Cycling: Different Bikes Explained

Are you ready to take the plunge and start cycling or maybe you have been riding a lot and are ready for an upgrade? Keep reading to help narrow down your search!

Cycling can be an intimidating sport, and can be even more intimidating to a newbie just looking for a recreational activity to get some exercise. It isn't enough to just buy a bike, but to buy the one that makes sense for your lifestyle –everything you need to know about the different styles of bikes and what that means for you.

How many different types of bikes can there be? Let's see...

When you were a kid, most likely, a bike was a bike. Or rather, it was a magical device that gave you freedom from your parents and allowed you to explore anywhere your little feet could take you. But, as far as what type of cranks it had and how knobby the tires were, you probably did not know or care about the answer as long as it rolled. As you get older, you start to realize that the type of bike you ride makes a big impact on the type of riding you can do.

I always say that bikes are like golf clubs. Each serves a different purpose at different times and it is not only okay but sometimes necessary to own more than one.

How to use this Guide

I have worked in the bike industry for many years and have developed a lot of knowledge on the subject of BIKES. This guide will answer all of your questions on what your options are when buying a bike and why you would choose each one. I recommend reading through all of them as there may be something you have not seen yet and it's good to know all of your options first. So, let's dive in...

Why does the type of bike I ride matter?

Different Types of Bikes Explained

To Sum It Up...

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Why does the type of bike I ride matter so much?

Imagine you drive a a small sports car, let's say a Nissan 350z. You drive it on the smooth roads and typically avoid the bumpy, pot holes because it would not be good for you or your car. You get invited to a really amazing event but the only way to get there is on a steep, bumpy, dirt and gravel road. You could not drive your car on that road as it would not make it so you would have to either miss the event or take a different vehicle that was made to handle that terrain. This entire scenario probably doesn't sound that profound to you because, of course you would drive a different car on a road like that. However, this same logic does not seem to come so naturally to those looking at bicycles and what type they should be riding where. After all, a bike is just a bike, right?

Now that your brain is starting to connect the dots about all the different bikes out there and what they can do for you, we can start discussing it in more detail.

Different Types of Bikes Explained

We will stick to the main categories of bikes and what they are designed for here. Keep in mind as I mentioned above, you may find that you need more than one to accurately fulfill your cycling dreams.

Road Bikes

You will notice that bikes are named for what they do so you don't have to over think it. A Road Bike is designed to, you guessed it, ride on smooth(ish) roads. They are designed to be light weight, have a gear range that allows for high speeds over long distances and have the rider sitting in an aerodynamic position.

The signature of a road bike is the drop handlebars. See in the picture above how the handlebars curve down like a Ram's horn? This allows for more options for your hands and you can switch between an aggressive (aerodynamic) position or more upright and relaxed.

Road bikes can come in two different styles, Race or Endurance. Race road bikes will be more aggressive in how they have the rider sitting; leaned forward, more aerodynamic. They will also be stiff and less comfortable because they are designed for speed and performance. Endurance road bikes are still quick and agile, however they will be designed more comfort and have features in the frame for shock absorption.; a great option for those more focused on distance and comfort over performance.

Mountain Bikes

Mountain Bikes are the next most common style of bike and more often than not, used for the WRONG purpose. Most likely you have owned a "Mountain" bike if you had a bike as a kid or purchased one from a mainstream department store. They are heavy, have large knobby tires and wide flat handlebars.

A mountain bikes purpose is for off road racing, through trees, on dirt, up steep climbs or over rocks and gravel. They can handle a lot and are geared for climbing and gripping. A Hard Tail will not have any suspension in the rear of the bike but could have suspension in the front fork (piece attaching the front wheel to the bike). Full Suspension will have both rear and front suspension and is excellent for large rocks and downhill off road cycling.

Because of the bigger tires and suspension, many people gravitate towards a MTB (mountain bike) because they tend to be more comfortable initially. However, they are not conducive to pavement riding and speed and the bigger tires and suspension will slow you down substantially and make you work much harder to maintain speed on flat, smooth ground.

Hybrid Bikes

For the recreational rider, a hybrid is most likely your best option. The price point is lower than a road bike allowing for more budget friendly shopping. They are also perfect for roads or paved bike trails and can handle hills and average speeds just fine. They are one of the most versatile bikes for a recreational cyclist.

Hybrids have a few different categories, the most common being Fitness, Comfort, and Dual Sport. Fitness Hybrids would be my choice for those who are already physically active and would like a lighter option that can handle anything from commuting to school to riding 25 miles in a group ride.

Comfort Hybrids will sit you in a more upright position and typically be heavier than the Fitness option as they contain elements for comfort such as bigger tires or front suspension.

Dual Sports are an option that some may not add to the Hybrid category but I believe they belong there as they are also a good option for someone looking at lower price points and wanting something to do a little bit of everything. Dual sports will have knobby but skinnier tires than a MTB and front suspension so they can handle gravel better than road bikes, but pavement will be easier than MTB bikes.

Cyclocross/Gravel Bikes

While CX and Gravel bikes are different, I lump them together here as they can typically cross over between one another easily.

CX or cyclocross bikes are bikes with drop handlebars like a road bike and have knobby, but thin tires. They are designed for cyclocross racing which can be on grass, dirt, pavement, gravel or sand during one race. It involves getting on and off the bike often to go over barriers or up stairs and therefore the bike is designed to be able to handle this type of riding.

A gravel bike will also look like a road bike but with the added knobby tires, typically disc brakes these days and more room with in the frame to adjust tire width as needed. There are gravel races but also plenty of areas where gravel roads might just be your option to get away from traffic.

To sum this up, a cyclocross bike and a gravel bike could be used for either in a pinch as they are so similar, however, if buying new I still recommend choosing a bike created for the sport you plan to engage in first and foremost.

Touring Bikes

I told myself I would have no bias while providing you all with this information but I can't help mentioning that this is my favorite kind of bike. You can read more about why in an upcoming post, Bike Touring: Illinois to California.

Touring Bikes can be road, gravel or mountain bikes that are set up to handle a lot of weight. They are typically built with strong wheels and contain racks or mounts to hold various types of bags and cargo so you can tour the open road or trail with all of your food, clothes and sleeping accessories right there on your bike with you.

Perhaps the most freeing and exhilarating bike out there and the best part is you can practically turn any bike you have into one. However, they do sell touring bikes already built to handle the gear and terrain so you are ready to go right out of the bike shop.

Electric Bikes (E-Bikes)

An up and coming category of bikes is the Electric Bike. They can come in the form of a Hybrid, road, mountain, cruiser, etc. What I love about this category is that it bridges the gap between a stronger rider and someone who loves to ride but doesn't have the abilities to push their pace.

A common scenario I have seen is a couple whom one rides often and has a road bike and the other who likes to ride but just can't keep up. An electric pedal assist bike allows the "slower" rider to keep up and join in rides they may not have otherwise been able to.

When shopping keep in mind the price will be higher and the difference between a fully electric bike with a throttle and an electric bike with pedal assist. Pedal assist means you don't have to use the battery at all and can ride and shift gears like normal but you HAVE to pedal the bike regardless, just turning on your electric assist mechanism as needed. Full electric will have a throttle and allow you to stop pedaling and still keep the bike going, greying the line between bike and motorized vehicle. It is important when looking at E-Bikes to know what the rules are for your local bike trails.

More types of bikes

We have discussed Road, Mountain, Cyclocross/Gravel, Hybrid, Touring and Electric Bikes. While these are not the only categories they are certainly the most common and most confusing. However, I hope they may be slightly less intimidating now.

A few other categories you may come across in your search for a new bike are BMX, Folding, Cruiser, Tandem, Recumbent, Cargo, fixed gear and Track Bike. I would consider all of these a specialized category of bikes. Each one performs a very specific task of riding such as Tandem bikes fit 2 riders with two sets of pedals and handlebars, or Recumbent bikes sit the rider lower to the ground like you are sitting in a chair with the pedals out in front.

Please let me know in the comments if you would like another Bikes Explained post for these specialized categories mentioned above!

To Sum it up...

There are seemingly endless categories of bikes that all serve a specific purpose for the rider. The first step when buying a bike is to ask yourself, where will you be riding, who will you be riding with and for what purpose? Next would be a visit to a local bike shop. While there are many reputable online brands these days, you will want to get on a bike and take it for a test ride. I also suggest buying local as they will be able to size you for the bike and be there for every step from buying your first set of padded shorts (a topic for another day, but trust me, you want them) to a helmet and 6 months down the road when you have had your first flat and need a quick fix.

Consider this guide your first step to a whole new world. Freedom, cardiovascular health, simplicity and just pure bliss. Bikes can be the most fun you have ever had if you give them a chance but beware, it usually doesn't stop at just one bike!