Bike Anatomy 101
Frame: The heart of the bike. Made of metal (aluminum most often, steel sometimes, titanium rarely) or carbon fiber on more expensive models. Comes in different sizes to fit riders of different heights.
Wheels: Made up of the rubber tire, the rim, and the hub, which connects to the rim via spokes.
Suspension: Front and rear hydraulic shocks that smooth out bumps and jolts. The rougher the trail, the more suspension you need. Pricier suspensions are lighter and more adjustable.
Drivetrain: Typically 1-30 gears, with up to 12 in the back (cassette or internal-gear hub) and 1-3 in the front (chainrings). Most use a traditional chain, but some city bikes feature belt drives.
Brakes: There are three types. Coaster hub brakes are found mostly on beach cruisers. Rim brakes are found on many models, from inexpensive city bikes to high-end road racers. Disc brakes are cable-activated or hydraulic. They’re heavier but stop better, with less force, in all conditions.
Contact points: The seat (also called the saddle), handlebar and stem (flat, curved, or drop), and pedals (flat, toe-clips, or clipless).
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Road Bike Buyers Guide – What You Need To Know
Buying a road bike can seem daunting when there’s so many options to choose from. But fear not as US Editor in Chief Ben Delaney is here to talk you through what you need to know.
Getting To Know The Basic Types Of Bikes Available
Road bikes are fast and easy to pedal on pavement. They’re not as well suited for operating off road. Some people find the low riding position of the racing (“dropped”) handlebars difficult to maintain, comfortably, for a long time. But, there are new road bikes today specially designed to get the dropped handlebars significantly higher so you don’t have to bend over so far.
Mountain bikes are slower on pavement. But they have an upright riding position with flat handlebars and easily accessed controls, they can travel easily on a wide variety of surfaces, they have fat, flat-resistant tires, low gearing for easy climbing, linear-pull or disc brakes for excellent braking in all conditions and usually either front or front and rear suspension for incredible comfort and control. Plus, mountain bikes are very durable and reliable.
Hybrids or Cross bikes are almost as fast and easy to pedal as road bikes, while being almost as comfortable and versatile as mountain bikes. They’re great for commuting, errands, getting in shape and all-around fun.
Comfort bikes are just that — comfortable. They are less efficient, but sitting on one is super comfortable thanks to an upright riding position, wide handlebars, suspension, easy gearing and a plush seat. Plus, they typically have easily accessed controls and fat flat-resistant tires.Cruisers (sometimes called “beach cruisers”) are fun to look at and, when ridden at a relaxed pace, are ideal for admiring the scenery, and exploring the neighborhood or shore.
Recumbents are quite comfortable, and often very fast. They require some learning to be operated with maximum efficiency. Some designs sit so low to the ground that visibility in traffic can be an issue (we can recommend ways to improve visibility).
Keep in mind that even within these categories, there can be sub-categories of bicycles. For example, there are mountain bikes specifically designed for jumping and road machines specifically built for time trials and triathlons.
There’s nothing we like better than showing off the wide variety of bicycles we offer. And there’s nothing like seeing and riding a few to truly understand the difference and find the perfect bicycle(s) for you!
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How Biking Can Improve Your Health and the Environment
This infographic illustrates how adding two-wheeled transport to your repertoire can benefit not only you, but the environment and your wallet!
Benefits of Commuting by Bike to Work
Riding a bike has many benefits from both health and financial perspectives.
