A Quick Guide to Bicycle Types
Road Bikes
Lightweight, efficient bikes with drop handlebars and thin tyres designed for recreational riding on pavement. Aero, lightweight, endurance, touring, and all-road are some of the styles available.
Bikes for the Mountains
For riding narrow dirt paths, rugged machines with flat handlebars and large, knobby tyres are ideal. Hardtail, full-suspension cross country, full-suspension trail, and full-suspension enduro are some of the styles available.
Adventure/Gravel Bikes
Drop-bar bikes have tyre clearance for a variety of off-road and on-road riding adventures. Gravel, bikepacking, and cyclocross are examples of cycling styles.
Bikes with a Purpose
Bikes built for commuting or doing errands, including tasks requiring the transport of family members or baggage. Commuter, fixie, foldable, and cargo bikes are among the various styles available.
Bikes for comfort and fitness
From beach cruisers to flat-bar bikes for weekend outings on multi-use trails, there’s something for everyone. Hybrid, fitness, comfort, and cruiser are some of the styles available.
E-Bikes
Electronic bicycles are bicycles that use a small, lightweight electric motor to help the rider. They can be from practically any of the other categories below. Commuter, cargo, mountain, and road are some of the styles available.
Bikes with Big Wheels
These eye-catching bikes have 3.8-inch or bigger tyres for flotation and traction, which are commonly used for sand, snow, or trail riding. Mountain (hardtail and full suspension) and cruiser styles are available.
Bikes for triathlons
With wing-shaped frames, wheel cross-sections, and aggressive rider positions, road-style bikes are designed to maximise aerodynamics.
Tandem Bikes are a type of tandem bicycle.
Tandems are bicycles designed for two or more riders, and their frames and components are generally reinforced to manage the added weight. The pilot is the rider in front, and the stoker is the rider in back. Tandem bikes are available in a variety of types, including road, mountain, and cruiser, with the road being the most popular.
Bicycles in the Park
These custom-built devices serve a variety of purposes, but they always share two characteristics: They’re designed to be used on groomed terrain, such as bike park trails or skate parks, and they’re all excellent at capturing air. Dirt jumping, BMX, and slopestyle are the three main styles.
Bikes for Kids
With a wonderful kid’s bike, you can get your tiny ones involved in the fun. Once you get beyond the department store trash, you’ll find a wide range of options, including dedicated road and full-suspension mountain bikes designed just for little riders. The higher the quality, the lighter the weight and the more kid-friendly the parts, the more pleasure your child will have riding. And now that pedal-less “balance” bikes have generally supplanted tricycles as a toddler’s first ride, you can start them sooner than before.
Tricycles
We’re not talking about little three-wheelers here; these are adult three-wheelers designed for anyone who requires or prefers the steadiness of a third wheel. Road, mountain, and utility styles are available in both upright and recumbent configurations. Adaptive (hand-cranked) versions are also available. Electric help is available on several trikes.
Bike with a Recumbent Seat
Unlike standard bicycles, which allow the rider to sit upright, recumbents allow the rider to sit in a more comfortable position. The majority of recumbents are designed for road use, however some can be utilised off the beaten path.
Bikes with a Track
These stripped-down bikes are made specifically for velodrome racing. They have sturdy frames, narrow tyres, a single gear that does not freewheel (the pedals revolve whenever the bike moves), and no brakes.
