On Your Bike!
Cycling is fun, it keeps you fit and healthy, it can save you money and helps you do a bit for the environment. What more could you ask?
Bicycles have always been in a state of development. The image of a ‘sit up and beg’ bike with a wire basket on the front being pedalled sedately through a quiet English village only exists in Agatha Christie novels. Particularly over the past few decades, modern bicycle design and manufacturer has given us a range of bikes for many purposes.
Bicycles can be classified in several ways and you could probably list a dozen types although some are more strictly variations than different models. When selecting a bike, it’s essential that you know what you want it to do so you can pick the most suitable type.
Road Bike
As its name suggests, the road bike is designed for use on roads and smooth tracks. They are often called racing bikes although there is a marked difference between bikes designed for racing and ones which the average cyclist would use on the road - generally the price!
Road bikes usually have drop handlebars so the rider can assume a more streamlined position for added speed, and narrow tyres which decrease resistance. The frames are often lighter than other bike and made from aluminium and dual carbon fibre.
Mountain Bike
In many ways, mountain bikes are the opposite of road bikes. They are designed for use over rugged terrain including tracks and trails, rocks and logs. They have wider wheels and knobbly tyres to provide a better grip on uneven surfaces.
Frames need to be solid to withstand the shocks of the terrain and there’s always a trade-off between weight and strength, which is where much of the cost of a high-end mountain bike goes.
Original mountain bike designs had rigid forks but in the last twenty years suspension was added to the front and then the back. Hardtails become very popular, having front suspension only, thus keeping the weight down but recent developments in suspension are making dual suspension - or full-susser - increasingly popular.
Mountain bikes in particular have created many variants including cross country (light and sturdy), trail bikes (less emphasis on weight, more on downhill stability), all mountain (better suspension for going up and down), downhill (light, strong with good suspension) and freeride (good suspension with more emphasis on strength than weight) models to name but a few.
Hybrid
Hybrids are often described as a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike. They are designed for use on both road and track although not on the extremes of terrain you’d encounter while mountain biking. They have a hybrid wheel, thicker than a road bike but thinner than a mountain bike and with more tread than a road bike. They also usually have the straight handlebars of the mountain bike.
Hybrids are good general purpose bikes designed for general recreational use and commuting, although some manufacturers have designed yet more sub-variations aimed at specific types of user. A hybrid by any other name...
BMX
Originally designed for BMX racing, these bikes are now more commonly used on dirt tracks, in parks and on streets, particularly by younger users. BMX riders are best known for performing stunts such as jumping and various manoeuvring tricks.
However, many people simply enjoy the design of the bike and it’s also in widespread use for casual use although, again, mainly among the young.
Because of the jumps and punishment BMX bikes go through, they need to be strong. Most frames are made of steel with higher-end frames using hi tensile steel and chromoly. The rear axle is thick as it takes the brunt of the impact when coming down from jumps and bunny hops.
The wheels of bikes designed for particularly rugged use often have additional spokes to handle the extra impact of street and track jumps.
A Bike for Everyone
This list has just scratched the surface of available bike types. In addition to the many variations of those described above there are also folding bikes designed to be carried on a train by a commuter, for example, unfolded and then ridden to work.
There are also electric bikes which, while they may upset purists, do allow less fit riders to tackled hills and distances which would otherwise be impossible - as well as allowing the average cyclist to travel just a little bit further.
There are also recumbent designs where the cyclist sits or lies in a reclined, laid-back position on a seat with a backrest. The position offers greater support to the body and enthusiasts claim they can cycle further, faster and easier than on a traditional cycle.
Whatever your interest in cycling and your level of expertise, there is a bike to suit you and your needs. You can enjoy cycling at a wide range of levels, save money commuting, enjoy the open air and help stay fit in the process!