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What Kind of Bike?
So, either you are thinking about buying a bike for the first time, you are rediscovering cycling after many years away, or you have progressed beyond your current bike. Whichever one it is, if you are reading this then you are either somewhat perplexed about what kind of bike to buy, or you are looking for other options.
There are more types of bikes today than there have ever been. Walking into a bike shop and saying you want a "10 speed" just won't work any longer. For one thing, that "10 speed" now has 30 speeds. So what kind of bike do you need? Let's look at some of the basic types:
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 | Cruiser
The most basic of bikes. During the 50s, every kid wanted a Schwinn Black Phantom. Few received one, as they were expensive even then. Today, there are many cruisers to choose from, and most are very affordable. Cruisers are available with one speed and a coaster brake, 3 speeds and a coaster brake, or 7-8 speeds with rim brakes. Cruisers are more about style than they are about cycling effeciency. Although there are aluminum cruisers that weigh much less than the steel bikes of the 50s, they still are best kept to neighborhood streets and beaches. Typical prices range from $150 - $600. |
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 | Hybrid
Hybrids are our #1 selling bike at The Bike Wave. Typically sold to people from 30-60, they are perfect for riding around the neighbourhood or on the Monon Trail. Hybrids have 700c wheels (26" wheeled versions are called "Comfort" bikes) with wide (35-38, typically) tires, upright handlebars, cushy seats, and sometimes with front suspension forks, adjustable-angle stems and suspension seatposts. One sits very "tall" on a hybrid, so shorter people and those with poor balance usually have more luck with a Comfort bike. Because it has road bike sized tires, a hybrid can be ridden on the road much more easily than a comfort bike or a mountain bike. Typical prices range from $250 - $1000. |
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 | Flat-Bar Road/Touring Bike
A relatively new entry to the market, flat-bar road and touring bikes cater to people who are uncomfortable being in the bent-over position of a traditional road or touring bike. People with back problems, people with carpal tunnel syndrome, overweight people...all of these people benefit from the more upright position of a flat-bar bike. These are sometimes considered a high-end hybrid, although they tend to be nothing more than a road bike with a flat bar and MTB-style shifters. Typical prices range from $400 - $2500. |
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 | Touring Bike
A true touring bike requires a few things. It needs to have rack mounts both front and rear. It needs to put strength and reliability over light weight and "wonder materials". And it needs to be comfortable. Touring bikes tend to be steel, although there are aluminum and titanium ones also. A real touring bike needs wheels with a minimum of 32 spokes. 36 or even 40 spokes are preferable. A touring bike tends to be a little longer in the wheelbase; stability is much more important than race handling when loaded touring. The ability to mount fenders and use wider tires are also "must-haves". For these reasons, touring bikes are often overlooked. But a touring bike is a good all-around bike; you can ride it almost anywhere. Typical prices range from $700 - $2500. |
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 | Road Bike
Road bikes are the sports cars of the bike world. Typically very light, a road bike will allow you to ride at high speeds on smooth to slightly rough surfaces. Road bikes can be made from steel, aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber. With drop bars, the position on a road bike is normally very bent over and aerodynamic. Shifters on road bikes can be on the downtube (old style), on the handlebar ends (usually only touring bikes), or integrated with the brake levers. Drop bars offer a few positions; on the top of the bar, on the "hoods" (hands resting on the shift/brake lever body), or in the drops. If you plan on riding over 50 miles at a time on the road, or you think you might like racing, this is the type of bike to buy. Typical prices range from $600 - $6500. |
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 | Mountain Bike
The mountain bike has become the SUV of the bike world. People use them for touring, city riding, country road riding, trail riding, jumping...all kinds of things. What most mountain bikes do well is ride off-road. I say "most" because Big Box Store mountain bikes would last 3 or 4 rides before they would be a broken, worthless pile of parts. There are mountain bikes with 1 speed (singlespeed) and ones with 27 speeds. There are bikes with no suspension, front suspension, or full suspension. There are mountain bikes with 26" wheels, 29" wheels, and now, 650B wheels. With all of the new styles of bikes available, I would recommend mountain bikes only for actual trail riding rather than as a multi-purpose bike. Typical prices range from $250 - $5500. |
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This is a basic guide, and does not include styles such as Tri bikes, Randonneur bikes, etc. All bikes pictured are 2007 or 2008 model Raleighs.
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