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Choosing a Bike

Page updated: Wednesday May 05 2010

Of all the types of bikes to choose from, how do you know which one’s right for you?

First ask yourself, "Which type of cyclist am I?"

Are you:

1. Recreational? (You mostly bike for leisure or part of your regular exercise routine.)
2. Utilitarian? (You mostly bike to work or to do errands, etc.)
3. Competitive? (You want to participate in organized races.)

Then ask yourself, "Which style of riding do I want to do?"

Do you mostly want to:

1. Ride on trails?
2. Commute to work or other destinations?
3. Do long distance touring?

Answering these questions and learning the differences between the 4 main types of bikes will help you find the bike that best suits your needs.

4 Main Types of Bikes

Bicycle Type	Riding Style	Benefits / Recommended For	Considerations	Features
Mountain Bike	Recreational	Off road and trail riding	Small, fat tires make it difficult for gaining speed on roads and in cities	Fat, small tires Triple chainwheel Low gears Heavy-duty frame Big treads
Road Bike	Utilitarian/ commuting/ competitive	on-road, city riding speed training and competition		dropped handle bar thin and big tires double chainwheel side pull brakes lighter but stiffer frame
Utility (City/ Commuter) Bike	Utilitarian/ recreational	City riding Typically used for short-distance commuting, running errands, shopping, etc.	Heavier than sport bicycles Built to let people ride in regular clothes in various weather conditions	upright handlebars medium sized tires wide seats mudguards chain guards skirt guards a step through frame (for women)
Hybrid Bike	Recreational/ utilitarian	good for on/off road riding good for people who want to ride on trails that are both on/off road		flat handlebars medium sized tires medium treads triple chainwheel fender eyelets

Bike sizing and fit

Fit should be your main focus when buying a new bike. If you’re comfortable riding your bike and you can control it easily, then your bike is the right size.

Use these general guidelines to find the right-sized bike for you.

Aspect	How to test
Frame size	Straddle your bicycle frame and put your feet flat on the ground. There should be 2-5 cm between you and the top tube.
Distance between seat and handlebars	For most bikes, the distance between the front tip of your seat and the handlebars should reach from your elbows to fingers. This distance will affect your riding posture: the more distance between the handlebars and seat, the more hunched over you’ll be when you ride.
Seat height	Sit on the seat, and then place your foot on the pedal. Check to make sure your knee bends slightly when the pedal is at the lowest position.
Seat position	Sit on the seat, and then move one pedal to the lowest position. Check to make sure your knee is directly over this pedal. The nose (front) of the seat should be level with the back of the seat.
Handlebars	Handlebars come in many heights and lengths.  Choose a style, size and position that will let you ride comfortably for a long time.

Bicycle shops will also help size a bicycle for you.