Are you searching for a new bicycle? The jargon might occasionally be a little frightening. The good news is that choosing the right bike for your two-wheeled adventures doesn’t require you to become an expert in bike jargon. We break down factors to take into account while selecting a bike.

Three simple steps can be used to summarise the bike-buying process:

Choose a suitable bike.

You’ll need the appropriate bike depending on where and how you intend to ride. To assist you in limiting your options, we provide a list of bike classifications.

Consider performance and price: Bikes in the same category and price range typically have the same parts. Be prepared to pay more for higher-performance details or frame materials like carbon.

Make sure your bike fits by choosing the appropriate frame size based on height. Bikes come in a variety of sizes. The basics of Bike Fitting can be found here. Any further fit problems can be fine-tuned with the assistance of a bicycle store (such as an REI Co-op).

Pedal Bikes

Road bikes are suitable for racing, commuting, participating in events, touring, and fitness riding. The handlebars on most bikes feature a drop-bar design, which curls down and toward the back of the bike and places the rider in an aerodynamic posture. Getting acclimated to this bent-forward riding position might be challenging.

Endurance bikes: “Enduring comfort” could be a better word for these road bikes since they have a relaxed shape that keeps you more at ease on lengthy rides. Long-distance bikes’ somewhat wider tyres provide traction on various surfaces, and the tyres can be inflated less for a more forgiving ride.

Gravel bikes: Cycling has always pushed the boundaries of what is possible. Therefore multi-surface bikes have been popular for a long time. One choice is hybrid bikes, which are covered below. Gravel bikes are a great option if you want to go a little quicker and farther. Gravel bikes, which are descended from cyclocross and are now a subcategory of professional all-terrain racing bikes, have larger tyres for a more forgiving ride and better traction on various surfaces, including asphalt, gravel, and dirt.

Touring bikes: Touring bikes are designed for carrying a lot of stuff over long distances, which sets them apart from typical road bikes. They include strong frames holding large loads and attachment points for adding racks, fenders, water bottles, pumps, lights, and other accessories. When you put a big load on them, having a long wheelbase (the distance between the wheel hubs) makes them easier to control.