Types of bikes to Select
Do you know the types of bikes to select on the market? When it comes to buying bikes, many of us have our preferences for bikes.
Selecting your favorite bike from different types of bikes can be a daunting process if you have no idea what you want.
Types of bikes and Functionalities
Here are some of the different types of bikes you can use:
Mountain BikeThe Mountain Bike Basics
This bike is built for off-road use and comes with suspension either front or full and wide and grippy tyres.
Features
• It has suspension, either front only (hardtail) or full suspension.
• It comes with knobbly tyres.
• It has flat handlebars.
• The bike is heavier than hybrid/ road bikes because of suspension and durability on rough terrain.
• It has motorcycle-style disc brakes that are great at stopping in muddy conditions.
• It has a lower gearing for steep inclines.
• It is great for off-road / trail riding.
• Hybrid Bike
The hybrid bike is among the types of bikes, which is manufactured on a spectrum with some closer to road bikes and others closer to mountain bikes.
The hybrid bike is a fusion of the two bikes to make a super powerful bike.
Features
From a road bike:
• The bike is narrower with slick tyres.
• It has a higher gearing for faster speeds.
From a mountain bike:
• The bike comes with a higher position and ideal for seeing over cars in traffic.
• It has flat handlebars.
• It comes with a more relaxed position with less pressure on their shoulders.
• These types of bikes come with suspension.
• The bike is easy to fit its accessories to such as mudguards
• The bike might be narrow, but the tyres are wider than an average road bike.
The bike is primarily for:
• Commuting
• City riders
• People who take on a mix of terrain
• Riding with the family
• Shopping around
• Touring
• Road Bike
The road bike is among the types of bikes that come with light/stiff frames, narrow tyres, and drop handlebars and they are created for fast progress on the roads with the least effort possible.
Features
• It comes with narrow and slick tyres, which are usually 23-28mm.
• The bike has drop handlebars, which allow multiple hand positions.
• The rigid frames allow for more power transfer.
• These types of bikes have gear ratios with large ranges for spinning up hills.
Primarily for:
• Road riding
• Touring
• Commuting
What Else to Know about Different Types of bikes
The different types of bikes have features that are either similar or quite different. When you want a bike, ensure you buy the right one for your lifestyle.
Each type of bike has different models that have advanced features ahead of the old models.
Today, we have advanced and aerodynamic bikes that are extremely fast on the road.
That means you should know the bike model you want to buy. Read ratings and customers’ reviews on the particular model you want to buy.
• other types of bikes
Some bikes are different and often come on a separate list because they are designed as specialist bikes.
• Based on mountain Bikes
Downhill: These types of bikes are a variant of a mountain bike that is designed for downhill racing.
Fat bike: This bike comes with extra-wide tyres for riding on rough surfaces such as sand or snow.
Jump bike: This bike is a blend somewhere between a BMX and a mountain bike that is used for tricks.
• Based on road bikes
Cyclocross: These types of bikes are for trails with tyres, disk brakes, and stronger frames.
Gravel: The gravel bike is somewhere between cyclocross and road bike for countries with a lot of non-tarmac roads.
This bike is taller at the front than the normal road bikes, offering extra comfort, and has a wide gear ratio for off road riding.
Time trial: Time trial or TT bikes are for timed race events. The bikes come with aero bars attached to the front for aerodynamic position to give the fastest speed.
Other
• Electric
Electric bikes or e-bikes come with an inbuilt motor, which is recharged and used in cities. It makes climbing hilly areas less daunting.
