Bike Buying Guide
Buying a bike can seem to be a daunting prospect. There are so many different types of bikes for different purposes. How do I know which is the right bike for me? There are a few questions you can ask yourself to narrow down your options and make your decision much easier.
First of all where will you ride?
Will you be riding on hard paved surfaces (roads, paved bike paths)?
Will you be riding on crushed gravel bike paths similar to the Allegheny Highlands Trail or the C&O Canal?
Will you be riding rough off road trails?
If you chose the paved surface then your best options would be a traditional road bike or a fitness oriented hybrid bike.
If you chose the gravel bike paths your best options would be a comfort bike or a hybrid bike.
If you chose the off road trails your only real option is a mountain bike.
The next question would be how far do you plan to ride?
If you plan to ride distances longer than; 15-20 miles or greater you should consider the traditional road bike. Shorter distances are very feasible on any of the other bikes we have talked about.
So what do all these different names mean?
Traditional Road Bike: This is the “ten speed” you grew up with except there have been quite a few updates over the years. This bike still has the drop handlebars that allow for a variety of hand positions to make a long ride more comfortable and to allow you to push through those strong headwinds. Now instead of 10 speeds you will have at least 20, but maybe as many as 30 speeds to allow for much easier pedaling. These bikes will have a large diameter wheel with a very narrow, smooth tread tire that is designed for maximum efficiency over anything else. Your riding position on these bikes will have more of your weight forward over the handlebars for a more efficient, aerodynamic effect. Road bikes will be constructed of any number of materials from good old-fashioned steel, to aluminum, carbon fiber and dozens of other exotic materials.
Fitness Hybrid: This bike is a versatile pavement oriented bike that works well for the rider looking for a faster pace like the road bike but maybe a little shorter distance. The primary difference between this bike and the road bike is that this bike has a flat handlebar similar to a mountain bike. A flat handlebar allows the rider to sit in more of an upright position giving the rider better visibility, comfort and control in a variety of situations. These bikes usually have a rigid frame, meaning that they don’t use any suspension like a rear shock, suspension fork or suspension seat post. This keeps the bike weight down and maximizes handling and pedaling efficiency. The gearing is very similar if not identical to the road bike allowing for faster speeds. A fitness hybrid will also use the same size wheel and tire as the traditional road bike. Sometimes you are able to use a wider tire on the fitness bikes, which is nice if you ride on roads with less than perfect pavement. These bikes also make for popular commuting bikes for people interested in biking to work or school since accessories like utility racks and fenders are very easy to mount to the frame.
Mountain Bike: This bike is the most versatile, go anywhere, do anything bike there is. With the right tires a mountain bike can do reasonably well on paved surfaces and can be a functional commuter during the week, then with a change of tires be ready for the trails again on the weekend. The riding position on a mountain bike will be more upright than a road bike but less so than the hybrid bike. This will allow you to have the most control on the widest variety of terrain. The gearing of a mountain bike is designed to be easier than that of the road bike or the hybrid to allow you to climb steep hills a little bit easier. There are two main types of mountain bike you will hear about. First is the Hard tail or rigid frame bike with a suspension fork on the front. Second is the Full suspension or dual suspension bike with both suspension fork on the front and some sort of suspension frame also. The hard tail bike is probably the better bike for you if you are going to find yourself riding on a variety of trail surfaces (bike paths, road, trails). A hard tail mountain bike will work just fine on rougher trails but the harder the trail gets the harder it will be on your body. Full suspension bikes are ideal for dedicated off road riding. They will still perform reasonably well on smooth surfaces but they were born for the dirt. Adding rear suspension will obviously make the ride more comfortable but will also give you much more control over your bike as the trail gets more difficult.
Your next step should be to come into our store or give us a call and talk to one of our bicycle pros to help you through the maze of options that you will run into when considering which specific model bike is best for you. Some of the things we will cover will be sizing, fit adjustments, component upgrades between models, disc brakes vs. linear pull brakes, accessories etc. This is just a short example of some of the things we will go over with you.
When making your purchase don’t be afraid to ask questions. A little more time spent now will go a long way toward getting you together with your perfect bike.
See Also:
Bike Rentals
Road Rides
