By Dirk Wessels

Bicycles have come a long way since the Penny Farthing, though the general concept hasn’t actually changed that much since the 19th century. The main difference now, you’ll be pleased to know, is that bikes are far more comfortable than they were back then! It’s difficult now to imagine a bicycle made out of wood, or solid rubber tires, though I’m sure back then bike manufacturers would not have dreamed a bicycle would have its own suspension either!

One thing which is more difficult nowadays than it was in the 19th century is choosing the right bicycle. Bike designs have really evolved, and rather than one bicycle fits all (as was the case back then), there’s a variety of different bikes available, suitable for different purposes.

So how do you know what kind of bike will be best for you? Well you first need to start by deciding on what you want yours for.

If it’s for a casual jaunt down the road, there’s no point in buying a full suspension mountain bike! Equally, a racing bike would be pointless for you too! So maybe we should look at what exactly is available on the market.  The four major types of bicycle popular for sale today are

• racing bicycles,
• mountain bikes,
• tourers, and
• hybrids.

Racing bikes
are designed for speed and aerodynamics, and as such they have dropped handlebars, narrow tires, and little in the way of extras so as to keep the weight down. These are fine for cyclists who want to cover fair distances at higher speeds, but would be no good for extended cycling trips if all you’re relying on is a bike.

Mountain bikes
have really risen to popularity in the last decade or so. Buying a full mountain bike is probably pointless unless you’re intending to go tearing up and down mountains! Mountain bikes have very sturdy and chunky frames, chunky tires, and most these days also have dual suspension. Importantly they also have very low gear ratios so that riders are able to get up hills effectively. But on the downside, full mountain bikes aren’t really very good for cycling on roads because the chunky tires cause a lot of drag.

If you’re not into hurtling down a mountain, but perhaps want to cycle on a few forest trails, and some roads, a hybrid bicycle is probably better for you. These are really a cross between a mountain bike and the old fashioned utility bikes. It’s built to be more practical for a variety of uses – the chunky tires aren’t so chunky that you get loads of drag, so they’re ok on roads, yet they’re chunky enough to handle tracks and light off-roading. Many of the hybrids now come with front suspension forks, easing the shocks your wrists take if you’re cycling on uneven ground.

Tourers,
or touring bicycles, are very popular too. These are closest in design to a racing bicycle, but the frames are a little bulkier and heavier because they’re designed to be able to handle heavier loads. Tourers come with either straight handlebars or dropped handlebars, depending on your preference, plus an extensive gear range so that you can make it up hills, but also get a good speed going down hills too. The main feature of touring bicycles is their pannier racks. These can be front or rear, or both, mounted, and carry specially designed bicycle pannier bags. As the name of this bike suggests, it’s designed for touring i.e. going long distances.

So those are the big four, and probably the most popular around the world for people who want a bicycle for leisure purposes. Alternatives include BMX bicycles, Cruiser bicycles, Tandems, Choppers, and fold-up bikes.

Bicycle Tips & Maintenance - How to Buy a Bicycle

–About–

By Dirk Wessels – Dirk Wessels is a computer programmer and runs a site to support orphans in his spare time. You can read about his efforts to get fit as well as his aims to provide help to orphans in South Africa by visiting Actions For Orphans.

Source: Cool Biking Zone – Your source for great cycling, sports and fitness articles!