So, you say you don’t have a bike, but you really want one? You have a few questions to consider. Where will you ride? With whom? How often? (I’ll interview myself)
I ride road bikes, because I mostly commute through the city and go on long road rides. The skinny tires make going up hills easier (less resistance: but they make for a bit of a bumpy ride) and the geometry of the frame (how it’s designed) is made for efficiency. If a road bike fits properly, usually the saddle is higher than the handlebars. This makes for a more “aggressive” posistion, but again is more efficient/aerodynamic. When you’re riding a bike, basically you are pushing your bike and your body against the air/wind. The more aero you are, the faster you can go. Road bikes are geared higher (meaning: bigger sprockets on the crankset [pedals are attached to the cranks] and smaller sprockets in the cassette/freewheel [the sprockets on the rear wheel] These make you go faster/work harder) but since road bikes are so lightweight (usually) they are much easier to propel.
The people I ride with, usually and not always, all have road bikes. If I was riding with people on mountain bikes, they would have a hard time keeping up. This is not because I am in amazing shape and they aren’t- it is because on mountain bikes, since they typically are geared lower, they would have to pedal like crazy to keep the same pace as me on a road bike. Mountain bikes are also typically heavy (think about it: you’re riding on trails, you want a bike that can withstand a lot, right? There are lightweight mountain frames, but these are very EXPENSIVE) and have big knobby tires. The wheel size is also smaller (26” for mountain, 700c [or about 28”] for road) so there must be more revolutions of the wheels to go the same distance.
How often? Well, that changes, but I ride every day. If I was only to ride once a week or once every few weeks, it may not matter to me what type of bike I have. Since I am riding every day, I want something I can count on to be reliable. I also want something that I can get from place to place quickly, and that I could ride 50, 80, 100 miles on without feeling like I hate the bike. Since I take (relatively) good care of my bikes, they will last me a very very long time. If you buy a cheap new bike, it may not last very long. New bikes do have warranties (or should!) but they may also need special maintinence. With a lot of things, the more expensive the bike, the higher quality it is, and the lighter weight it is. This does NOT mean you should spend as much money as possible. This means you should test ride different levels of bikes (bikes with basic, better, and really nice parts on them) and see if it is worth it TO YOU to spend the money. Some people can’t tell the difference, and for some people who can, the difference isn’t worth a couple hundred bucks. I am happy enough to see people on bikes, I try not to judge them for what kind of bike they have. I used to have a Schwinn Varsity that I would ride 20 miles a day (commuting 10 miles one way) and I loved it. Before I moved to Seattle, I converted it into a fixed gear and rode the same route everyday. I rode that bike 50miles with my coworkers from my shop and I kept up with them on their fancy road bikes. That bike weighed 30lbs or more. It was insane. But I loved it, and I could keep up with the guys, if not beat them up the hills. Just find a bike you like, that you are comfortable on, that fits you, and that’s a beautiful thing. I love passing guys on the road with their fancy carbon fiber road bikes with fancy wheels- their mouths hang open as they realise that a redheaded GIRL on a steel road bike from the 80’s is passing them. It’s fucking killer.
There are of course, more types of bikes than ROAD or MOUNTAIN. The term HYBRID is a big one. Hybrid is a mix between road bikes and mountain bikes. Hybrid is more of a “spectrum” than a real “type.” It can mean a bike that’s super upright, like an old lady would ride (hey, they’re comfortable) with big tires, or a road bike with flat handlebars. Hybrids are what most people ride. They have a nice middle ground, and when people describe what they want, hybrids are typically what they are describing.
Electric bikes....
ahhhh yes. There are such things as these... I don’t really like them. To me, as a mechanic, I’d rather be able to work on the bike I have. I am not an electrician. BUT... electric assist bikes are pretty cool. These are basically regular hybrid bikes, with a boost. They help you going up hills, and on flats, but you HAVE TO pedal. You CAN’T just sit there and go, you have to move. These bikes were designed for people that want to ride bikes, but can’t necessarily do it by themselves. Great for getting around, commuting, etc.
FIXED GEARS/Single Speeds:
I can’t exactly knock these bikes. I’ve had several, and still ride one. Basically you have one gear, and if it’s a fixed gear, you can’t coast (pedalling constantly, even downhill) and if it’s a single speed you can coast. Most of these bikes have a flip flop hub (meaning you can do both- one side of the hub is the fixed side, and one is “free” or you can coast) I commute in the winter time with a fixed gear, as it is a more hardy bike, and I do not need to worry about anything breaking. I have a front brake on my bike, and will give ANYONE endless amounts of hell for NOT having a brake. You don’t have to use it! But you can’t control the world, it’s better to not take the chance. (what I’m talking about, is that with fixed gears, you can slow down with your legs- the slower you pedal, the slower you go, and you can skid stop- eliminating a brake. But cars are unpredictable, and I worry a lot. SO HAVE A FUCKING BRAKE ALREADY, I may be an old grandma to you kids, but seriously be careful.)
Those are the basic groups of bike. Of course there are cruisers, freak bikes, tall bikes, bmx, etc etc etc.
A word about “WOMEN’S BIKES” :
Women’s bikes aren’t like the olden days- it doesn’t mean that they have that sloping top tube, it means that the length of the bike is shorter. Most women have longer legs and shorter torsos than men. BUT NOT ALL. Don’t let this fool you. I am a definitely a woman, but I have a “long torso” for a “woman” so I ride “men’s” bikes. If you are petite, short, or typically women’s clothing fits you, then MAYBE a women’s bike MIGHT fit you better. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think it’s just a ploy. The bikes aren’t very much shorter in length (a cm or 2) and the thing that bugs me the most: the companies that produce women’s specific bikes don’t necessarily offer much. It’s either a “basic model” or a high end model. NO in betweens. This makes me suspicious. Why can’t women have an intermediate model? Do these companies think we either are really into bikes or we’re not? Anyways, it’s silly. Just don’t let a pushy salesperson bully you into a women’s bike if you think that the unisex bike fits fine. It’s YOUR decision. Take control.
Another thing to remember is this: the type of bike you have or your get does not make you a “better” cyclist. If you choose to spend thousands of dollars on a bike, but don’t ride it... that’s getting you nowhere. If you buy a used “clunker” that weighs a ton, but you ride it- that earns my respect. Yes, I am impressed by certain bikes, but... you are the engine. You are what makes it go- and that means more. I’ve had all sorts of bikes- none that were really fancy (the most I’ve spent on a “new” bike was $900) but I got respect from my fellow cyclists because I can ride just as fast as anyone. You don’t need to be fast or “strong”- if you’re riding a bike, and you like it- fuck’em. I respect you. Respect yourself.
Again, let me know if you’ve got questions. I think I got a little rant-y at the end there. I hope it was helpful!
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