Choosing the Right Bike for You

What Kind of Bike Should I Get?

• Recreational Rider I like to ride on the weekend – when the weather is nice. I care more about style and comfort than speed and technology.
  I like to ride on the weekend – when the weather is nice. I care more about style and comfort than speed and technology.

  Consider a beach cruiser or 'comfort' bike. They are typically single speeds, but may have up to seven (7) speeds.

  The Good
  

  • Simple, basic and inexpensive transportation
  • Fat tires deliver a plush ride and can even tackle the dunes

  The Bad

  • Really heavy. Really s-l-o-w
  • Those back-swept handlebar look cool, but severely compromise handling.
  • Not appropriate for commuting or hilly locales.

  Bottom Line
  These bikes have a laid-back vibe, which is great if your destination is Margaritaville. If looking cute is a priority, this might be your bike.

  But if you need to be somewhere – anywhere – in a hurry, look elsewhere.

• Practical Pedaler I need a bike to get around town for work, school and to run errands.
  I need a bike to get around town for work, school and to run errands.

  Consider a commuter or 'hybrid.' They typically have 21 or 24 speeds and flat or riser handlebars. That combination makes them both capable and comfortable.

  The Good
  

  • Can be fitted with a luggage rack and saddlebags (panniers) so you don't have to carry your bag or groceries on your back.
  • The better bikes feature a lightweight aluminum frame. They're easy to handle in traffic – and carry up and down stairs.
  • The multi-speed drivetrain means you can easily climb hills and cross bridges, while maintaining a purposeful pace.

  The Bad
  These bikes vary widely (and wildly) in price and the quality of their components.

  • Low end models have steel frames, which makes the bike heavy and slow. When it doubt, pick it up
  • AVOID a commuter with 26" wheels. Late for work is not a good look; find a bike with 700C wheels.
  • AVOID a hybrid with a front suspension. While it works as intended, they make the bike significantly heavier and compromise handling when you need it most.
  • AVOID a commuter with cantilever calipers (V-brakes). They do not work especially well and are a PITA to adjust. Look for one with quality side-pull brakes (quite nice). Disc brakes are better still (almost too good) albeit at a price.

  Bottom Line
  The challenge with this segment of the market is to find the sweet spot (for you) in terms of components, quality and price.

• Trail Rider I like to ride where the pavement ends ...
  I like to ride where the pavement ends ...

  Consider a mountain or gravel bike. These bikes are designed for unpaved surfaces: dirt roads, rail trails or goat trails.

  They come in essentially four flavors:

  • No suspension
  • Front suspension
  • Full suspension
  • Gravel bikes

  While mountain bikes have been around for a while, modern editions differ significantly from earlier models:

  • Modern mountain bikes have 29er tires as compared to old school 26" rubber.
  • They are geared very low, the better to climb steep hiking trails.
  • They are outfitted with disc brakes for two reasons: (a) better stopping power and (b) braking is not compromised if the wheel rim gets bent.
  • Suspension systems (shock absorbers) allow for a more aggressive approach to challenging terrain.

  Mountain bikes have knobby tires for better traction on loose and rough surfaces. This tire design also flings mud out of the tread, so it doesn't cake and compromise grip.

  The Good *

  • Modern mountain bikes represent a significant leap forward in off-road cycling
  • These bikes can handle just about anything you throw at them. Steep climbs, fallen logs and irregular surfaces are no sweat.
  • Suspension systems smooth out the bumpy bits.

  The Bad *

  • All that suspension hardware adds considerably to weight.
  • Mountain bikers spend a lot of time riding standing up. Comfort is not really a thing; this is hiking at 8-10 mph.
  • These bikes are capable, but not fast.

  Bottom Line
  These bike shine off-road, but their virtues become handicaps on the street. Yes, these bikes laugh at potholes. On the other hand, low gearing (great for climbing steep trails) is slow gearing. Those knobby tires are noisy and less than nimble on asphalt.

  * A Note about Gravel Bikes

  

  These faults and virtues generally do not apply to gravel bikes. They are essentially road bikes adapted for off-road use.

  • They have a sturdy steel frames built to take some punishment.
  • They feature fatter, knobby tires and higher ground clearance compared to street bikes. (The better to negotiate rough roads and climb over obstacles)
  • They also have a drivetrain that can handle steep climbs and propel you at a spirited pace

  If your commute includes unpaved roads ("road" being the operative word), a gravel bike might be a very good choice.

• Speed Demon I feel the need – the need for speed!
  I feel the need; the need for speed!

  Consider a road bike. You animal.

  The name 'road' bike may be a little misleading. Most bikes are intended for the street. Road bikes are designed for the open road, e.g., the Tour de France.

  Those folks whizzing around the park in spandex? Those are road bikes.

  The Good
  Road bikes represent the bleeding edge of bicycle technology:

  • Super light carbon fiber frames and components (handlebars, seatposts, wheels, etc.) are de rigeur. How light? Think solid air.
  • Disc brakes are now standard
  • Some have up to 30 (!) speeds. At the very high end, an electronic drivetrain does the shifting

  The Bad

  • Road bikes are built for speed, not comfort.
  • All that tech does not come cheap: prices start at $1000. Do you have $10,000 burning a hole in your pocket? Have I got a bike for you!
  • That $10K bike? It's um, fragile. Carbon fiber is very, very light and strong for its weight, but not nearly as sturdy as steel, CroMo or even aluminum. And when carbon fails, it fails catastrophically
  • And forget locking it up. A quality U-lock weighs more than the bike.

  Bottom Line
  If money is no object and only the best will do, there's a road bike out there with your name on it.

  Of course, you can still find late model examples that would not require a second mortgage. With lightweight if less exotic frames (aluminum, titanium) and quality components, it will still get the job done.

• Metropolitan Minimalist I want a bike that's stripped down to the bare essentials. And looks cool.
  I want a bike that's stripped down to the bare essentials. And looks cool.

  Consider a single-speed or fixie (fixed gear) bike.

  Single speed bikes have only one "gear" – you cannot shift. So when the going gets tough, the only choice you have is to pedal harder.

  A fixie is a single speed bike where the cog (the gear in the back) is "fixed" relative to the rear wheel. When the wheels are turning, the pedals are turning.

  • If you pedal fast, you go fast.
  • If you pedal slow, you go slow.
  • If you pedal backwards, you go backwards.
  • If you stop pedaling, you stop.

  You cannot coast or glide. Ever. And that's a good thing.

  * Most fixies have a "flip-flop" hub, meaning they can be ridden either freewheel or fixed. Freewheel means that you can pedal and pause (i.e., glide or coast).

  The Good
  Single speed and fixed gear bikes combine the simplicity of a beach cruiser with the light weight of a road bike, albeit with a steel, aluminum or Chromium Molybdenum (CrMo) frame.

  • Fixed gear bikes offer extraordinary speed control. This is especially useful in the urban environment.
  • While you cannot coast on a fixie, at a certain point the bike's own momentum provides inertial boost (like a turbo). The faster you go, the easier it is to pedal.
  • Being able to stand motionless in the pedals and the ability to ride backward comes in handy.
  • Builds strength and stamina

  The Bad
  

  • One gear means you have a one choice: You can have a bike that's easy to pedal or one that's fast. But not both.
  • Requires regular maintenance to maintain chain tension
  • Worn chainring, cog and overstretched chain need to be replaced on a regular basis
  • Requires strength and stamina.

  Bottom Line
  Single speed bikes offer simplicity, but at a price in terms of rider effort.

  Fixies are an acquired taste. They have significant advantages and disadvantages compared to other bikes. If you live and ride somewhere flat, there are clear benefits. It's a Nitzschean bargain otherwise.

Learn more about what distinguishes one bike from another – and how that might impact your purchase decision – on the following pages ...