Bikes have long been one of the most popular forms of transport found in modern cities. This sort of vehicle requires no fuel and can promote a much healthier lifestyle than driving, making this option ideal for many people. Unfortunately, though, choosing the right bicycle for you can be quite difficult when you don’t know what you’re looking for. Most people choose race bikes for city riding, though this isn’t always the best option if you want to have a comfortable experience. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring a range of different bike types, giving you the chance to pick the right one for you.
Fixies
Fixies, or fixed wheel bikes, are incredibly simple. With a single gear and often lacking brakes, there is very little to go wrong on a bicycle like this, making them easy to maintain. Of course, though, those who ride single-speed bikes often have to learn complex techniques to be able to ride them safely. Braking by pedalling backwards is a great example of this, but this can be very difficult when you aren’t used to it. This makes this sort of bicycle best for those who have a lot of riding experience.
Hybrids
Hybrid bikes are a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike, aiming to provide the best of both worlds. They will usually have a very wide range, making it easier to get up hills, but also making the bike slower when you are riding on flats. Some hybrid bikes have locking suspension, while others have solid forks, and they will usually come with smooth tyres. Hybrids are very easy to ride, but they can also be tricky to maintain.
Cyclocross
Cyclocross bikes are often ignored when people are looking for a good bicycle for city riding. While quite specialised, an option like this can actually be ideal for use in cities. Bicycles like this are similar to hybrid bikes, though they will have much greater ground clearance and wider wheels. This makes them ideal for city riding, as they can easily drop from curbs and go over bumps without risking damage that would occur on a road bicycle.
Road
Finally, as the last option to look at, it makes sense to think about road bicycles. While bikes like this are popular in cities, they aren’t always the best for those who want to be able to enjoy a diverse range of different riding environments. For example, road bikes can be much harder to ride up hills than a hybrid or a mountain bike, and this can make them a pain when you are in a city that has loads of hills.
As you can see, you have a lot of options to choose from when you’re trying to pick a bike that will work well in the city. A lot of people find it hard to understand the options they have available when shopping for a bike, but most local bicycle shops will be happy to help with this.