Are You Buying The Right Bike

A bike is not always a bike - really ? Well it is , but the variations are huge.
Fat tyres, skinny tyres, sticky tyres. Or , if tyres confuse you, then try chunky frames , light allow frames, carbon fibre frames, disk brakes,pedal brakes, multiple gearing options, a range of handle bar options and arguably more accessories than a ladies fashion store!!
To help you make decide on the right bike for you, I have begun with the style of bikes.

Well, not quite.Please read on to find out which bike will best suit your needs?

Mountain Bikes Use - either cross country riding, endurance riding, downhill time trial racing, Track and slalom riding or just free riding. Specifics - Either you explore yourself, the off road world of biking or take advantage and more mountain bike trials being built - built to include jumps, bridges, narrow crossings, rock traversing, negotiating wash outs, obstacle evasions. The sport began in the seventies and the style of riding has developed, but in essence it involves off road riding in some shape or form. The Bikes. Because of the pounding that a bike can take they have stronger thicker frames and have seen a an evolution.in design. In essence though these bikes, mostly with the 26 " wheel diameter size, have seen the development of bigger gearing options ( up to 30 gears), disk brakes ( both hydraulic and mechanical )and suspension systems. Rigid bikes morphed into a version with front fork shock absorbers. The rear shock absorbers became an option as well. Tyres are generally fatter and more knobbly than other bikes. There is a wide range of tyres to choose from. The options for tyres - amazing. Tyres for each discipline of riding from nobbly tyres, to rock hard road tires, to sticky tyres for extra traction.An,as with motor car tyres, there are tubeless or tubed options.. It is important to test ride the different versions as the idea of a full suspension sounds great, but they are more costly and on roads or hard trails, they are not as efficient. Other. Safety gear is a must. Some things you must have - for your own saftey. Helmets,as with all styles of riding, but also gloves, armoured chest guards, knee guards and armoured shin guards.. Mountain bikes typically have straight handle bars

Road Bikes - Essentially the opposite to mountain bikes. Lean and keen and built for speed. Use. Solely for riding on tar sealed roads or speciality built indoor cycling tracks Specifics. A general description diverts to the clothing worn by riders! The folk riding in the tight multicoloured lycra are road bikers. That said you don't need to wear the lycra, but as efficiency of effort is what these bikes are about, the stream lined clothing helps with the aerodynamcis of travel. The Bikes Are light, slim lined, with thin tyres run at high pressure, to give the feeling of floating across the road surface. Gearing offers a number of options, but as with mountain bikes, these days the gearing systems are a testament to technology. Other. You don't have to be a racer to have a road bike.

For general cruising of the local government built bike track once a week, or around your "block", to ride to work or join a bike club that does a 25 klms ride 2/3 times a week. It's another social / fitness option for those not wanting to be as energetic as a mountain biker. Hybrid Bikes Use- As the name suggests these bikes are somewhere between a mountain bike and a road bike. Bikes do have two wheels, a frame, a seat and handle bars. But there are a number of names or tags the styles are marketed as..

You will hear of such names as Trekking bikes- with pannier, mud guards, a solid frame,different handle bars and lights. Cross Bikes- a mountain bike frame with larger wheels for speed on and off the rough. Commuter Bikes - modern version of the old style roadster bikes. Wide seats, hub gears, cruising to work or along the boulevard on a Sunday afternoon. City bikes - designed for tough city commuting. Robust frames, stronger tyres to handle drains potholes and curbs and ready to be chained up for the day ! The bikes. The frames are slighter smaller than Mountain bike frames but more robust than road bikes. The bikes are a blend if you like - the cranking, handle bars and brakes taken from the mountain bike, yet with the road bike sized wheels but with rider rims and tyres..

Other. Other points of difference often are the accessories, such as a pannier and mudguards or splash guards. Yes there are variations, and often that is the result of creative marketing.

BMX bikes - For those into trick riding, freestyle riding or circuit racing. Not for the road as such. Specifics - History tells us that the BMX bike started in the seventies when Californians started riding their streets bikes in skate parks. In essence though this style of riding is distinct and has its own rules in that there are none! It's all about freestyle. As in the other forms of freestyle riding, there are no specific rules; style/aesthetics, skills, and creativity are stressed. The bikes These bikes tend to have no brakes (If they do, it is mostly straight cable),and can have up to 48 spokes per wheel. To give the rider trick options, you will find foot pegs, front and back, on the same side of the bike. They have smallish frame sizes, 16'-20" wheels and are usually ridden in a standing position. Other. As these are freestyle bikes, it is often a case of anything goes in terms of size ,the number of spokes and handle bars. The one constant as such is the gearing hubs,. These come in different ratios, giving riders the choice of fixed gears.

I hope this has helped those new to cycling understand a little of the range of options that exist. Until next time safe riding.