Choosing the Best Bicycle for You

The best bicycle for you is the one that suits your needs.

As a child you probably did not care what you rode, which is fortunate because you probably did not have a choice. Whatever mom or dad bought you or whatever you could salvage was fine. As long as the wheels went around and the tires had at least some air, you were ready to go. (Brakes were optional!)

But times have changed. Now you do have a choice. Now you can choose the bicycle’s type, size, frame material, components and even color. You can choose the best bike for you.

The first step in selecting the right bike for you is to determine where you would like to ride. Will you be riding mostly on-road or off-road? Do you want to travel at a leisurely pace or do you want to race? Will you be riding for fitness, for recreation or to work? Any bicycle can take you where you want to go; it’s just that some types of bicycles do it better than others.

The five general types of bikes are: mountain, road, hybrid, comfort and recumbent. Each has its advantages and disadvantages depending on the kind of riding you want to do.

Mountain bikes Designed for off-road use, they have wide, heavily treaded, low pressure tires, strong compact frames, straight handlebars and an upright riding position. In many ways a mountain bike is like a sport utility vehicle. Advantages: sure footed, nimble, durable Disadvantages: more wind and rolling resistance on smooth roads; noisy and bumpy ride, slow

Road bikes They are built for on-road riding and speed. They have narrow, smooth, high pressure tires, drop handlebars, an aerodynamic riding position and a narrow seat. A road bike is like a two-seater sports car. Advantages: less wind and rolling resistance; on-road, smooth and quiet, fast Disadvantages: less stable in dirt or gravel, harsh ride on rough roads

Hybrids A hybrid is a cross between a mountain and a road bike. They have mid-width, moderately treaded, medium pressure tires, straight handlebars, an upright riding position and a wider seat. This type of bike is very popular for riding around town and for light trail use. Advantages: Smoother ride than a mountain bike and more stable than a road bike Disadvantages: Less stable off-road and slower on-road

Comfort bikes These are modified mountain bikes designed to be more tame for the less aggressive rider who values comfort. They have wide, smooth treaded, medium pressure tires, high handlebars, an upright riding position and a wide, soft seat. Advantages: Smooth, soft, stable ride Disadvantages: Slow on-road and less nimble off-road

Recumbent bikes These bikes look like reclining chairs on wheels. The rider sits close to the ground with legs extended horizontally to pedals in front. Although different, this type of bike is gaining popularity. Advantages: very comfortable and fast on-road Disadvantages: different feel from a regular bike, inability to stand up

Bikes come in many sizes, so picking the correct size is important. General size recommendations for adults when standing flat-footed over the top bar are: