Which bike must I buy?

Do you want to start riding a bike on or off road? Do you know which bike you must buy? A bike is like a car, you have to choose the one which is right for you. The first decision is in determining what type of bikes you look for. Treat it as an investment as a good bike will become your friend and escape from world! Here is a list about three main styles of bikes to choose from:

Road bikes
These bikes are designed to ride on paved streets and engineered to go fast. The features are skinny tires, a lightweight frame and an elevated riding position over the handlebars. People that choose road bikes primarily use them to cover long distances at a higher speed. Be careful with the road bikes because although strong they are not designed to be continually covering bumpy and rough roads.

Features
Wheels: narrow and smooth pressure tires to minimize contact with the road, so as to provide the best rolling resistance possible to achieve a fast pace.

Frame: the material used in road bike frames, will vary depending on their cost. More expensive a frame is, lighter it will be.

Handlebars: go out straight from the stem and then curl under, it makes to reduce wind resistance. You will find both the brake levers and the gears shift levers mounted on the handlebars for easy control.

Riding position: it reduces the road cyclist profile and cuts down on wind resistance (aerodynamic), and puts them in a position to drive with maximum power from their legs and hips through the pedals.

Gears: road bikes have a wide range of gearing, with low gears (easily to climb steep hills) and high gears (to go really fast).

Mountain bikes
They have wide tires, usually with knobby treads and a stout frame, and are designed to handle the rugged trail. Mountain bikes don’t go as fast as road bikes although it could be said that they are far more comfortable due to the larger tires and elevated cycling position. Mountain bikes are ideal for exploring nature trails, disused rail way tracks and can withstand a mixture of both on and off road cycling.

Features
Wheels: Usually wide knobby tires that offer more grip and traction on a variety of surfaces, including gravel, dirt, rock and sand. Tires pressures on mountain bike is less than on road bikes, due to their grater volume and the better traction offered by a softer tire.

Frame: the majority of mountain bikes frames are steel, due to the strength and durability the material offers and the low price of steel. Another material is aluminium, which is light and relatively strong, but not immune to breakage. Carbon fiber frames, the next higher level of material, are similar to aluminium (light and very strong). Top-of-the-line mountain bike frames are made from titanium, which is super light and incredibly strong.

Handlebars: mountain bikes handlebars are typically flat, and go straight out from the stem.
Riding position: the way that a mountain bike is designed allows riders sit upright in a position that gives them the best control of the bike.

Gears: Mountain bikes have a wide range of gearing to allow them to handle a broad rang of terrain, with low gears (to be easily able to conquer some steep hills) and high gears.

Hybrid bikes
They are a compromise between road and mountain bikes, and offer the best features of both. They can go faster than mountain bikes and they have upright seats and handlebars position that many people favour

Features
Wheels: the wheels on a hybrid bike are a combination of what you find on a road bike and a mountain bike (wider and high air pressure).

Frame: They are made of light weight aluminium or steel for easy of use and transport.

Handlebars: this is typically flat like a mountain bike which makes for comfortable riding.

Riding position: it’s like a mountain bike and it’s designed to allow riders to sit upright in a position that gives the best control of the bike.

Gears: hybrids have a wide range of gearing to allow the rider to both climb hills and go fast on flats and downhills. The hybrid’s gearing set-up is more similar to road bikes.

By Nadjib