What Type of Bicycle Is Right for me?

With over 5 billion bicycles in use around the world, it can be overwhelming to figure out exactly what you’re looking for.

If you’re looking to get into cycling, but don’t know where to start, don’t worry! There are three broad categories of bicycles for you to choose from. Your decision is best when it’s informed by the type of cycling you’re going to use your bike for.

Keep reading to learn more about each type of bicycle.

1. Road Bicycle

Road bicycles are the type you see most regularly in cities and residential areas. These bikes are also called fitness bikes or city bikes.

These bicycles are designed for driving over concrete, asphalt, and other common city landscapes. They are lightweight and aerodynamic (built for speed). Because of this, they have thin tires and low handlebars.

Since most road bikes are designed for cities, they don’t have a lot of suspension. Suspension helps soften the blow of harsh terrains. However, some road bikes are tailored for specific purposes and environments other than cities.

Sportive bikes prioritize comfort, often with higher handlebars. Road racing bikes prioritize speed. There are other sub-categories of road bikes, like cyclocross, adventure, and touring bikes.

Remember, if you’re going to be cycling on the road, beware of cars and pedestrians.

2. Mountain Bicycle

Mountain bicycles are designed for the outdoors and off-road routes. There are loads of different sub-categories of this type of bicycle. Each sub-category has a specific type of terrain in mind.

Since off-road routes aren’t gentle, these bikes absorb a lot of impact. There are two suspension options. Hardtail suspension bikes have suspension on the front part of the bike, while full suspension bikes have it on both sides.

The tires of these bikes are thick and strong. They absorb impact for the rider, and they are thick enough to avoid punctures. They also have impressive tread, so they’re able to keep a grip on any surface.

To make sure you’ve got the perfect bicycle for your needs, check out our custom bike builds page.

3. Hybrid Bicycle

Technically, both of the previous types of bicycles could work in either setting. But when they’re so well designed for their environments, it means they’ll perform terribly in the other. Hybrid bicycles are a great middle option.

These bikes aren’t as fast or lightweight as road bikes. And they aren’t as well-equipped for off-road routes as mountain bikes. But this makes them the perfect bike for easy commuting.

They have the comfort of better suspension and higher handlebars like mountain bikes. They also have lighter weight and decent speed like road bikes.

Getting the Right Type of Bicycle for Your Needs

Now that you have a better understanding of their designs and functions, you can figure out what type of bicycle is right for you! Since bicycles aren’t a small investment, you want to make sure you’ve done your research before buying one.