding bikes have smaller wheels, which makes the bike a little less efficient and trickier to handle than a standard bike, but most folding bike fans feel the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Recumbent Bicycles have a long, low design and a full-size seat with a backrest. Recumbents are available in two-wheel and three-wheel designs. Many recumbent riders feel that they are the most comfortable option available for bicycling.
However, they are more difficult to pedal up hills, and they can be a challenge to carry from one place to another in a motor vehicle. Tandem Bicycles are "bicycles built for two. Adult Trikes are ideal for older folks who still want to get around under their own power, or those with balance issues or other special needs.
Car Racks. Gift Cards. So Many Choices When trying to decide on the best type of bike, think about these questions: Who do you ride with? What do they ride? What have you had in the past that you liked? What have you had in the past that you disliked?
Where would you like to ride your new bike? Road Bikes Road bicycles are designed to be ridden fast on smooth pavement. Cyclocross Bikes Cyclocross bicycles are a special type of road bike designed to be raced on a mixed surface course combination of pavement, unpaved trails, gravel, grass. Touring Bikes Touring bicycles are another special type of road bike.
Fitness Bikes Fitness Bicycles have most of the advantages of regular road bikes--lightweight frames and relatively narrow tires for efficiency on pavement--with a flat or upright handlebar.
Mountain Bikes Mountain Bicycles are design for riding rough off-road trails. Hybrid Bikes Hybrid Bicycles were originally conceived to provide the advantages of both road bikes and mountain bikes. Dual-Sport Bikes Dual-Sport Bicycles are a sub-category of hybrid bikes oriented towards riders who want the multi-surface versatility of a hybrid bike, but want a little more aggressive style and riding position. Just after a simple city commuter? Then a hybrid or town bike could be the first thing to consider.
Are there some off-road sections on popular routes near you? Consider a mountain bike. These are the most common types of bike, and who they might be suitable for:. Slim tires and light frames make these bikes the fastest of the bunch, and suited to those looking for speed and riding on smooth roads.
Unless you opt for a specialist gravel bike with wider grippier tyres they're not suitable for any type of off-road riding. Their drop handlebars also give them an aggressive riding position, which won't be suitable for everyone. Mountain bikes have wider tyres with more tread, which makes them perfect for off-road riding on muddy trails, or gravelly paths.
They ride well on the roads too, but you'll have the most fun on a mountain bike when you get off the beaten track. Hybrid bikes are likely to be the most pragmatic option for many. They give you many of the benefits of a speedy road bike, as they have skinny tires and relatively light frames, which allow them to accelerate quickly with limited rolling resistance from the tyres.
But unlike road bikes they have raised, flat handlebars, which give you a more upright and comfortable riding position. Town bikes, also known as Dutch bikes, are all about comfort and practicality, with speed being a lesser priority. They are a good option if you don't need to go long distances and are just wanting to pick up bits and pieces around town.
You'll have a much more upright riding position with hardly any reach to the handlebars from an upright sitting position. They often have in-built luggage options, like panniers or baskets, for an easy way to stash your shopping. Folding bikes are perfect for commuters, or leisure riders that like to pop their bike in the car, drive to a local beauty spot, and cycle from there. They are designed to be light and fold down into a portable bundle. This does mean some compromises on comfort and wheel size, which means they are best suited to riding shorter distances.
Want or need a little more spring in your step nowadays? Or can't face the hill on your regular route? Then an electric bike could be the answer. They're expensive, and tend to be heavier than standard bikes.
But the motor will give you some extra oomph as you ride, and make steep inclines a breeze. If you're interested in an electric bike, check our full electric bike buying guide. We've also tested folding electric bikes - check our folding electric bike reviews to see which models we recommend. At this price point the bike will likely have a durable steel frame and basic components.
Paying more will usually get you lighter frames made of carbon or aluminum for increased speed and higher spec components.
Folding bikes and electric bikes can cost several thousand pounds. The government-backed cycle-to-work scheme can save you money when buying a bike. Your employer buys the bike for you to ride to work and then they hire it back to you through a salary sacrifice. At the end of the hire period you can buy the bike from your employer, typically for a nominal fee. Check with your employer to find out if they offer the scheme. Buying an over or undersized bike will make it hard to find a comfortable riding position.
The frame size will impact how far you need to reach for the handlebars, and whether you are over or under-extending your knees while pedalling. The frame size you need will depend on what type of bike you're buying. Most online retailers will have useful sizing charts that you can use to determine the right size for you, like this one from Halfords.
If you can physically visit a bike shop, then they can help you find the right sized frame and even help you set up the saddle to the correct height so that it fits you perfectly, although at the moment many stores are discouraging in-person visits where possible. The more you spend on a bike, the lighter it's likely to be. Keen cyclists can become obsessed by weight savings, spending thousands of pounds in some cases to save just a few grams.
An entry-level bike might well weigh three or four kilograms more than a top-end bike, but unless you're planning on entering into a professional peloton, you needn't be excessively worried about weight savings. It might be a little harder to get up a steep climb, and a little slower accelerating up to cruising speed, but if you ride mainly on the flat you will barely notice the difference in weight.
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