Article by Sara Lopez

I recently bought myself a beauty of a bike. It’s a street bike, crimson red, 14 gear and I named her Roxanne. I knew I wanted a bike that could go long distances, work best on pavement, and would be good for a commute in a city.

There a couple of great reasons to pick up biking. It’s great for your health and the environment. We’re not saying ditch the main ride for full time commutes, but try biking to work on the sunny days or planning weekend bike trips here and there.

That said, below is an intro on bikes for anyone on the fence.

The first step to choosing the right bike for you is deciding what you’re going to use it for and where you’re going to ride it. Check out the different types of bikes available so you can find your perfect match and get out there.

There are basically four main types of bicycles to choose from:

Road Bikes

Road Bikes are designed for riding on pavement and going fast and long distances. A road bike usually has a light-weight frame, skinny tires and a seat that has you positioned bent over the handlebars.

The frames of most road bikes are not particularly beefy in construction and generally won’t stand up well for extended periods under heavy loads or on really rough surfaces. Their light-weight is intended for long distance riding on pavement. They are about as well-suited for a path in the woods as you would be when wearing high heels.

Mountain Bikes

These bikes have wide tires, usually with knobby treads and a stout frame, and are designed to handle the rugged trails without disintegrating.

Mountain bikes do not go as fast as road bikes, which is a trade-off for their durability along with a more comfortable riding position. You sit higher on these bikes, more upright with the straight handlebars, which is often a happier choice for people with back problems than being hunched over as you are on a road bike.

Hybrid Bikes

Hybrid Bikes are a compromise between road and mountain bikes and offer the best features of both if most of your riding will be shorter trips on pavement. With skinnier, smooth tires, they typically can go faster than mountain bikes, yet feature the upright seat and handlebar position that many people favor.

Hybrids are a good choice for most city riding, and offer speed, durability and comfort.

Cruisers

Cruisers are bikes with wide tires, wide seats, upright handlebars and sometimes even just a single gear. These are the bikes that you’ll often see at the beach. Simpler mechanically, they are easy to maintain but work best with flat terrain and a rider whose main interest is more about being comfortable than with going fast. They’re intended for cruising on paved level terrain at the top speed of chill.

There are other variations and types of bikes like the Tandem, Tricycles and Recumbents, but these four are the most widely used. So now that you know which bike is right for you- get out there and enjoy the wind in your hair in the sunshine!

Do you already ride a bike? Celebrate Bike Month with us! Post a picture of your bike on our Facebook or send us a Twitpic on Twitter!

Posted in Fitness

Tags: 2010, 8th Continent soymilk, Biek to Work, May, National Bike Month, Types of bicycles, which bike is best for you?