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Do you ever look at cyclists enjoying their rides and think, "I want to do that!"
Finding the right bike can be overwhelming and confusing, but if you know what you need, you'll be better able to decide.
Think Of Your Purpose
Do you want to:
Take a pleasure ride in your free time?
Commute to work?
Go on adventures?
Have a workout tool to help stay fit?
Photo by Azadeh Adibi
Quiz
Jim has a desk job far from his home. He's thinking of losing some weight and building some leg muscles. He should get a bike to:
The bike will help Jim with his fitness goals. If he relocates closer to the office, he can also consider commuting by bike.
For Pleasure Rides
Beach/cruiser bikes:
More comfortable to ride because they have cushioned seats and thick tires
Put less pressure on your body so you can ride them slowly and enjoy the view
The simple version of a cruiser bike only has one speed — it has no gears for you to change the speed, which is best for riding on flat ground
Other cruisers have 3 to 7 gears so you can adjust to different riding environments
Having more gears means you can ride up a hill with less effort
Quiz
Sam's weekend riding route has 3 hills to climb. One of them is quite steep. How many gears should she have on her cruiser?
The more gears you have, the easier it'll be to manage hills.
Did you know?
This Byte was created by a volunteer professional that wanted to share this insight to help you succeed - no agenda, no cost.
For Training And Commuting
Road bikes:
Ride fast and are designed for long-distance travel on the road
Have thin tires and very light material, so you can carry them comfortably when needed
Are more expensive because of the material they're made of and their speed options
One might have three front gears and seven rear gears, so twenty-one speed choices altogether!
You can easily ride them on steep slopes by adjusting the gears
You can challenge your body and gain muscles using harder gears
Quiz
Who should buy a road bike?
Marta and Alex would be better served by a road bike because they're both more likely to travel longer distances.
For Training Your Body
Mountain bikes:
Good for adventures and riding on trails and dirt
Have wider tires and flat handlebars for control and are more durable
Can improve coordination and concentration because you'll have to focus on speed and safety when riding on a route
Help you burn a considerable amount of calories and lose weight
Quiz
Mountain bikes are best for riders who:
Mountain biking can be dangerous and challenging, so some experience with offroad biking and comfort with risks will help prepare you for your adventures. It's also always a good idea to wear a helmet, especially when offroad biking!
For Multipurpose Riding
Hybrid bikes:
let you experience both road and off-road biking
are more reasonable in terms of pricing
are suitable for cruising around the city
can handle more accessible trails and gravel roads
are more comfortable than a road bike
might not be as fast as road bikes
follow a similar gear setting as road bikes
have wider tires than road bikes
have a flat handler similar to mountain bikes
Take Action
Make sure you choose the right bike!
This Byte has been authored by
Azadeh Adibi
Instructional Designer
This Byte has been reviewed by
Dila Kavame
MD, MSc