What type of cycle to buy

They tend to have the same fast-rolling c wheels as road and hybrid bikes, but with fatter tyres that allow you to take on a mixture of terrain in comfort.

The more relaxed riding position and more stable geometry of a touring bike mean that you can take on almost anything, whether it be a mountain pass when fully loaded with supplies or a quick spin to work.

Gravel bikes combine road bike looks and speed with loads of frame clearance for fitting fat, knobbly tyres that can sometimes be 35mm-wide or more to get you across almost any terrain, including terrible tarmac, gloopy mud, bridleways, gravel paths and more.

You can find adventure bikes made from steel, aluminium, carbon and titanium, and at a range of prices from the affordable to the aspirational. Adventure bikes that take luggage typically frame bags, saddle bags and bar bags are used for bikepacking, which is essentially touring, but with perceived better fashion sense and hashtags. Interested in a gravel bike? Our list of the best gravel bikes will help you find the perfect one for your needs.

Cyclocross bikes are similar in concept to the bikes listed above, but are designed for the racing discipline of cyclocross. Their geometry is typically more aggressive than that of gravel and adventure bikes, making them a less attractive proposition for longer days in the saddle. Our list of the best cyclocross bikes compiles all top-scoring cyclocross bikes from recent tests.

This is what makes them popular with cycle couriers, who also like their reliability — a legal-minimum fixie with just a front brake has almost nothing on it to go wrong.

Want to know more? Typical town bikes have chainguards and flat pedals, so you can hop aboard in your regular clothes. They shrug off potholed streets, while an upright riding position gives you a commanding view of traffic. Pros: Great looks, relaxed riding position, practical, ideal for wearing normal clothes, normally very durable. Laws vary from country to country and, in the US, can vary from state to state.

However, in the UK apart from Northern Ireland electric bikes limited to More powerful ebikes some with motorcycle-style throttles are also available, but in some countries, including the UK, these are classed as mopeds or motorbikes and therefore need to conform to the same rules insurance, helmets and so forth. Most ebikes are designed to be comfortable and easy to live with thanks to flat bars, mudguards and luggage capacity. However, as the technology develops, both prices and weights are coming down — some models even look remarkably like unassisted bikes.

The world of electric mountain bikes — also known as eMTBs — is also a rapidly expanding one, allowing riders who might have needed to swear off their dirt riding activities to keep enjoying the countryside for longer than they might have imagined. You probably know the difference between a mountain bike and a cruiser pictured above , but there are a few types in between. Relax and be free from anxiety Take back good sleep and help alleviate pain.

This infographic also does an excellent job of breaking down the different bike types for beginners. Of course, there are all sorts of additional, specific types of bikes: tandem bikes, BMX bikes, fixed-gear bikes. But for us beginners, these four are a good place to start. I wanted a good transportation bike, but maybe even one I could take on nearby trails, so the salesman suggested a hybrid. It goes without saying that bikes can be expensive.

Those prices range quite a bit, though, from a hundred bucks to several thousand depending on what you buy. You can also find decent, affordable bikes second-hand. Bicycle Blue Book can help you figure out what kind of used bike you can get for your price point. Not only did I look ridiculous, it was also uncomfortable. It was tough to find an adult bike, though, because most of them were really big and tough for me to maneuver.

Your ideal frame size is based on the type of bike you choose, your height and your inseam the measurement from your crotch to the ground. Here are some frame sizing charts that can help you pick the right bike frame based on all of these factors. Or, even better, use this calculator to determine your bicycle frame size.

You can at least get a rough estimate by standing over the bike frame and measuring roughly how many inches come between the bike and your crotch, as Bicycle-and-Bikes demonstrates in the above video. They usually have the ability to mount cargo racks and fenders, which make them good commuter bikes. Some commuters prefer track bikes, however, due to their simple design, which makes them easy to maintain. They have a single gear that does not provide the ability to coast, so if the bike is moving, your feet must be pedaling.

For even more simplicity, some riders prefer to not have brakes, since the fixed-gear mechanism can act as a brake. Most track bikes have drop handlebars, but some riders outfit theirs with flat or upright handlebars.

Mountain Bicycles are design for riding rough off-road trails. They have flat or upright handlebars, and a very low gear range for pedaling up steep trails. Most mountain bikes have some type of shock absorbers or suspension. Mountain bikes with front suspension only are called hardtails ; mountain bikes with both front and rear suspension are called full-suspension bikes or duallies.

Mountain bikes with no suspension are called rigid. Mountain bikes can be outfitted for use as touring or commuting bikes, although they would not be as light or efficient as traditional touring or commuting bikes. Fat bikes , with their extremely wide tires, are included in the mountain bike category. Hybrid Bicycles were originally conceived to provide the advantages of both road bikes and mountain bikes. Their large, padded seats and upright handlebars provide a comfortable riding position, and are best for casual riding around the neighborhood or bike paths, short-distance commuting, and errands around town.

They can be ridden on paved roads, but are not as lightweight or efficient as road bikes. They are ideal for paved or unpaved bike trails, but are not appropriate for rough off-road mountain bike trails. The tires are usually a medium-width with a semi-smooth tread, to provide a fairly smooth ride on pavement, but enough grip and cushion on unpaved trails.

Most hybrid bikes have front suspension to smooth out small bumps, but some are fully rigid. Hybrid bikes used to also be referred to as cross bikes , but that term is not used any more in order to avoid confusion with cyclocross bikes see above. 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.

They have a flat or upright handlebar, although not as upright as regular hybrid bikes; they usually have a smaller, more performance-oriented seat, rather than a large comfort seat. Most have front suspension. Dual-sport bikes make good commuter bikes, and are also good for touring on unpaved trails. Cruiser Bicycles are similar to hybrid bikes, in that they are designed for casual riding, and have a very comfortable, upright riding position, and a large, comfortable seat.

Cruisers usually have wide "balloon" tires, and handlebars that are even more upright, and in some cases, swept back compared to hybrid bikes. Most cruiser bikes are single-speed or 3-speed, and have the old-fashioned coaster brake where you pedal backwards to stop. They can be used for short-distance commuting and errands, as long as your route is fairly flat. Some cruiser bike manufacturers make a wide array of colorful models available, to suit the fashion tastes of any bike afficionado.

Flat-Foot Comfort Bicycles are a sub-category of cruiser bikes. They have an elongated frame design that pushes the pedals a few inches forward of the seat. 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.